The summer is made to have your toes and feet exposed by wearing open footwear. However, many women refuse to bare their feet and suffer in silence because of unsightly corns and calluses on the toes and feet. They are one of the most common reasons why women come into the podiatrist's office wondering whether they can have their corns fixed.
On average, about 65 out of 1,000 people develop calluses and corns, which are more common in females (91) than males (37). Calluses and corns are caused by repeated friction and pressure from the skin rubbing against boney areas on the foot or against shoes. A callus is thickened skin on the bottom (soles) of your feet while a corn is thickened skin on the top or side of a toe/foot. When a callus has a firm, hard center it is also called a corn. The thickening of the skin is to protect the area and prevent painful blistering.
Family history can also play a role in developing the foot deformities, bony prominences and affecting the way you walk. People with bunions, hammertoes, arthritis or other foot deformities often develop corns and calluses over these areas, when they rub against the shoe or from pressure when walking.
The skin can become thickened, hard, dry and flaky on the feet. Corns and calluses can result in burning pain in the toes especially when wearing tight and high-heeled shoes. In people with diabetes, corns and calluses can lead to ulcers that can get infected, or because of poor blood flow can lead to amputations. For most people, corns and calluses are not serious or life-threatening conditions, but they can be very painful especially when wearing shoes.
If you have corns and calluses here are a few simple home remedies you can do to prevent or treat them:
o Place a cushioned corn pad over the painful calluses to decrease friction on the skin.
o If an ulcer or sore develops, cover with a protective covering or Band-Aid until the sore heals.
o Apply moisturizing agents such as lotions or creams to dry calluses and corns.
o Soak feet in warm soapy water to soften the corns and calluses then rub the thickened areas with an emery board, foot file or pumice stone.
o Avoid adding stress to your feet by wearing supportive shoes that fit well with a wide front (toe box), thick rubber sole and low to moderate heel.
o Women especially should avoid tight, pointed toe high-heeled shoes and wear a round or square-mouthed shoe that can prevent the corns and calluses.
Some people use over the counter corn pads or removers or even go to the pedicurist to shave the corn. They are advised to be careful with these products as they can cause blisters and ulcers, and will discolor the skin making it either very dark or very light by bleaching out the pigmentation. Often times this is not reversible or may take a long time to reverse.
People with diabetes and or poor blood flow to the feet should never soak their feet, use a coarse foot file or chemical corn pads. They are very dangerous and can lead to ulcers to the feet. They should see a podiatrist regularly for routine foot care and treatment for their corns and calluses instead. If home remedies fail to eliminate or manage the corns and calluses and they continue to be painful or bothersome, go see your podiatrist.
Usually, preventing the friction is really the only treatment needed. If a corn is the result of a poor-fitting shoe, changing to shoes that fit properly will usually eliminate the corn or make it pain free within a couple of weeks. Until then, protect the skin with donut-shaped corn pads, available in pharmacies. Use a pumice stone to gently wear down the corn.
Calluses often reflect undue pressure on the skin because of an underlying problem such as bunions, hammertoes or other boney deformities. Proper treatment to take the pressure off or do surgery to correct the foot deformity will prevent the corns and calluses from returning.
When you visit a podiatrist, they will perform a physical examination and an x-ray evaluation if needed. They will trim the corns and calluses and pad the surrounding area to decrease foot pressures and will advise on the type of shoes to wear based on your foot type and the deformity.

o For more information email foothealth242@gmail.com or visit www.apma.org. To see a podiatrist visit Bahamas Foot Centre on Rosetta Street, telephone 325-2996 or Bahamas Surgical Associates Centre, Albury Lane, telephone 394-5820, or Lucayan Medical Centre on East Sunrise Highway, Freeport Grand Bahama, telephone 373-7400.

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