Corns and calluses are areas of thickened skin that occur to shield that region from stress and irritation. They may develop when something like footwear rubs on the foot repeatedly or results in excessive pressure against part of the foot. It is called a callus commonly if the thickening of skin takes place on the bottom of the foot. If thickening occurs on the top of the foot or toe it is usually called a corn. Having said that, there is quite a lot of overlap between a corn and a callus. They are not transmittable but tend to turn out to be painful should they become too thick. In individuals with diabetes this may lead to more serious foot conditions, so they have to be given serious attention.
Corns commonly happen when a toe rubs on inside of the footwear or there is a toe deformity. Too much force on the balls of the feet, that is frequent in women who typically wear high heels may cause calluses to build up underneath the balls of the feet. Those with certain deformities of the foot, for example hammer toes, claw toes, or hallux valgus are prone to corns and calluses. Corns and calluses typically have a rough dull looking appearance. They might be raised or rounded and without correct analysis, they could be difficult to distinguish from warts. Should you have a corn or callus that is creating pain and discomfort or interfering with your day to day activities then its most likely a good idea to see a podiatrist. This can be even more necessary for those who have diabetes or poor blood circulation. The podiatrist is going to perform a complete check-up of the feet as well as your footwear and evaluate the way you walk to figure out the reason why you could have the corns and callus. For minor corns or calluses they could suggest varying your shoes and make use of padding in your footwear. If they are more substantial, then your podiatrist might reduce them with a scalpel to meticulously and skilfully shave away the thickened skin. Further treatments are usually necessary if the corn or callus recurs.