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Callus between my toes: Treatment, Symptoms, Signs & Causes

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Hammertoes: Causes, Relief & Treatment



Overview

What are hammertoes? What do they look and feel like?

“Hammertoes” is a term for progressive symptoms and joint changes that involve one or more of your toes. A hammertoe is a joint on your toe that points up instead of lying flat. This deformity happens because muscles in your foot or leg get weak and the tendons to your toe pull abnormally. You might find that you also have a corn or callus on top of your deformed toe, which may be painful. Eventually, you may be unable to move the affected toe.

What’s the difference between mallet toes, hammertoes and clawtoes?

Each of your feet have 28 bones. Of your five toes, the first (or “big” toe) has two joints: the metatarsophalangeal joint and the interphalangeal joint. The other four have three joints: at the base of your toe is the metatarsophalangeal joint (the first joint), in the middle is the proximal interphalangeal joint (the second joint) and closest to the tip or toenail is the distal phalangeal joint (the third joint).

Hammertoes are sometimes mixed up with mallet toes and clawtoes. There are differences between them:

  • Clawtoes: The bend is in the first toe and second joints.
  • Hammertoes: The bend is in the second (or middle) toe joint.
  • Mallet toes: The bend is in the third toe joint.

What are the types of hammertoes?

There are three types of hammertoes:

  • Flexible hammertoes: A flexible hammertoe is still developing, so the affected toes are still able to move at the joint.
  • Semi-rigid: The hammertoe is starting to stiffen.
  • Rigid hammertoes: A rigid hammertoe can no longer move because the tendons and soft tissues have tightened.

Who is likely to get hammertoes?

Those who wear high heels and unsupportive shoes are more likely to develop hammertoes.

Do hammertoes hurt?

Trying to move the joint may cause pain and you might experience pain in the ball of your foot. Corns and calluses can also be uncomfortable.

Are hammertoes the same things as bunions?

No. A bunion is a bump that forms on the outside of your big toe.

Can hammertoes cause numbness?

No. There is no direct correlation.



Symptoms and Causes

What causes hammertoes?

Abnormal muscle balance in your toe can lead to increased pressure on the tendon and joints, which causes a hammertoe. Causes of that muscle imbalance include:

  • Genes: The foot type you’re born with may predispose you to develop this type of joint deformity. Flat, flexible feet can lead to hammertoes as the foot tries to stabilize against a flattening arch. Feet with high arches can also form hammertoes as the extensor tendons overpower the flexors.
  • Poor shoes: Too-narrow, ill-fitting shoes, such as high heels, have little to no arch support. High heels put severe pressure on the toes and their joints. That’s why more cases of hammertoes are found in women than men.
  • Neuromuscular disease: Neuromuscular diseases can contribute to the development of a hammertoe. People with diabetes can be at increased risk for complications. For them, a toe with a corn or other ulceration indicates there’s too much pressure on the toes. In people with diabetes who have poor blood flow or neuropathy, infected corns and lesions can lead to the loss of a toe or foot unless their shoes are modified.
  • Trauma: Rarely, trauma to your toe can result in a hammertoe.

What are the symptoms of hammertoes?

Symptoms of hammertoe include:

  • A joint in your toe that’s getting rigid.
  • Pain – usually at the top of your bent toe.
  • Pain in the ball of your foot.
  • Corns and calluses at the top of your joint.
  • Redness, inflammation, or a burning sensation.
  • Restricted or painful motion of your toe joint.
  • Swelling at your joint.
  • Open sores (rare).

What makes hammertoes worse?

Hammertoes can get progressively worse with time, especially with unsupportive shoes and tendon tightness.



Diagnosis and Tests

How are hammertoes diagnosed?

Your regular healthcare provider may recognize a hammertoe right away. He or she may also send you to a podiatrist, or a foot and ankle surgeon, for a precise diagnosis. That healthcare provider will do a physical examination including touching and moving your foot and toes to see how the joints react. Your toes may need to be X-rayed.

If you have diabetes, you may have to go through tests to figure out if there’s a neurological condition causing a tendon imbalance.



Management and Treatment

How are hammertoes treated? How are they corrected?

Treatments for hammertoes include the following:

  • Surgery: Your healthcare provider may recommend surgery if your pain is severe, your hammertoe interrupts your daily activities and/or non-surgical treatments haven’t helped. During the surgery, the surgeon may remove the bony prominence on your toe and align the joint, or insert a steel pin to correct your toe’s position.
  • Custom shoe inserts/orthotic devices: These can control how your foot functions.
  • Pain relief: Taking anti-inflammatory drugs or getting cortisone shots to alleviate your pain.
  • Taping your toes: This can change the muscle imbalance.
  • Insulating padding: Padding around the hammertoe can minimize pressure.

What are the risks of treatment?

Risks of surgery include:

  • Infection.
  • Bleeding.
  • Nerve injury.
  • Stiffness.

Is the surgery outpatient or inpatient?

Outpatient. You won’t spend the night in the hospital.

How long does it take to recover from surgery?

You may feel stiffness and see some swelling and redness for four to six weeks.

What should I do while I recover from surgery for hammertoes?

Don’t use your toes very much while they heal. Keep your foot elevated.



Prevention

Can hammertoes be prevented? How can I reduce my risk?

  • Wear sensible shoes: If you don’t want to have surgery to fix your hammertoe, try non-medicated padding along with proper shoes made with a wider and deeper toebox to accommodate your foot’s shape. A shoe with good arch support can slow the progression of the condition.
  • Use a pumice stone: The corn or callus that forms on top of the hammertoe can cause discomfort when you wear shoes. Use a file or pumice stone after a warm bath to reduce the corn or callus’ size. Then, apply emollients to keep the area soft and pliable. Use silicone or moleskin padding on top of the area when wearing shoes.
  • Do foot exercises: Your podiatrist can suggest exercises for your toes to keep them supple and strengthen the muscles that move them. Extending, then curling the toes, splaying the toes and moving the toes individually may help prevent the contracture that causes hammertoe.

Have your healthcare provider refer you to a podiatrist (a doctor who specializes in feet) if you start to see or feel any trouble.



Outlook / Prognosis

Will hammertoes affect my walking? Running?

They can. The deformed joint and the corns or calluses can result in pain which limits your activity.

How long will I have hammertoes? Are they permanent?

Hammertoes can get progressively worse without treatment and, without treatment, they will always be there.

Can hammertoes just go away?

Hammertoes do not just fade away without treatment. See your healthcare provider as soon as you notice the symptoms.



Living With

How do I take care of my hammertoes? Are there any at-home treatments?

Although nothing should replace the expertise of a podiatrist, you can try the following to decrease discomfort:

  • Decrease pressure to the area by applying a commercial, non-medicated hammertoe pad.
  • Wear shoes with a deep toebox.
  • Avoid heels that are taller than two inches.
  • Apply an ice pack if there’s swelling.
  • Wear loose-fitting shoes.

What is it like living with hammertoes?

People with hammertoes struggle with walking and running. They get painful corns and calluses on their deformed toe.

How can I take care of my feet?

Take care of your feet by wearing shoes that are a half-inch longer than your longest toe. Avoid narrow and tight shoes, and especially high-heeled shoes.

When should I see my healthcare provider?

See your healthcare provider as soon as you notice the symptoms of hammertoes.

What questions should I ask my healthcare provider?

  • Is this joint deformity a hammertoe, clawtoe, or mallet toe?
  • What type of hammertoe do I have?
  • What do you think caused my hammertoe?
  • What kind of treatment do I need?
  • Are there any at-home treatments I can try?
  • Can you recommend any shoes? Or, are there shoes I should avoid?

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Don’t take your feet for granted! Take care of them. Get in contact with your healthcare provider right away if you have any symptoms of hammertoes: a joint in your toe that’s getting rigid, pain at the top of your bent toe, pain in the ball of your foot, corns or calluses on the top of your bent joint, redness or inflammation or a burning sensation in your toe, swelling and/or restricted or painful motion.

Hammertoes can get worse, and you’ll likely need treatment, so don’t hesitate to contact your healthcare provider.

Bunions: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment



Overview

What is a bunion?

A bunion is a bump that forms on the outside of the big toe. This foot deformity occurs from years of pressure on the big toe joint (the metatarsophalangeal, or MTP, joint). Eventually, the toe joint gets out of alignment, and a bony bump forms. The medical term for bunions is hallux abducto valgus.

