Foot Care 2 You
Trusted Podiatrists serving West Orange, NJ, Toms River, NJ, Bloomfield, NJ & Elmwood Park, NJ
Corns and calluses are one of the most common foot problems in adults today. The tough patches of skin can be both uncomfortable and irritating, so you need professional care to keep them from coming back. The skilled podiatrists at Foot Care 2 You, located in Toms River, Elmwood Park, West Orange, and Bloomfield, New Jersey, offer corn and callus solutions that restore your feet. Book your appointment online or by phone today.
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Corns & Calluses
What are corns and calluses?
Corns and calluses are tough growths on your feet and toes, but they’re not exactly the same.
Corns
Corns are thick, tough, pads of skin with a hard middle. They’re smaller than calluses. They usually appear on the tops of your toes but can also appear on the side of your foot or even on the bottom of your foot in rare cases. Corns are often quite uncomfortable when you put pressure on them.
Calluses
Calluses are flat, thick, patches of skin that often develop on the ball of your foot, heel, or the outside of your big toe. Calluses are usually painless. They develop because of repeated friction, which usually comes from footwear.
The main cause of both corns and calluses is friction from improperly fitted shoes, but biomechanical imbalances like hammertoe or bunions can also contribute. Genetic disorders can also make you prone to corns and calluses.
How should I take care of corns and calluses at home?
Be gentle to your feet if you develop corns or calluses. Wear properly fitted shoes that distribute your body weight evenly, and avoid high heels. Use over-the-counter pads or cushions to prevent further aggravation of your corns or calluses until you can see a Foot Care 2 You podiatrist.
Avoid any over-the-counter corn or callus removers. These products often contain acids that can cause chemical burns in your healthy skin, and, in many cases, they fail to remove the corn or callus completely.
Never try to cut a corn or callus out of your skin at home. The risk of removing too much skin is high, and you can also be vulnerable to infection afterward. This is especially important if you’re diabetic because diabetes sufferers are at-risk for slow-healing and nonhealing wounds and therefore require special diabetic foot care.
How does a podiatrist treat corns or calluses?
Your Foot Care 2 You podiatrist examines your feet, and can often make a corn or callus diagnosis right away. In some cases, for example, if you have contributing conditions like hammertoe or bunions, you might need imaging like X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or computerized tomography (CT) scans so your podiatrist can determine the best treatment approach.
Treatment can include:
- Custom orthotics
- Padding uncomfortable areas
- Debridement (trimming dead skin)
- Prescription topical medication
- ral or topical antibiotics for an infection
If you have an underlying condition like rigid hammertoe or bunions, you might need surgery. After the corrective surgery, your foot is in the proper position, and you won’t have new corns or calluses.
The Foot Care 2 You podiatry team can help you get rid of corns and calluses permanently. Book your appointment online or by phone now.