Health Guide©

CORNS AND CALLUSES (Callus, Foot ailments)

A callus is an area of rough, thickened skin that develops because of constant or repeated pressure or friction. Often found on the hands and the feet, calluses are harmless, and usually painless, unless they press on nerve endings or are associated with blisters. A corn is a small, hard callus on the toe, usually over a toe joint, cause by wearing ill-fitting shoes. It is typically rounded and sometimes painful, but harmless.

Symptoms:

• An area with thick, tough layers of dead skin.
• Pain, in some cases. Corns usually hurt when direct pressure is applied.

Causes:

• Constant friction due to new or ill-fitting, walking barefoot often, heavy manual labor, gripping heavy/large tools, etc.

What you can do:

• Use soft, correctly fitting shoes with thick soles.
• Apply corn-softening cream, and then rub the corn off with a pumice stone or metal file. The process may have to be repeated several times until all the dead skin has been scraped off.
• Use a corn pad or plaster to remove a corn.
• Consult a chiropodist (foot care specialist).

Prevention tips:

• Use comfortable, correctly fitting footwear that is wide at the toes. Avoid high-heeled and pointed shoes.
• Rest between long periods of manual labor. Wear gloves when handling heavy tools.
• Apply lanolin, moisturizing cream, or petrolatum (petroleum jelly) regularly to soften the skin.