Who might get a bunion?

Up to one in three Americans have bunions. The foot problem is more common in older adults, especially women. Bunions can form on one or both feet.

What are the types of bunions?

Bunions on the big toe are the most common. Other types include:

  • Congenital hallux valgus: Some babies are born with bunions.
  • Juvenile or adolescent hallux valgus: Tweens and teens between the ages of 10 and 15 may develop bunions.
  • Tailor’s bunion: Also called a bunionette, this bunion forms on the outside base of the little (pinky) toe.

What causes bunions?

Pressure from the way you walk (foot mechanics) or the shape of your foot (foot structure) causes your big toe to bend in toward the second toe. Bunions happen gradually over time. Standing for long periods and wearing ill-fitting, narrow shoes can make bunion pain worse, but they don’t cause the problem.

What are the risk factors for bunions?

You may be more likely to get a bunion if you have:

  • Family history of bunions due to inherited foot structure problems, like flatfeet.
  • Foot injuries.
  • Inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

What are the signs of bunions?

A bunion resembles a turnip — red and swollen. In fact, some sources say the word bunion comes from the Greek word for turnip. Other symptoms include:

  • Inability to bend the big toe, or pain and burning when you try to bend it.
  • Difficulty wearing regular shoes.
  • Corns or calluses (thickened skin).
  • Hammertoes (painful, tight toe tendons and joints).
  • Numbness in the big toe.



Symptoms and Causes

What causes bunions?

Pressure from the way you walk (foot mechanics) or the shape of your foot (foot structure) causes your big toe to bend in toward the second toe. Bunions happen gradually over time. Standing for long periods and wearing ill-fitting, narrow shoes can make bunion pain worse, but they don’t cause the problem.

What are the risk factors for bunions?

You may be more likely to get a bunion if you have:

  • Family history of bunions due to inherited foot structure problems, like flatfeet.
  • Foot injuries.
  • Inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

What are the signs of bunions?

A bunion resembles a turnip — red and swollen. In fact, some sources say the word bunion comes from the Greek word for turnip. Other symptoms include:

  • Inability to bend the big toe, or pain and burning when you try to bend it.
  • Difficulty wearing regular shoes.
  • Corns or calluses (thickened skin).
  • Hammertoes (painful, tight toe tendons and joints).
  • Numbness in the big toe.



Diagnosis and Tests

How are bunions diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider can diagnose a bunion by looking at it. You may also get X-rays to check for joint damage and bone alignment.



Management and Treatment

How are bunions managed or treated?

Bunions don’t go away. Treatment often focuses on relieving symptoms and may include:

  • Bunion pads and taping: Over-the-counter bunion pads can cushion the area and ease pain. You can also use medical tape to keep the foot in the correct position.
  • Footwear changes: Switching to shoes with wide, deep toe boxes can take pressure off of your toes. You may be able to use a stretching device to widen shoes you already own.
  • Orthotic devices: Over-the-counter or custom-made shoe inserts (orthotics) can help to control alignment issues such as pronation that may be contributing to bunion formation. You can also place a spacer between the big toe and second digit. Some people find relief by wearing a splint at night to keep the big toe straight.
  • Pain relievers: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) both oral and topical can be combined with ice packs help with pain and swelling.
  • Physical therapy: Massage, physical therapy and ultrasound therapy can break up soft-tissue adhesions to reduce pain and inflammation. There are actually exercises that can help improve muscle strength around the bunion and can modestly improve alignment.
  • Injections: Steroid injections may reduce pain and swelling but may also be damaging if used too often or injected into the joint itself. This is often a late treatment of bunions when trying to avoid surgery.
  • Surgery: If nonsurgical treatments don’t help, and walking becomes extremely painful, your provider may recommend surgery. This procedure is called a bunionectomy. Your provider removes the bunion and realigns bones to bring the big toe back into the correct position.



Prevention

How can I prevent a bunion?

Proper-fitting footwear is key to preventing bunions or keeping an existing bunion from getting worse. Your healthcare provider can offer tips on how to select appropriate shoes. In general, you should buy shoes with a wide toe box and soft soles. Avoid shoes that are narrow and pointed at the tip, and high heels that put pressure on the front of the foot. If you have flatfeet or another inherited structural foot problem, custom-fitted orthotics can help prevent, or slow the progression of, bunions.



Outlook / Prognosis

What are the complications of bunions?

Having a bunion may increase your risk of:

What is the prognosis (outlook) for people with bunions?

Without the right care, like changing your footwear or using orthotics, bunions can get worse over time. If you have severe pain when you walk or stand, you may become sedentary (inactive), which isn’t good for your health or quality of life. Most people get symptom relief with over-the-counter aids or through treatments at a medical office. If needed, surgery can help.



Living With

When should I call the doctor?

You should call your healthcare provider if you experience:

  • Difficulty walking.
  • Lack of movement in the big toe.
  • Severe inflammation or redness in toe joints.
  • Signs of infection after surgery, such as fever.

What questions should I ask my doctor?

You may want to ask your healthcare provider:

  • Why did I get a bunion?
  • What are the best treatments for bunions?
  • What can I do to lower the risk of getting a bunion on my other foot?
  • How can I lower the risk of other foot problems like calluses and corns?
  • What complications can occur if I do not treat my bunion?

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Bunions are very common. While over-the-counter bunion pads and pain relievers ease symptoms, you should see a healthcare provider. Your provider can recommend other treatment options, such as shoe gear modifications, physical therapy, medications and orthotics. Treatments can reduce pain and stop bunion symptoms from getting worse. If the pain becomes severe, surgery to remove the bunion and realign the big toe can help you get moving again.

Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment



Overview

What is a bone spur?

A bone spur, also called an osteophyte, is a smooth, bony lump that grows off a bone. Bone spurs develop over long periods of time, usually near joints (where two or more bones meet).

Who gets bone spurs?

Bone spurs are most common in people 60 years or older, but younger people can get them, too. People with osteoarthritis (OA) are much more likely to get bone spurs. OA is a common form of “wear and tear” arthritis that happens when cartilage, which cushions your bones, wears down.

Where can bone spurs grow?

Although they can grow from any bone, osteophytes are particularly common in the:

  • Foot, especially the heel (heel spurs or calcaneal spurs), big toe and ankle.
  • Hand or finger.
  • Hip.
  • Knee.
  • Neck.
  • Shoulder.
  • Spine.



Symptoms and Causes

What causes bone spurs?

Joint damage from OA is the biggest cause of bone spurs. OA is a breakdown of cartilage — the firm, flexible tissue that cushions bones and allows joints to move more easily. OA develops as we age or after damage (like a sports injury).

As the body tries to repair cartilage, it creates new bone material. These new bony growths are osteophytes.

Ankylosing spondylitis also may cause bone spurs. This rare arthritis causes spinal inflammation. Over time, ankylosing spondylitis fuses, or connects, the small bones in the spine (vertebrae). The body responds by forming spinal osteophytes.

What are symptoms of bone spurs?

Some people have bone spurs and don’t even know it. Spurs start to create symptoms when they:

  • Put pressure on nearby nerves.
  • Restrict movement.
  • Rub against other bones or tissues.

When that happens, you may feel some:

  • Knobby or bumpy areas, especially in the fingers or toes.
  • Numbness and weakness, especially in the legs if the spine has spurs.
  • Pain near the affected joint, like heel pain.
  • Reduced range of motion (how far the joint moves).
  • Stiffness.
  • Tendinitis (swelling of a nearby tendon).
  • Tendon tears (like a rotator cuff tear in the shoulder).



Diagnosis and Tests

How are bone spurs diagnosed?

Without symptoms, you may accidentally discover a bone spur during an X-ray or other test for a different condition.

If you report pain, stiffness and loss of motion to your healthcare provider, he or she will:

  • Ask you to describe your symptoms.
  • Ask about your medical history and family’s medical history.
  • Ask you to rate your discomfort.
  • Perform a physical examination.
  • Test your joint’s range of motion and strength.
  • Order imaging tests, like X-rays to look for arthritis and spurs or CT scans or MRIs to identify damaged ligaments or tendons.



Management and Treatment

When should I talk to my healthcare provider?

