Symtoms
Corns can range from a slight thickening of skin to a painful,
hard bump. They often form on top of buckled toe joints (hammer
toes). If your toes curl under, corns may grow on the tips
of the toes. You may also get a corn on the end of a toe if it
rubs against your shoe. Corns can also grow between toes, often
between the first and second toes.
A callus may spread across the ball of your foot. This type
of callus is usually due to a problem with a metatarsal (the long
bone at the base of a toe, near the ball of the foot). A pinch
callus may grow along the outer edge of the heel or the big toe.
Some calluses press up into the foot instead of spreading on the
outside. A callus may form a central core or plug of tissue where
pressure is greatest.
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Possible Causes
Corns and calluses are your body's response to friction or pressure
against the skin. If your foot rubs inside your shoe, the affected
area of skin thickens.
Or if a bone is not in the normal position, skin caught between
bone and shoe or bone and ground builds
up. In either case, the outer layer of skin thickens to protect
the foot from unusual pressure.
In many cases, corns and calluses look bad but are not harmful.
However, more severe corns and calluses may become infected,
destroy healthy tissue, or affect foot movement. But with your
doctor's help, corns and calluses can be controlled.
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Treament
Generally, trying to trim away the thickened skin on your own
is not a good idea...Especially if you have poor circulation or
diabetes. You can cause infection if you cut yourself.
A safer self care solution is to soak your feet and rub away
any loose excess skin, then filing away the skin with a file or
pumice stone. Of course, this should be done gradually.
With doctor intervention, the initial
exam would involve taking X-rays to determine any underlying condition
that may be causing the corns or calluses for form in the first
place. Your doctor may try cutting the thick skin away, and provide
you with comfortable padding to stop the corns or calluses from
reforming.
Orthotic devices may also be used,
or suggestions on a proper pair of shoes
will be made in order to prevent them, and to help prevent any
underlying conditions.
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