Corns & calluses
What Causes Corns & Calluses?
DO NOT SUFFER IN PAIN!!
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corns & calluses
treatment options
At Next Step Foot & Ankle Clinic, your doctor examines your foot to identify the exact cause of your corns and calluses, allowing them to prescribe the most effective treatment. If a hammertoe, or other bone deformities is the cause, our doctors may recommend surgery to correct the bone.
Trimming the corn or callus is a temporary measure and can provide short-term relief. The use of softening creams (we like uric acid creams ) can be very helpful in making the callus softer and less painful. If you are NOT a diabetic, corn removers can be helpful.
Your podiatrist may shave off the thickened skin to prevent infection or an ulcer by carefully trimming it with a scalpel. Do not try scraping it off yourself. If you do, you might end up with an infection or damage your skin.
If your corn or callus has been present for awhile, something MUST CHANGE if you want to get rid of it.
Our doctors believe you have TWO choices:
01
CHANGE THE EARTH
This means the environment that the foot lives in must change. One of the more effective therapies is to change shoe gear, so there is a little more room for the toes and bumps on the feet. Shoes with a little extra depth can be used with a good arch support and cushioned insole.
Orthotics are terrific for offloading shear forces on the feet. They can be used to control the foot function so that there is significantly less shear force and pressure in the areas where the callus is being developed.
02
CHANGE THE FOOT
There are surgical options for dealing with corns and calluses. Tendons can be lengthened, bunion deformities can be corrected, bone prominences can be removed with a rasp.
These are actually more frequently performed in patients with diabetes because of the increased risk of a foot ulcer. It is common that we do these procedures after the foot ulcer has occurred. It is remarkable how quickly chronic foot ulcers can heal once the pressure has been removed or decreased by surgical procedure.