If you have bone spurs without symptoms, you don’t need treatment. Tell your healthcare provider if you develop joint pain, stiffness, limited motion or numbness.

How are bone spurs treated?

Some home remedies and lifestyle changes help ease osteophyte symptoms:

  • Ice to reduce swelling.
  • Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or NSAIDS like ibuprofen.
  • Rest.
  • Supportive shoes or shoe inserts.
  • Weight loss to decrease joint and bone stress.

If those methods aren’t enough, your healthcare provider can prescribe:

  • Physical therapy: Exercises and stretches can reduce pain, improve range of motion and strengthen muscles around joints.
  • Prescription pain medications: If over-the-counter pain medicines don’t provide relief, your healthcare provider may prescribe a stronger option or cortisone shot.
  • Surgery: If symptoms continue after a year of treatment, surgery can remove the bone spurs.



Prevention

How can I reduce my risk of bone spurs?

There is no certain way to prevent bone spurs. But you can reduce your chance of developing them by following a healthy lifestyle:

  • Be physically fit.
  • Eat a balanced, nutritious diet.
  • Maintain a healthy weight to reduce extra stress on bones and joints.
  • Maintain good posture and ergonomics (proper positioning at your desk).
  • Prevent joint injuries by stretching and using safe exercise techniques. Don’t overdo it.
  • Wear well-fitting, supportive shoes.



Outlook / Prognosis

How long do bone spurs last?

Bone spurs don’t go away unless you have surgery to remove them.

Do bone spurs grow back?

Although bone spurs don’t usually grow back after surgery, more may develop elsewhere in your body.



Living With

What can I do for pain and stiffness from bone spurs?

You can relieve pain and stiffness from bone spurs with rest, ice and over-the counter-medications. Properly fitting shoes and weight loss also reduce joint stress. If symptoms become severe or unmanageable, call your healthcare provider.

Should I avoid activity?

Even with bone spurs, try to stay active and healthy. Avoid activities and movements that hurt. Choose low-impact activities, like walking instead of running.

When you exercise, take steps to minimize joint damage: Make sure you have good footwear, concentrate on proper techniques, and always warm up and stretch.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Bone spurs may cause no symptoms at all or may drastically affect your day-to-day life. Home remedies and lifestyle choices can help you delay or ease symptoms. If you can’t control your pain or other symptoms on your own, ask your healthcare provider about additional strategies.

What’s the difference and how can I treat them?

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process.

Corns and calluses are hard, painful areas of skin that often develop on the feet in response to pressure or friction.

They happen when the skin tries to protect an underlying area from injury, pressure, or rubbing.

Neither is dangerous, but they can cause irritation.

They are more common among people who wear ill-fitting shoes, have sweaty feet, and those who stand for long periods each day.

They affect women more than men.

Fast facts about corns and calluses

Here are some facts about corns and calluses. There is more detailed information in the main article,

  • Corns have a distinct, often hard, center, which may be surrounded by inflamed skin.
  • Corns can be painful when pressed, but calluses are not usually painful.
  • Calluses are usually larger than corns, and they vary in shape, while corns tend to be smaller, round and well-defined.
  • Calluses normally develop on the soles of the feet, especially under the heels or balls, on the palms of the hands, and also on the knees. Corns often occur in non-weight-bearing parts of the skin.
  • A pumice stone or over-the-counter topical medicine can be used to treat corns and calluses without going to see a doctor.
  • Painful corns or calluses may need medical attention.
  • Lifestyle and clothing changes can help prevent corns and calluses.

People sometimes mistakenly use the terms corns and calluses interchangeably, but they are not the same.

What is a callus?

A callus is a section of skin that has become toughened and thick because of friction, pressure, or irritation. They often happen on the feet, but they can occur on the hands, elbows, or knees.

Calluses are yellowish or pale in color. They feel lumpy to the touch, but, as the skin is thick, it may be less sensitive to touch compared with the skin around it.

Calluses are often bigger and wider than corns, with less defined edges. They commonly appear where the skin frequently rubs against something, such as a bone, some item of footwear, or the ground.

They typically form over the bony area just under the toes, areas of skin that take the person’s weight when they are walking.

What is a corn?

A corn is a kind of callus, made of dead skin.

They usually form on smooth, hairless skin surfaces, especially on the top or the side of the toes. They are usually small and circular, with a clearly defined center that can be hard of soft.

Hard corns tend to be small, and they occur in areas of firm, hard skin, where the skin has thickened or where there are calluses, and in bony areas of the foot.

Soft corns tend to be whitish in color, with a rubbery texture. They more commonly occur between the toes, in areas of moist and sweaty skin.

Calluses and corns are not normally harmful, but sometimes they may lead to infections or ulcerations of the skin, especially among people with diabetes and those with poor circulation in the feet.

Share on PinterestCalluses have become toughened and thick due to friction. People can normally carry out treatment at home using over-the-counter products, but in especially painful cases may wish to see a podiatrist.

Corns and calluses can make a person feel as if they are walking on stones.

The following signs or symptoms may indicate that there is a corn or callus:

  • a raised, hardened bump
  • a thick and rough area of skin
  • skin that is flaky and dry or flaky and waxy
  • pain or tenderness under the skin

If a corn or callus becomes very inflamed or painful, the patient should seek medical advice.

Patients with poor circulation, fragile skin, or nerve problems and numbness in the feet should talk to their doctors before treating corns and calluses at home.

People with diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, and peripheral arterial disease need to be particularly watchful.

A podiatrist might cut away some of the thick skin with a scalpel to relieve pressure on the tissues that lie beneath. People should not cut the corn or callus themself as it could make it more painful and the risk of infection is high.

More information on removing calluses and corns can be found in the “home remedies” section below.

The following risk factors are linked to a higher incidence of corns and calluses:

  • anything that causes pressure or friction on the skin
  • shoes that are too tight or too high-heeled, causing pressure
  • shoes that are too loose, causing friction
  • a badly placed seam in a shoe that rubs against the skin
  • socks that do not fit well
  • wearing no socks
  • walking barefoot regularly, as the skin will thicken to protect itself
  • repeated actions such as jogging or walking in a particular way
  • older age, as there is less fatty tissue in the skin, which means less padding and a higher risk of developing calluses, especially on the ball of the foot

Calluses often appear on the feet, but friction and pressure can also cause calluses on the hands.

People who frequently cycle or use hand tools without wearing gloves can develop them. Repeated kneeling or resting elbows on a table can cause calluses on the knees or elbows.

Bunions, hammertoe, and other foot problems and deformities increase the risk of corns and calluses. A bunion is an abnormal, bony bump that develops on the joint at the base of the big toe. A hammertoe is when a toe becomes curled up like a claw.

Share on PinterestPeople can treat corns and calluses at home with a pumice stone or salicylic acid.

Many people treat corns and calluses at home, using over-the-counter products from a pharmacy.

Tips include:

  • Soaking the corn or callus in warm water for 5 to 10 minutes, then filing or scraping the area with a pumice stone. Circular or sideways motions help remove dead skin.
  • Using moisturizer every day on the feet. Products that contain salicylic acid, urea, or ammonium lactate help soften the dry skin to prepare it for filing.
  • If repetitive actions are causing the corns and calluses, avoiding these actions can often solve the problem.
  • Shoes and socks that fit properly, protective pads or insoles, and other self-care measure can help. Foam or silicone wedges may be used between the toes to reduce pressure on a corn. Orthotics are custom-made padded shoe inserts which may help people with an underlying foot deformity. A range of orthiotic products are available for purchase online.

When to see a doctor

If the corn or callus is very painful, or if the person has diabetes, fragile skin, or circulatory problems, it is best to consult a doctor or a podiatrist, who is specialized in foot care.

The doctor will examine the feet, ask the person about their lifestyle, and they may check their footwear.

A podiatrist, or foot doctor, may remove some of the hard skin that surrounds the corn so that the center of it can be removed.

After trimming the skin, the doctor may apply a patch with 40 percent salicylic acid. The patient will need to replace the patch periodically. A pumice stone or metal nail file is usually used to rub away dead skin before applying a new patch.

If there is infection or a risk of infection, the doctor may prescribe antibiotic ointment. Red and swollen skin around the corn or callus can indicate an infection.

If the doctor suspects there may be an underlying bone structure problem, they may refer the patient for an x-ray, and possibly surgery.

What is salicylic acid?

