Removal of calluses from the feet: myths and facts

Corns under the feet are a common source of pain and frustration. There is often a misconception that they can be treated, as many people assume that they can simply be removed. This article will discuss what can actually be done to provide treatment and dispel some of the myths surrounding its treatment.

Corns on the sole of the foot are the result of a natural process designed to protect the skin of the foot from excessive pressure. This excessive pressure can come from a number of sources. Externally, the pressure can come simply from walking or standing on the ground, whether one is in shoes or not. The shoe itself can even be a source of external pressure, although this is usually seen resulting in corns on the top of the toes (which is the same type of condition as a corn). Internally, the pressure can come from the bones under the skin. If the bones are abnormally prominent due to an abnormality in the structure of the foot (such as a bunion or flat feet), or if the skin and padding under the bone are abnormally thin, the pressure on the overlying skin will increase. The skin is often irritated by internal and external pressure sources at the same time, where external pressure from walking combined with internal pressure from prominent bones or thin skin creates a reaction in the skin tissue. This reaction causes the skin to form a thickening of the outer layer of keratin-based cells, which tighten to form multiple layers.

Over time, a callus (also called hyperkeratosis) develops as the skin becomes excessively thick at the pressure point. This callus, if thick enough, can be painful as the original normal skin layer at the bottom of the callus is damaged by the pressure of the covering layer. What was once a simple skin protection measure can become a source of pain and damage to the skin if growth progresses sufficiently. Sometimes the callus grows inward toward the base layer of the skin, leading to the formation of a thick, hard core that opens inward (but does not break the skin). This is also called intractable plantar keratosis and is often mistaken for a wart. Finally, sweat and other glands in the skin can fill with keratin material, forming a small pinpoint callus called porokeratosis. This type of callus does not need to have a prominent bone underneath for it to form and is usually not painful.

The treatment of corns is often misunderstood and can actually be a bit tricky. The most common form of treatment is simple shaving of the callus by yourself, a pedicurist, or a podiatrist. The act of thinning tough skin will make it more comfortable to walk on and reduce pain. However, the cause of the callus will still exist and the callus will eventually return in a month or two. This causes great confusion for some people, who simply associate a corn with a temporary skin growth and not something directly related to the structure and activity of their foot. Using special shoe pads or foot supports to reduce pressure on the sole of the foot can help limit the growth of a callus, when used in combination with shaving the callus and properly fitting shoes. Unfortunately, these will not permanently remove the callus and will only serve to help reduce the overall thickness of the callus when it grows back. Even prescription shoe inserts (braces) will not permanently reduce calluses, although they reduce the weight of the callused area better than store-bought inserts by being custom-made for a foot mold.

It should be noted that diabetics should never attempt to control their corns on their own. Due to the bad feeling of diabetes, diabetics who cut their calluses or have an unqualified family member try it at home could lead to injury and infection from an accidental cut in normal skin.

Some people assume that a corn can burn, like a wart or other skin growth. The use of chemicals, lasers, cold treatment, and electricity to destroy skin growths is very common and often effective for other types of skin disorders. Unfortunately, these techniques do not work as well on callus tissue, because callus growth is continuous and is not based on the simple presence of abnormal skin cells that can be removed. Callus tissue is normal tissue, and any destructive procedures against this tissue will only be temporarily successful until skin growth begins again and the callus forms again. The only exception to this is a porokeratosis, which can be eliminated if the underlying gland and gland duct are destroyed.

Surgical treatment is the next level of callus care. This is another area where there is great confusion and myths about treatment abound. In short, calluses cannot be surgically cut or otherwise removed, with the expectation that the callus will not return. The new skin that grows after surgery will continue to form a callus and, when combined with a surgical scar, can be even more painful than the original callus. Again, the only exception is porokeratosis, which can be successfully removed by surgery. The only way to permanently get rid of a callus is to get rid of the underlying bony prominence and make sure your shoes fit well and are properly cushioned to compensate for the thinning of the skin and tissue over these bones. There are a multitude of bones in the foot that can cause enough prominence to irritate the skin, and so many ways to relieve pressure through bone surgery. Procedures may include lifting of bones that lean too far towards the sole of the foot, removal of extra bones that form naturally during development (very common), shaving or removal of bone spurs or loose bone fragments, or even the complete removal of the part of the bone causing the pressure. Procedures may be needed to correct the general deformity causing the pressure, such as a bunion or arch abnormality. Healing times will vary and depend on whether the bone was simply shaved or removed, or the position of the bone was moved. These procedures are generally successful in removing callus formation if done correctly, although there is a risk that the pressure point of the foot will simply move to the next bone. Braces are often used after surgery to prevent this from happening.

As you can see, caring for corns is not simply about shaving or cutting the hard tissue. In reality, this myth does not work well and bone surgery is necessary to prevent callus care from becoming a regular skin maintenance exercise through regular shaving and shoe inserts. This can provide complete relief for some. For others, surgery is necessary to break the ongoing cycle of pain.

Related Post

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *