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Corn & Callus
Foot Care
How do they happen?
When we put pressure on our feet the skin thickens to withstand
it. This pressure may then become intense and a corn or callus can appear.
What are Corns?
Corns are the most common skin problem for your feet and appear
as small concentrated areas of hard skin. There are two main types of corns,
hard & soft.
Hard Corns are a plug of hard skin usually found on the tops of
the toes and underneath toes nails.
Soft Corns develop in a similar way to hard corns but are whitish and rubbery in
texture. They appear between toes where the skin is moist from sweat or when
insufficient drying occurs. Although the skin can be dried out with the daily
application of surgical spirit, the corn will need to be removed by our
Podiatrists. Vascular and Neurovascular Corns can be extremely painful and must
be treated by a specialist. They usually occur through trying to remove a hard
corn by yourself. The skin becomes damaged allowing blood vessels and nerve
endings to push through to the corn
Always see a specialist
If you have a corn you must consult our Podiatrist for advice
and to arrange the removal of a corn. They will be able to prescribe protective
pads and/or orthosis to relieve painful corns.
If you are elderly or have diabetes you must not use corn plasters or products
as they can burn healthy skin tissue around the corn.
What are calluses?
A callus is a small area of hard skin, caused by pressure or
friction. A callus can appear anywhere on the foot where the skin rubs against
the bone, shoes or the ground. Most calluses are a symptom of an underlying
problem such as bone deformity, a particular style of walking or ill-fitting
footwear. By seeking advice from our HPC Registered Podiatrist these
factors can be improved or cured.
The best treatment
Small areas of callus can be controlled by regularly using one of our foot files
or pumice stones. We strongly advise against the use of blades or metal files.
Using a deep moisturiser will also help improve the skins natural elasticity. If
the callus becomes painful, consult the Podiatrist who can remove hard skin,
relieve pain and redistribute pressure with soft padding or corrective
appliances
Athletes Foot | Chilblains | Corns | Cracked Heels
Fungal Nail Infection | Sweaty Feet | Toenails | Verruca
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