The standard treatment for corns and calluses is salicylic acid, which is also used in wart treatment.

This is a keratolytic, which means it dissolves the protein, or keratin, that makes up the corn and the dead skin around it.

It is available in creams, pads, and plasters, or it can be applied using an applicator or a dropper.

The top of the skin will turn white, and the dead tissue can be cut or filed away.

Once the corn or callus has gone, the individual can soak and rub down the area with a pumice stone each week, if the hard skin shows signs of from coming back.

Salicylic acid comes in different concentrations. Stronger doses may work faster, but it will need a prescription.

The ingredients can irritate surrounding skin, so care should be taken when applying it. Do not use this on a cracked corn or callus.

Cautions

When treating corns and calluses at home, it is important not to remove too much skin, as this can lead to pain and infection.

Older people and those with diabetes should not scrape, file, or trim their feet at home, as this can lead to infections that are difficult to cure. It could lead to ulcers on the skin.

They should ask a doctor before using salicylic acid, as this, too, can cause ulcers.

Any cutting or paring of skin is best done by a podiatrist or other health professional.

Repeated or regular trimming may be needed, as the corn or callus may recur.

The following measures may help reduce the risk of developing corns and calluses:

Share on PinterestWearing well-fitting socks and footwear can help to prevents corns and calluses.

  • Wash the feet with soap and water every evening. Use a scrubbing brush.
  • Apply a specially moisturizing foot cream after washing and drying them well. Do not use a body lotion. Foot lotions are available for purchase online.
  • Wear well-fitting shoes and socks with seams that do not rub the skin.
  • Shop for shoes later in the day, when the feet are at their largest, because feet swell slightly as the day progresses.
  • Deal with any foot pain or skin irritation as it arises.
  • Have a regular check up with a foot specialist.
  • When trimming the toenails, cut straight across, and not down at angles or over the edges.
  • Use a pumice stone or foot file regularly, and remove hard skin gently. Pumice stones are available for purchase online.
  • Wear clean socks every day and use talcum powder to prevent sweating. Talcum powder is available for purchase online.
  • Protect the hands when using tools, either with padded gloves or by padding the tool handles.

With treatment, corns and calluses can be removed, but they may return without lifestyle or footwear changes.

What’s the difference and how can I treat them?

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process.

Corns and calluses are hard, painful areas of skin that often develop on the feet in response to pressure or friction.

They happen when the skin tries to protect an underlying area from injury, pressure, or rubbing.

Neither is dangerous, but they can cause irritation.

They are more common among people who wear ill-fitting shoes, have sweaty feet, and those who stand for long periods each day.

They affect women more than men.

Fast facts about corns and calluses

Here are some facts about corns and calluses. There is more detailed information in the main article,

  • Corns have a distinct, often hard, center, which may be surrounded by inflamed skin.
  • Corns can be painful when pressed, but calluses are not usually painful.
  • Calluses are usually larger than corns, and they vary in shape, while corns tend to be smaller, round and well-defined.
  • Calluses normally develop on the soles of the feet, especially under the heels or balls, on the palms of the hands, and also on the knees. Corns often occur in non-weight-bearing parts of the skin.
  • A pumice stone or over-the-counter topical medicine can be used to treat corns and calluses without going to see a doctor.
  • Painful corns or calluses may need medical attention.
  • Lifestyle and clothing changes can help prevent corns and calluses.

People sometimes mistakenly use the terms corns and calluses interchangeably, but they are not the same.

What is a callus?

A callus is a section of skin that has become toughened and thick because of friction, pressure, or irritation. They often happen on the feet, but they can occur on the hands, elbows, or knees.

Calluses are yellowish or pale in color. They feel lumpy to the touch, but, as the skin is thick, it may be less sensitive to touch compared with the skin around it.

Calluses are often bigger and wider than corns, with less defined edges. They commonly appear where the skin frequently rubs against something, such as a bone, some item of footwear, or the ground.

They typically form over the bony area just under the toes, areas of skin that take the person’s weight when they are walking.

What is a corn?

A corn is a kind of callus, made of dead skin.

They usually form on smooth, hairless skin surfaces, especially on the top or the side of the toes. They are usually small and circular, with a clearly defined center that can be hard of soft.

Hard corns tend to be small, and they occur in areas of firm, hard skin, where the skin has thickened or where there are calluses, and in bony areas of the foot.

Soft corns tend to be whitish in color, with a rubbery texture. They more commonly occur between the toes, in areas of moist and sweaty skin.

Calluses and corns are not normally harmful, but sometimes they may lead to infections or ulcerations of the skin, especially among people with diabetes and those with poor circulation in the feet.

Share on PinterestCalluses have become toughened and thick due to friction. People can normally carry out treatment at home using over-the-counter products, but in especially painful cases may wish to see a podiatrist.

Corns and calluses can make a person feel as if they are walking on stones.

The following signs or symptoms may indicate that there is a corn or callus:

  • a raised, hardened bump
  • a thick and rough area of skin
  • skin that is flaky and dry or flaky and waxy
  • pain or tenderness under the skin

If a corn or callus becomes very inflamed or painful, the patient should seek medical advice.

Patients with poor circulation, fragile skin, or nerve problems and numbness in the feet should talk to their doctors before treating corns and calluses at home.

People with diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, and peripheral arterial disease need to be particularly watchful.

A podiatrist might cut away some of the thick skin with a scalpel to relieve pressure on the tissues that lie beneath. People should not cut the corn or callus themself as it could make it more painful and the risk of infection is high.

More information on removing calluses and corns can be found in the “home remedies” section below.

The following risk factors are linked to a higher incidence of corns and calluses:

  • anything that causes pressure or friction on the skin
  • shoes that are too tight or too high-heeled, causing pressure
  • shoes that are too loose, causing friction
  • a badly placed seam in a shoe that rubs against the skin
  • socks that do not fit well
  • wearing no socks
  • walking barefoot regularly, as the skin will thicken to protect itself
  • repeated actions such as jogging or walking in a particular way
  • older age, as there is less fatty tissue in the skin, which means less padding and a higher risk of developing calluses, especially on the ball of the foot

Calluses often appear on the feet, but friction and pressure can also cause calluses on the hands.

People who frequently cycle or use hand tools without wearing gloves can develop them. Repeated kneeling or resting elbows on a table can cause calluses on the knees or elbows.

Bunions, hammertoe, and other foot problems and deformities increase the risk of corns and calluses. A bunion is an abnormal, bony bump that develops on the joint at the base of the big toe. A hammertoe is when a toe becomes curled up like a claw.

Share on PinterestPeople can treat corns and calluses at home with a pumice stone or salicylic acid.

Many people treat corns and calluses at home, using over-the-counter products from a pharmacy.

Tips include:

  • Soaking the corn or callus in warm water for 5 to 10 minutes, then filing or scraping the area with a pumice stone. Circular or sideways motions help remove dead skin.
  • Using moisturizer every day on the feet. Products that contain salicylic acid, urea, or ammonium lactate help soften the dry skin to prepare it for filing.
  • If repetitive actions are causing the corns and calluses, avoiding these actions can often solve the problem.
  • Shoes and socks that fit properly, protective pads or insoles, and other self-care measure can help. Foam or silicone wedges may be used between the toes to reduce pressure on a corn. Orthotics are custom-made padded shoe inserts which may help people with an underlying foot deformity. A range of orthiotic products are available for purchase online.

When to see a doctor

If the corn or callus is very painful, or if the person has diabetes, fragile skin, or circulatory problems, it is best to consult a doctor or a podiatrist, who is specialized in foot care.

The doctor will examine the feet, ask the person about their lifestyle, and they may check their footwear.

A podiatrist, or foot doctor, may remove some of the hard skin that surrounds the corn so that the center of it can be removed.

After trimming the skin, the doctor may apply a patch with 40 percent salicylic acid. The patient will need to replace the patch periodically. A pumice stone or metal nail file is usually used to rub away dead skin before applying a new patch.

If there is infection or a risk of infection, the doctor may prescribe antibiotic ointment. Red and swollen skin around the corn or callus can indicate an infection.

If the doctor suspects there may be an underlying bone structure problem, they may refer the patient for an x-ray, and possibly surgery.

What is salicylic acid?

The standard treatment for corns and calluses is salicylic acid, which is also used in wart treatment.

