Calluses and Corns 

What are calluses and corns? 

Calluses and corns are areas of thick, hardened, dead skin. They form to protect the skin from pressure, friction, and injury. They may appear yellowish, be less sensitive to touch than the surrounding skin, and feel bumpy. Calluses and corns become a problem when they grow and become painful. 

Calluses generally form on the hands or feet, although they may form wherever there is friction or pressure on the skin. 

Calluses on the feet generally form on the balls of the foot, the heel, and the underside of the big toe. 

Corns are generally found where toes rub together or on top of the toes. Corns have an inner core that may be soft or hard. Soft corn is found between toes, while a hard corn is often found over a bony part of a toe. 

Symptoms

The symptoms of calluses and corns include pain while walking or wearing shoes and difficulty fitting into shoes. Any type of pressure applied to the callus or corn can cause pain.

Diagnosis 

Calluses and corns are often diagnosed during a physical examination. An x-ray of the foot may be helpful to diagnose any underlying problems with the bones. 

Treatment

If you have diabetes, poor circulation, peripheral neuropathy, consults with your doctor before trying any treatment for calluses and corns. 

If the calluses cause pain, the treatment goal is to remove the pressure or friction that is causing the callus or corn. Your doctor can perform a minor procedure in the office to remove the callus or corn. Protective padding can be used to reduce friction as well as wearing footwear that fits properly. 

Why does my heel hurt when I walk? 

Persistent pain in the heel and sometimes arch may be due to inflammation of the arch ligament where it attaches to the heel, a condition referred to as heel spur syndrome or plantar fascitis.  The heel bone and the arch are major shock absorbers of the foot. When we walk and stand 90 percent of the body’s pressure goes to the heel.  

Usually, if we walk a lot without the right support or if there is too much stress or strain of the arch ligament or plantar fascia, it could cause an inflammation of the ligament where it attaches to the heel. Pain is usually experienced after standing from a sitting or lying down position. Radiologic evaluation should be performed, to rule out other sources of heel pain such as stress fractures. Sometimes x-ray evaluation will indicate the presence of a heel spur. A heel spur is a small growth of bone on the heel that develops as a result of inflammation of the ligament where it attaches to the bone. 

The treatment of this problem consists mostly of resting the affected area. Twenty minute ice massages of the area are helpful. Oral medication is oftentimes necessary to relieve the inflammatory process. Cortisone injection therapy may be necessary, if oral medications do not help. Custom made arch supports or over the counter supports may help to relief pressure. Most cases respond to either one of these treatments .Those cases that do not respond to treatment, may require physical therapy. Shockwave therapy is a treatment modality that has meant with some success in treating this condition. Shockwave therapy uses sound waves to heal the inflamed ligament. Surgical intervention is usually a last resort. There are currently endoscopic, minimal incision surgeries for this condition. Surgery generally requires healing time.