What are Corns and Calluses?
Corns and calluses begin to form when too much friction or pressure occurs on your feet for an extended period of time. As a result, the skin hardens to protect itself from further harm. The friction to your feet occurs when something repeatedly comes into contact with a part of your foot. This uneven pressure occurs when your bodyweight is not properly distributed and can often be associated with poor shoe choice.
To further expand on corns and calluses in Scottsdale, these conditions form in a similar way–the skin becomes thick and rough to the touch. In turn, the thickened skin will eventually become dead tissue, causing the layer underneath to become irritated. As a result, this will often cause pain when pressure is applied to the affected area. While corns and calluses develop in a similar manner, they remain different in where they develop. Corns will be found on your toes and calluses will form on the bottom of your foot (ouch).
Causes of Corns and Calluses in Scottsdale
There might not be one specific cause for the development of corns and calluses in Scottsdale, but poor shoe choice is thought to be the main culprit for these conditions. Some examples of poorly fitting shoes include:
- Shoes that are too tight or pinch the toes
- High-heeled shoes that unevenly distribute weight
- Shoes that are too loose and do not fit properly
- Shoes that do not provide proper arch support
Other foot conditions can also contribute to the development of corns and calluses, such as hammertoes. If you have foot deformities, you might be at a higher risk of developing corns and calluses in Scottsdale.
Diagnosis and Treatment Options
After a physical examination of your foot, Dr. Mark Forman, a foot doctor in Scottsdale, will be able to diagnose your condition. Typically, just the changing of your shoes and being more mindful of how shoe choice affects your feet can help to clear up and prevent mild corns and calluses. Dr. Forman may also recommend the following at-home remedies to help eliminate corns and calluses in Scottsdale patients:
- Padding: Small pads on the area where the corn is located can help protect the area from further friction.
- Massage: After showering, you can rub corns and calluses with a pumice stone or callus file–this helps to eliminate the thickened skin.
If you suffer from larger corns and calluses, Dr. Forman may recommend a surgical reduction. Dr. Forman will use a blade to carefully shave away the thickened or dead skin–this is similar to how a pumice stone works but more effective. This procedure is painless and is usually completed on an outpatient basis, and a cortisone injection may be used to reduce any pain caused by corns or calluses in Scottsdale.
Contact Dr. Mark Forman in Scottsdale about corns and calluses, and to determine the best treatment option for improving your condition.