This is a keratolytic, which means it dissolves the protein, or keratin, that makes up the corn and the dead skin around it.

It is available in creams, pads, and plasters, or it can be applied using an applicator or a dropper.

The top of the skin will turn white, and the dead tissue can be cut or filed away.

Once the corn or callus has gone, the individual can soak and rub down the area with a pumice stone each week, if the hard skin shows signs of from coming back.

Salicylic acid comes in different concentrations. Stronger doses may work faster, but it will need a prescription.

The ingredients can irritate surrounding skin, so care should be taken when applying it. Do not use this on a cracked corn or callus.

Cautions

When treating corns and calluses at home, it is important not to remove too much skin, as this can lead to pain and infection.

Older people and those with diabetes should not scrape, file, or trim their feet at home, as this can lead to infections that are difficult to cure. It could lead to ulcers on the skin.

They should ask a doctor before using salicylic acid, as this, too, can cause ulcers.

Any cutting or paring of skin is best done by a podiatrist or other health professional.

Repeated or regular trimming may be needed, as the corn or callus may recur.

The following measures may help reduce the risk of developing corns and calluses:

Share on PinterestWearing well-fitting socks and footwear can help to prevents corns and calluses.

  • Wash the feet with soap and water every evening. Use a scrubbing brush.
  • Apply a specially moisturizing foot cream after washing and drying them well. Do not use a body lotion. Foot lotions are available for purchase online.
  • Wear well-fitting shoes and socks with seams that do not rub the skin.
  • Shop for shoes later in the day, when the feet are at their largest, because feet swell slightly as the day progresses.
  • Deal with any foot pain or skin irritation as it arises.
  • Have a regular check up with a foot specialist.
  • When trimming the toenails, cut straight across, and not down at angles or over the edges.
  • Use a pumice stone or foot file regularly, and remove hard skin gently. Pumice stones are available for purchase online.
  • Wear clean socks every day and use talcum powder to prevent sweating. Talcum powder is available for purchase online.
  • Protect the hands when using tools, either with padded gloves or by padding the tool handles.

With treatment, corns and calluses can be removed, but they may return without lifestyle or footwear changes.

Calluses vs. Corns – Treatment, Home Remedies, Removal

What Is A Corn? What Is a Callus?

Corns and calluses can be annoying, but your body actually forms them to protect sensitive skin. Corns and calluses are often confused with one another.

Corns generally occur at pressure points, typically the bottom of the feet and the sides of toes. They can be painful.

 A hard corn is a small patch of thickened, dead skin with a central core. A soft corn has a much thinner surface and usually occurs between the 4th and 5th toes. A seed corn is a tiny, discrete callous that can be very tender if it’s on a weight-bearing part of the foot. Seed corns tend to occur on the bottom of the feet, and some doctors believe this condition is caused by plugged sweat ducts.

Calluses are thickenings of the outermost layer of the skin  and are painless. They can develop on hands, feet, or anywhere there is repeated friction — even on a violinist’s chin. Like corns, calluses have several variants. The common callus usually occurs when there’s been a lot of rubbing against the hands or feet. A plantar callus is found on the bottom of the foot.

What Causes Corns and Calluses?

Some corns and calluses on the feet develop from an improper walking motion, but most are caused by ill-fitting shoes. High-heeled shoes are the worst offenders. They put pressure on the toes and make women four times as likely as men to have foot problems. Other risk factors for developing a corn or callus include foot deformities and wearing shoes or sandals without socks, which leads to friction on the feet.

Rubbing or pressure can cause either soft corns or plantar calluses. If you or your child develops a callus that has no clear source of pressure, have it looked at by a doctor since it could be a wart or caused by a foreign body, like a splinter, trapped under the skin. Feet spend most of their time in a closed, moist environment — ideal for breeding bacteria. Staph infections can start when bacteria enter corns through breaks in the skin and cause the infected corn to release fluid or pus.

Corns and Calluses | Prevention & Treatment

What are corns and calluses?

Corns

A corn is a small area of skin which has become thickened due to pressure on it. A corn is roughly round in shape. Corns press into the deeper layers of skin and can be painful.

  • Hard corns commonly occur on the top of the smaller toes or on the outer side of the little toe. These are the areas where poorly fitted shoes tend to rub most.
  • Soft corns sometimes form in between the toes, most commonly between the fourth and fifth toes. These are softer because the sweat between the toes keeps them moist. Soft corns can sometimes become infected.

Toe corns

Calluses

A callus is usually larger and broader than a corn and has a less well-defined edge. These tend to form on the underside of your foot (the sole). They commonly form over the bony area just underneath your toes. This weight bearing area takes much of your weight when you walk. They are usually painless but can become painful.

Calluses on the underside of the foot

What causes corns and calluses?

The small bones of the toes and feet are broader and more lumpy near to the small joints of the toes. If there is repeated friction or pressure on the skin overlying a small rough area of bone, this will cause the skin to thicken. This may lead to corns or calluses forming.

The common causes of rubbing and pressure are tight or ill fitting shoes which tend to cause corns on the top of the toes and side of the little toe. Also, too much walking or running which tends to cause calluses on the bottom of the feet (the soles). So if you do sports or activities that involve repeated pressure on your feet then this will increase your risk of developing a callus.

Corns and calluses are more likely to develop if you have very prominent bony toes, thin skin, or any deformities of the toes or feet which cause the skin to rub more easily inside shoes. People with bunions are more likely to develop corns and calluses.

What are the treatments for corns and calluses?

If you develop a painful corn or callus it is best to obtain expert advice from a person qualified to diagnose and treat foot disorders (a podiatrist – previously called a chiropodist). You should not cut corns yourself, especially if you are elderly or have diabetes.

Treatments such as corn plasters will reduce the pressure on your corn but will not actually treat the corn.

Advice and options to treat corns and calluses include the following:

Trimming (paring down)

The thickened skin of a corn or callus can be pared down by a podiatrist by using a scalpel blade. The pain is usually much reduced as the corn or callus is pared down and the pressure on the underlying tissues eased. Sometimes, repeated or regular trimming sessions are needed. Once a corn or callus has been pared down, it may not return if you use good footwear.

If the skin seems to be thickening up again, a recurrence may be prevented by rubbing down the thickening skin with a pumice stone or emery paper once a week. Many people can do this themselves. It is best to soak your foot in warm water for 20 minutes to soften the thick skin before using a pumice stone or emery paper. A moisturising cream used regularly on a trimmed corn or callus will keep the skin softened and easier to rub down.

Chemical treatment

There are different types of medicated products which work by chemically paring down the thickened, dead skin on corns and calluses. These usually contain salicylic acid, which is also present in many wart-removal products.

Salicylic acid is a keratolytic, which means it dissolves the protein (keratin) that makes up most of both the corn and the thick layer of dead skin which usually tops it. It is important to use these products as directed in the package directions; these products are gentle and safe for most people. Salicylic acid treatments are available in different forms including drops, pads and plasters.

All these treatments will turn the top of your skin white and then you will be able trim or peel away the dead tissue. This results in the corn sticking out less, which will make it less painful.

Although these products can work well, they should not be used if you have diabetes or poor circulation. This is because your skin is less likely to heal well after using salicylic acid and there is a risk that an ulcer may develop.

Shoes and footwear

Tight or ill fitting shoes are thought to be the main cause of most corns and calluses. Sometimes a rough seam or stitching in a shoe may rub enough to cause a corn. The aim is to wear shoes that reduce pressure and rubbing on the toes and forefeet. Shoes should have plenty of room for the toes and have soft uppers and low heels. High heels, especially if they are tight fitting, can lead to repeated friction and make corns and calluses worse. In addition, extra width is needed if corns develop on the outer side of the little toe. Extra height is needed if corns develop on the top of abnormal toes such as ‘hammer’ or ‘claw’ toes.

Correcting poor footwear will reduce any rubbing or repeated friction on your skin. In many cases, a corn or callus will go away if rubbing or pressure is stopped with improved footwear. If you have had a corn or callus pared away, a recurrence will usually be prevented by wearing good footwear. If you are able, going barefoot when not outdoors will also help.

Some people with abnormalities of their feet or toes will need special shoes to prevent rubbing. A podiatrist can advise you about this.

