Corns

Corns and callus are one of the most common conditions seen by podiatrists. A callus generally refers to a more diffuse thickening of the skin whereas a corn involves a more focal area which can extend deeper. In the foot, the skin will naturally thicken up to protect itself when faced with areas of high pressure. The problem occurs when the pressure continues and the skin gets thicker and deeper and eventually becomes painful. In more severe cases, ulceration can develop under a corn if not treated in time. This can be a serious complication for those with poor circulation or suffer from diabetes.

Remedies such as corn paint or plasters will only treat the symptom of the corn and not the initiating cause such as wrongly fitted shoes or structural collapse of the foot. The chemicals used in over-the-counter products often contain acid that eats away at the corn but often normal healthy skin surrounding the corn becomes damaged as well. A podiatrist can initially treat corns with correct removal, padding and appropriate protection, the best treatment is to find the cause which means an assessment of your foot structure and footwear needs.