Getting to the Bottom of Your Foot Corn or Callus

The human body is a pretty amazing thing. It’s often complicated, but it’s also a great communicator. When things start to go wrong, your body will give you signs. In your feet, one of those signs comes in the form of a corn or callus.

Corns and calluses are not just unsightly, annoying and painful — although they certainly are! — they’re also landmarks that are trying to tell you something.

What causes foot corns or calluses?

Corns and calluses are extremely common skin conditions. They can be thick, hard patches of skin; bumps on the skin; areas of flaky, dry skin; and often areas of tenderness. They tend to be a result of repeated pressure, friction and shearing in a specific spot.

In order to treat corns and calluses effectively, you have to first identify what has caused them. This is where the detective work begins and we come in to help! Are the bones in your feet out of alignment? Are your toes being encroached upon or squeezed together? Are you wearing inappropriate shoes? Once we know the cause, it’s easier to treat.

Many people resort to treatments like salicylic acid for removing corns and calluses, but these types of treatments don’t address the cause of the callus, and it will only come back. The most effective way to deal with a corn or callus is to address the issue that lead to the increased pressure and the development of the callus in the first place.

Orthotics offer a great solution for redistributing weight and pressure evenly throughout the foot, unloading the affected areas. In combination with an orthotic, it’s important to get a shoe with a wide toe box and extra depth. This not only makes room for the orthotic, but it prevents pressure from being exerted on the top of your foot.  Shoe modifications are also often used to reduce pressure.  Shoe “excavations”, “rocker soles”, “metatarsal bars” and other modifications can be extremely helpful.

If you’d like to learn more about orthotics and footwear for your foot corns and calluses, call Walking Mobility Clinics to schedule an appointment at one of our locations across Ontario!