Footpads and toe protection

Depending on the site of a corn or callus, a cushioning pad or shoe insole may be of benefit. For example, for a callus under the foot, a soft shoe insert may cushion the skin and help the callus to heal. If there is a corn between your toes, a special sleeve worn around your toe may ease the pressure. A special toe splint may also help to keep your toes apart to allow a corn between toes to heal. A podiatrist will be able to advise you on any appropriate padding, insoles or appliances you may need.

Surgery

If you have a foot or toe abnormality causing recurring problems, an operation may be advised if all else fails. For example, an operation may be needed to straighten a deformed toe, or to cut out a part of a bone that is sticking out from a toe and causing problems. If you need an operation then you will be referred to a surgeon who will be able to discuss this with you in more detail. 

What happens if a corn becomes infected?

Occasionally corns or calluses can become infected. If this happens then your corn would become more painful and the skin around the corn (or callus) will become red and sore. Pus may come out of the corn. You should see your GP, who will be able to prescribe antibiotics if necessary.

90,000 How to get rid of calluses on the feet, types of calluses, pharmaceutical preparations, folk recipes

Attention!

The presented material is for informational purposes and is aimed at podiatrists who can take a refresher course on this topic.

SNTA is an educational organization, therefore, treatment consultations are not provided. Our specialists can provide assistance only in matters of obtaining additional professional education – refresher courses and professional retraining.

Calluses are a problem that every modern person inevitably faced at least once. Uncomfortable shoes, long walks or footwork, thin skin – there are many reasons contributing to the appearance of this unpleasant formation.

How to get rid of dry calluses on your toes?

How to quickly get rid of calluses on your feet?

Core calluses on the feet: how to get rid of?

How to get rid of corn kernels at home

How to get rid of calluses on the feet?

How to get rid of calluses between your toes?

In addition to the fact that calluses look unaesthetic, they are sometimes very painful. Since few agree to endure discomfort, there are probably a thousand and one ways to get rid of the problem with the help of drugs and products that can be found in any home. The effectiveness of such “grandfather’s” methods has not been proven, however, recipes for medicinal mixtures are passed down from generation to generation, which proves their relevance.

How to get rid of dry calluses on your toes?

For starters, it is worth noting the fact that calluses are divided into two types:

  • dry;
  • wet.

Dry calluses, they are also corns, are easiest to remove with a coarse pedicure file or ordinary pumice stone. The best effect is achieved if problem areas are treated dry, without steaming.

For those who still cannot do without preliminary softening of the skin, it is recommended to dip their feet in a mixture of soda (2 tablespoons), liquid soap (2 tablespoons) and hot water for half an hour. Such a bath will soften the hardened epidermis and help remove corns faster than dry resurfacing.

Another option is to apply salicylic ointment (10%) to the corn at night. Lovers of homemade recipes can make a homemade compress from the pulp of black bread soaked in vinegar or lemon juice, with the addition of grated lemon zest. Regardless of which method you like, after smearing the calluses on your leg, you need to put on a plastic bag and a warm sock. In the morning, all that remains is to cut off the already soft and pliable skin.

If we talk about pharmaceuticals, then a special therapeutic patch helps to effectively get rid of corns.It is glued to the previously steamed legs and changes every 24 hours for 3-4 days (until the corn completely disappears).

Now the question of how to get rid of calluses, calluses, you will no longer have.

How to quickly get rid of calluses on the feet?

The second kind of consequence of wearing tight shoes is water (wet) calluses. The quickest way to get rid of them is a puncture. This method is controversial, since if the callus is damaged, there is a chance of infection. However, it cannot be denied that calluses freed from fluid heal much better than unpunctured ones.

If you nevertheless decide to “dry” the corn, then take care of sterility in advance: wash your hands and the problem area itself, burn the tip of the needle on fire or disinfect it with alcohol, prepare a napkin / gauze disinfected with an antiseptic to absorb the blood from the corn.

After the corn is punctured, it must be treated with an antimicrobial ointment and sealed with a medical plaster. At night, you can additionally apply agents that accelerate tissue regeneration.

You can learn more about the rules of nutrition, the principles of forming a reasonable diet at 7-module certification course in dietetics and nutritionology from the leading nutritionist Oleg Iryshkin.

Core calluses on the feet: how to get rid of?

Core calluses are hard, rough patches of skin with a dot (speck) in the center. They do not have a cavity, but they have a rod that goes deep into the thickness of the epidermis.

Core calluses are the result of ignoring corns. The problem is localized most often on the heels and on the pads of the toes. People who wear uncomfortable shoes, suffer from fungal or viral skin lesions, and also often injure their legs (athletes, ballerinas, etc.) are at risk of earning such an unpleasant defect.

It is possible to remove corns with a core at home, but doing it yourself is highly discouraged.The fact is that inept manipulations with periodically inflamed core calluses are dangerous not only with an increased likelihood of infection, but also with the risk of injury to the deep layers of the epidermis.

If you find a corns with a dot inside, it is better to immediately consult a dermatologist who will offer you one of three solutions to the problem:

  1. Removal of calluses with a special cutter (the cavity formed in the skin is filled with an antiseptic).
  2. Removal of corn with liquid nitrogen.
  3. Removal of corns with carbon dioxide laser (the most modern and effective method of treating core corns, eliminating the risk of inflammation).

All of the above procedures are painless, but in case of hypersensitivity, they can be performed using local anesthesia.

How to Get Rid of Corn Corn at Home

If, for some reason, it is not possible to consult a specialist, there are several methods for eliminating the callus at home.All techniques are based on the initial softening of the corns and its subsequent mechanical removal.

For the first stage – softening – a patch with salicylic acid is most often used, which is glued to the problem area, and then fixed with a bandage or any other fixing agent. You need to wear the patch for several days, after which you can try to remove the corn core mechanically. If the “operation” is successful, the recess remaining in the skin must be treated with iodine and sealed with a plaster until complete healing.

If the problem was noticed in the early stages, then the removal of the corn will pass quickly and without much discomfort, but if the situation is started, the first attempt to remove the rod may end in failure: the “cap” of the corn will be removed, but subsequent manipulations will be very painful.

Even taking into account the possibility of self-disposal of corn kernels at home, in order to avoid complications, it is better to consult a qualified dermatologist.

How to get rid of calluses on the feet?

Corns on the feet is a common problem, the solution of which is made difficult by the constant load on this place during the walking process. If you do not take into account the specialized creams, oils, ointments and patches sold in any pharmacy, you can get rid of calluses on the feet with folk recipes.

For example, steaming the skin in a bath of hot water diluted with a strong decoction of chamomile helps to cope with corns. It takes half an hour to soften the hardened skin of the legs, after which the problem area must be carefully treated with pumice stone, wiped dry and lubricated with nourishing cream or fatty oil (olive, almond, sandalwood). To enhance the effect, you need to put on socks and take a horizontal position for a while so that the skin is maximally moisturized and softened.

It is important to remember that neither folk nor pharmaceutical remedies for corns will help if you continue to wear uncomfortable, tight shoes.The cut corns will simply return in a more severe form.

How do I get rid of calluses between my toes?

To understand how to get rid of calluses on your feet, including between your toes, you need to know what is causing the problem.

The frequent appearance of calluses is facilitated by diseases such as:

  • rheumatoid arthritis, arthrosis;
  • 90,031 obesity;

  • permanent edema of the limbs;
  • flat feet;
  • 90,031 gout;

    90,031 bursitis;

  • arteritis.

Vitamin A deficiency can also play a decisive role, therefore, with constant problems with the skin of the legs, you must first of all pay attention to the state of health.

You can soften the epidermis by adding the following ingredients to hot water intended for baths:

  • salt / soda / vinegar;
  • soap / shower gel / bath foam;
  • decoction of oak / chamomile bark.

After cutting off the corn, folk healers suggest making compresses from:

  • tomatoes;
  • 90,031 lemons;

    90,031 crushed boiled potatoes;

    90,031 onion / garlic juice;

  • prunes boiled in milk.

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90,000 what to do and how to treat

How to treat a callus between your toes © depositphotos. com

Corn is a skin growth that occurs when the body is rubbed with clothing or shoes. They are in the form of corns or dropsy.The most common location for calluses is on the heels, on the toes, and between them. Callous growths cause a lot of inconvenience, can affect the surrounding tissues, so they need to be treated as soon as possible. Learn how not to confuse a callus with a viral or fungal infection, how to get rid of calluses, what folk remedies will help to cure calluses between the fingers, the treatment of interdigital calluses with pharmaceutical preparations or in the beautician’s office.


