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What are Corns & Calluses?
 Corns
and calluses are your body’s response to friction or pressure
against the skin. If your foot rubs inside your shoe, the affected
area of skin thickens. Or if a bone is not in the normal position,
skin caught between bone and shoe or bone and ground builds up.
In either case, the outer layer of skin thickens to protect the
foot from unusual pressure. In many cases, corns and calluses look
bad but are not harmful. However, more severe corns and calluses
may become infected, destroy healthy tissue, or affect foot movement.
But with your doctor’s help, corns and calluses can be controlled.
Where Do Corns
& Calluses Form?
A corn or callus is a thickening of the outer layer of skin on your
foot. Corns usually grow on top of the foot, often at a toe joint.
Calluses spread on the bottom of the foot or on the outer edge of
a toe or the heel.
 Corns
Corns can range from a slight thickening of skin to a painful, hard
bump. They often form on top of buckled toe joints (hammer toes).
If your toes curl under, corns may grow on the tips of the toes.
You may also get a corn on the end of a toe if it rubs against your
shoe. Corns can also grow between toes, often between the first
and second toes.
 Calluses
A callus may spread across the ball of your foot. This type of callus
is usually due to a problem with a metatarsal (the long bone at
the base of a toe, near the ball of the foot). A pinch callus may
grow along the outer edge of the heel or the big toe. Some calluses
press up into the foot instead of spreading on the outside. A callus
may form a central core or plug of tissue where pressure is greatest.
Your Physical Exam
Your doctor will check your feet for skin changes, such as red areas,
blisters, and warts. He or she will also look for corns and calluses.
If you have a buckled toe joint, your doctor may test its flexibility.
He or she may also look for a misaligned bone or collapsed joint.
An x-ray may be taken to pinpoint a suspected bone problem.
Treating Corns
& Calluses
If your corns or calluses are mild, reducing friction may help.
Different shoes, moleskin patches, or soft pads may be all the treatment
you need. In more severe cases, treating tissue buildup may require
your doctor’s care. Sometimes orthoses (custom-made shoe inserts)
are prescribed to reduce friction and pressure.
Change Shoes
If you have corns, your doctor may suggest wearing shoes that have
more toe room. This way, buckled joints are less likely to be pinched
against the top of the shoe. If you have calluses, wearing a cushioned
insole, arch support, or heel counter can help reduce friction.
Visit Your Doctor
In some cases, your doctor may trim away the outer layers of skin
that make up the corn or callus. For a painful corn, medication
may be injected beneath the built-up tissue.
Wear Orthoses
Orthoses are specially made to meet the needs of your feet. They
cushion calluses or divert pressure away from these problem areas.
Worn as directed, orthoses help limit existing problems and prevent
new ones from forming.
If You Need Surgery
If a bone or joint is out of place, certain parts of your foot may
be under too much pressure. This can cause severe corns and calluses.
In such cases, surgery is often the best way to correct the problem.
Outpatient Procedures
In most cases, surgery to improve bone position is an outpatient
procedure. Your doctor may shave or cut away excess bone. Sometimes
tendons or ligaments are cut to reduce tension on a bone or joint.
Your doctor will talk with you about the procedure that is best
suited to your needs.
Consultant: Brad L. Naylor, DPM, MS With contributions
by: G. Howard Bathon, MD, ORS & Thomas T. Pignetti, DPM
This information is not intended as a substitute
for professional health care.
©1994, 1999 The StayWell Company
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