How interdigital calluses appear, their types


There are not so many reasons for the appearance of calluses – wearing poor-quality, improperly selected shoes, non-observance of hygiene rules.Often, calluses appear after putting on a new pair of shoes; after a long active day, even in good shoes, a callus may appear between the toes.

The appearance of interdigital calluses is influenced by several factors, for example, an uncomfortable last, the wrong size, deformity of the feet, fungus.

Calluses between toes can be dry or wet. Dry types include common corns and core calluses. The first appear with constant friction, subsequently the skin becomes thickened and inflamed.Dry calluses are often cone-shaped. If a corn callus appears, and this is a small spur located inside the seal in a round hole, constant pain cannot be avoided.

Wet calluses or dropsy represent an area where the skin has exfoliated and fluid has accumulated underneath. The callus may burst, redness appears, and infection is added.

In order not to treat corns later, it is worth taking care of the prevention of their appearance. Experts believe that regular lubrication of the feet with an emollient cream will help.This is done only at night, and during the day, you can sprinkle your feet with talcum powder or baby powder.


How to treat dry calluses between the toes


To get rid of dry corn, it is necessary to soften the stratum corneum. To do this, use baths, pharmaceuticals, for example, ointments and patches. They are applied pointwise to damaged tissue, and to protect healthy skin, a regular patch is used. A corn patch or ointment is left on the damaged area for a day, and then the corns is cleaned off with a pumice stone.

Dry calluses with a core are the most difficult to treat. It is important to determine that this is a callus, and not a plantar wart, so that mechanical action does not provoke the spread of the virus and the appearance of numerous new formations.

Home treatment is not always effective, so it is worth contacting a dermatologist or podiatrist. Eliminate corns using cryotherapy (removal with liquid nitrogen) or laser therapy (laser action on the damaged area), drill the corn with a cutter.But it is strictly forbidden to cut off the corn with scissors or a blade, since the risk of infection is very high. Diabetics and people suffering from blood diseases should be especially careful to remove calluses between the fingers.

How to treat a callus between the fingers © depositphotos.com

Folk remedies help soften roughness and get rid of calluses between the toes.

  • Trays. For an evening procedure, you can dilute 1 tbsp.l. soda in 800 ml of water. First, the feet are lathered with laundry soap and steamed in a soda solution for 20 minutes. The coarse skin is cleaned off with a pumice stone, and the feet are wiped dry. After the procedure, the limbs are lubricated with nourishing cream and cotton socks are put on. Baths with a solution of potassium permanganate with salt and ammonia also help.
  • Compresses. You can use vodka, vinegar, garlic, onions, aloe and Kalanchoe juice, lemon or orange peel, propolis. Compresses from these ingredients are applied overnight, after steaming in a soda bath. For example, you can pour onion peel with vinegar, insist in a dark place for two weeks. Then the liquid is filtered, and the product is applied to the corn and sealed with a plaster. Cotton socks are put on top. In the morning, the feet should be washed with soap, and the softened skin is removed with a pumice stone.
  • Acetic acid lubrication. Carefully lubricate only the corn, avoiding the contact of acid on healthy areas of the skin, seal with a plaster. Acetic acid must be washed off with warm water and soap.
    After mechanical removal of the hardened skin, a healing or emollient medicinal ointment or cream is applied to the sore spot.

Treatment of wet calluses between the toes


Wet calluses between the toes appear in summer. To prevent the blister from breaking open, you must change your shoes. The feet are thoroughly washed in soapy water and wiped dry. In place of the already burst corn, after washing and drying, an antiseptic ointment is applied. It is not recommended to lubricate the wound with iodine or brilliant green, as you can burn the already injured skin.The treated wound is sealed with an antibacterial plaster, which will prevent the penetration of infection, absorb the released fluid.


Earlier we talked about 5 gross mistakes that you make when choosing shoes .

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Causes of occurrence, ointments and home remedies

In order to understand how to quickly remove a corn, it is necessary to determine its type, for this it is enough to examine the affected area.Each type of defect has characteristic features, so the diagnosis is not difficult.

In the case of blisters, it is important to start therapy on time so that you do not have to figure out how to treat a burst callus in the future. To begin with, you should stop any exposure to the affected area, for example, change shoes. The skin is treated with an antiseptic, a bactericidal patch is fixed.

If you plan to pierce the bladder, you need to know how to treat the corn. But doctors do not advise doing this because of the high risk of infection.As a last resort, you can use a needle from a disposable syringe. In this case, it is important not to injure soft tissues. If a wet callus is inflamed, a purulent discharge appears, you need to visit a doctor. Only he can tell you how to treat calluses on the heel with signs of suppuration. Typically, a specialist will clean the wound, treat it, and apply a bandage.

If there is no blister, and the skin is covered with a stratum corneum, you need to figure out how to treat dry callus. To achieve the effect, you need to adhere to the following algorithm:

  1. The skin is steamed, you can add a decoction of chamomile or calendula.
  2. The keratinized area must be rubbed with a pumice stone.
  3. Apply a greasy cream or oil to the skin.
  4. For a warming effect, you can use socks.

How quickly the callus heals depends to a large extent on its size and the regularity of the procedures.

The most difficult question concerns how to treat a corn on a rod-type leg. Therapy can take a long time and it is better to entrust this process to doctors. Experts offer the following methods:

  • Cryotherapy or nitrogen freezing.
  • Laser therapy.
  • Bar drilling.

Each procedure has its own characteristics and indications for use. Only a physician can determine how to remove the corns. All of the listed procedures are complex and after they are performed, the doctor’s recommendations must be followed in order to exclude the development of complications.

How to treat a callus on a finger in a particular case is determined by the doctor, taking into account the state of the focus and the individual characteristics of the patient.

Getting rid of “studs” on your feet?

Tight, uncomfortable shoes and age-related changes are the most common causes of calluses. At first glance, small calluses can cause big trouble. The fact that from an aesthetic point of view they look ugly is not so bad. But with the physical pain that they deliver – it is no longer possible to put up. How to get rid of this misfortune?

Where do calluses grow?

Calluses can appear anywhere on the foot, but their favorite spots are the toes and heels. These unpleasant skin lesions are of four types:

Wet callus, blister or dropsy. It usually occurs from wearing tight or stiff shoes. A liquid appears under the rubbed skin, sometimes with an admixture of blood. It is difficult not to notice such formations, as they deliver sharp pain.

Subungual callus can appear under any part of the nail plate; it does not have a root. The most common cause is the pressure on the seams of the shoe.

Callus occurs most often on the joints of the fingers, in the area of ​​the metatarsal heads, on the plantar side and on other parts of the foot.

Dry callus with a thorn , also called “carnation”, can occur on any part of the foot. The diameter is from a “point” and up to several millimeters. Dry callus has a shaft and a root that goes deep into the skin. Getting rid of these calluses is the hardest part.

Do we treat or cripple?

We will tell you about the treatment of corns at home a little below, but for now we will focus your attention on what absolutely cannot be done.

1. It is strictly forbidden to cut hard dry corn – it is fraught with infection.

2. Callus should not be pierced for the same reason as cutting off calluses – the inflammation of the skin will only worsen if you bring an infection there.

3. Often, after discovering wet corn, we simply cover it with ordinary adhesive tape and continue to wear tight and uncomfortable shoes. This is harmful, because if the callus gets coarse, it will be much more difficult to get rid of it.

Traditional methods of treatment of corns

Trays

Corns on the leg can be removed thanks to the softening baths.You will need sea salt or pine concentrate. In a liter of hot water, you need to dilute 2 tablespoons of the desired component. Soak for 15 minutes, then use a pumice stone to gently peel off the steamed callus on your big toe or anywhere else there is a mass.

Propolis

An effective remedy for calluses on the feet – propolis. It is necessary to glue natural propolis with adhesive plaster to the corn. In just a couple of days, the education will disappear.To speed up the process of removing calluses, you can scrape off the stratum corneum with a pumice stone daily.

Aloe

This recipe works well for fresh calluses – aloe is effective as long as the skin is not too hard. The leaves of the plant must be thoroughly washed, then the film must be removed from them so that only moist pulp remains. Steam the skin on the leg and apply a bandage with aloe pulp on it. Re-bandage and leave like this overnight.

Lemon

Corn between the toes and elsewhere heals lemon well.First, it is recommended to make a warm softening bath, then apply a bandage with lemon zest and pulp on the corn, which is a good procedure to do at night.

***

We are sure that if you use at least some of the above means, your fingers and feet will delight you with their beauty and become soft and delicate to the touch.

Elena Chaikovskaya

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90,000 The heels are smooth, but the corns between the toes … (the expert advises how to preserve a beautiful gait) – Flat feet

Calluses and corns definitely interfere with “going through life easily”. We found out from an expert how to properly care for your feet!

In ancient times, calluses and corns were treated with conspiracies and were removed from frog skin with compresses. Today, podiatrists (foot specialists) have more reliable methods of getting rid of adversity.

Callus between the toes and on the feet: what it is and the reasons for the appearance

  • One of the reasons for the appearance of such sores in both adults and children is improperly selected shoes. Shoes may be out of size, shoes are too narrow or have hard, tight fasteners, bad last. It is between the toes that injuries often appear in summer due to the wearing of sandals or slates with a traditional lintel.
  • Wearing high heels can cause calluses (areas of keratinous skin) on the sole near toes.The fact is that on “Louboutins” the load on the forefoot is extremely increased. In fact, in this case, such growths perform a protective function – they protect the skin from excessive exposure. The optimal heel height is calculated by the formula: the length of the foot in centimeters must be divided by 7.
  • If calluses and calluses appear not once, but on a permanent basis, it is easy to assume another, and perhaps the most common cause of the problem – transverse flat feet.

Why are foot deformities dangerous and how do they affect the appearance of corns on the toes and feet?

Systematic engorgement may lead the doctor to believe that the patient is not doing well with the health of the feet.Before starting treatment, a specialist, having studied the keratinized area of ​​the skin, will exclude the presence of a fungal infection and the presence of a viral wart. Then he can conduct podiatric tests using, among other things, a modern diagnostic apparatus – a podoscope. It is necessary to study the work of the entire musculoskeletal system (MSA) in statics and movement. Based on the results, the doctor will determine the presence of flat feet or other pathologies.

The danger of flat feet is that the flattened foot no longer acts as an impeccable “engineering mechanism”.All of its functions suffer: from depreciation to balancing. Making movements that are not ideal from the point of view of biomechanics, the foot is easily susceptible to injury, engorgement, the appearance of the very calluses and corns (they are also called calluses according to the generally accepted classification).

And here a vicious circle or, more precisely, a growing lump of problems arises. Because excruciating pain in the foot, caused by calluses or calluses, also provokes changes in gait. A person intuitively puts his foot differently in order to reduce the load on the diseased area.The altered gait disrupts the alignment of the entire musculoskeletal system. “Extra” muscle groups are involved, overstrain of the entire muscle corset occurs. And this, in turn, results in pain in the knee, lower back and further, higher, stronger – up to migraines and malocclusion. And it all started with “annoying” calluses, do you remember?

A hammer toe, as well as a “bone” ( hallux valgus ) – deformities caused by flat feet – increase the chance of trauma to the skin of the feet.An unnaturally bent and twisted index finger in the first case or a protruding “bump” in the second is especially often rubbed with shoes. The result is a thickening of the skin.

How How to get rid of calluses and corns on toes?

Wet calluses that appear after wearing an unworn pair of shoes will go away on their own, they do not need to be treated. The main thing is not to arrange an “autopsy” in any case. This will both slow down healing and increase the risk of infection.You can put a patch on the blister to avoid breakouts and wear soft, loose shoes for a couple of days. If the “bubble” still bursts, the sore must be treated with an antiseptic.

Large hard calluses, corns with a “core”, causing pain when walking, should be cleaned by a podiatrist or even a podiatrist. He can cut out the seal, dissolve with special preparations. In difficult cases, laser or liquid nitrogen is used for removal.

Self-burning with salicylic acid or the use of strong keratolytics at home is unsafe and can cause extensive skin damage and severe ulceration requiring long-term treatment.

Attempts to “drill out” the calcification with your own hands using an electric file or even an attempt to cut it off with a blade are very dangerous. As the saying goes, “one careless movement and …”. Moreover, even too zealous attempts to rip off skin growths with a pumice stone can injure, disrupt the skin and provoke an infection.

Should I use the toe ointment before going to the doctor’s office? Careless use of an ointment with sufficiently serious ingredients can also lead to ulcers and damage.

Prophylaxis – gold standard of callus treatment

If you ask yourself the question “how to cure corns on the feet, on the toes” too often, then it is important to understand the reason why the skin is constantly injured and rough in these places, and to choose the appropriate prevention methods .

First, you should reconsider your wardrobe and give up super-fashionable, but uncomfortable shoes. Yes, it’s sad! But no beauty requires such sacrifices.

Secondly , even in summer you should not give in to dangerous fashion and wear shoes on bare feet. Wet, sweaty feet also rub more easily, and are more susceptible to diseases such as “athlete’s foot”, or, more simply, a fungus.

And thirdly, as we have already found out, the systematic formation of sores is a symptom of the incorrect work of the ODA. This means that in order to prevent the formation of corns, it is necessary to develop a strategy for compensating foot deformities with a specialist.

In many cases, the problem can be solved by wearing foot orthoses, which correct the biomechanics of movement and optimally distribute the load on the foot. An important nuance: the insoles are made individually. Moreover, the doctor does not just take an impression of the foot, but takes into account its condition in all phases of the step.

The best optimizing biomechanics of movement is orthoses made of soft elastic foam, imitating wet sand. They work not only for comfort, but also activate the muscles that lift the arches of the foot (important for the prevention of deformities, including flat feet).

As an additional measure, people with especially delicate skin of the feet will benefit from medical and cosmetic care – baths with various oils. In addition, you can buy a special SPA mixture with salt and herbs or prepare it at home according to the following recipe: dilute 2 cups of chamomile infusion with three liters of warm water and add a tablespoon of baking soda and sea salt (regular salt is also fine).

So, we found out how calluses appear, how calluses can create indirect problems in any part of the body, why home “microsurgery” is a dangerous solution and, most importantly, how to prevent all these troubles! Still have questions? Ask in the comments to the article!

OUR EXPERT

Olga Borisovna Chizhevskaya,

Executive Director of the Podiatry Promotion League

https: // lisa.ru / zdorovye / 626902-lechim-natoptyshi-mezhdu-palcami-nog-sovety-eksperta-kak-sberech-krasivuyu-pohodku /

Posted on 04/17/2020 on the website lisa. ru

Plaster compeed 10 for calluses between toes

05/25/2019

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08/20/2019

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23.12.2019

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Compid plaster from wet calluses between the toes No. 8

COMPEED HYDROCOLLOID TECHNOLOGY IS AN ACTIVE GEL WITH WATER-ABSORBING PARTICLES.
THANKS TO UNIQUE HYDROCOLLOID TECHNOLOGY, COMPEED PLASTER? FROM WET CRAINS, ABSORBES WOUND LIQUID AND MAINTAINS AN OPTIMUM LEVEL OF SKIN MOISTURE.
PLASTER CAN STAY ON SKIN FOR MORE THAN 24 HOURS, PROTECTS CORINS ON FOOTS FROM EXTERNAL FACTORS AND SPEEDS HEALING. COMPEED PLAYER WORKS AS A SECOND SKIN, MAINTAINING A NATURAL HYDRATION LEVEL: INSTANTLY REDUCES PAIN FROM WET BRAINS. PROTECTS CORN FRICTION.
PROVIDES FAST SKIN HEALING.
PLASTER CAN STAY ON SKIN FOR SEVERAL DAYS.
DURATION MAY BE DIFFERENT IN EACH CASE.

Roster

ARTIFICIAL ELASTOMER, ADHESIVE RESIN, PLASTICIZER, HYDROCOLLOID PARTICLES, PIGMENT, POLYURETHANE COATING.

FROM WET CASES ON THE FEET BETWEEN THE FINGERS

INDIVIDUAL INTOLERANCE OF PRODUCT COMPONENTS. IF ANY IRRITATION OR ALLERGIC REACTIONS APPEAR, STOP USE IMMEDIATELY.DO NOT APPLY ON INFECTED WOUNDS.