Easy Ways to Treat Corns on Feet and Foot Calluses
Corns on feet are small and circular patches of hard skin which form on the feet in order to protect the underlying tissues from damage, soreness and abrasion. They are commonly found on the toes or the sides of your feet, but can form anywhere where there is friction or rubbing. Two types of foot corns can develop: hard corns and soft corns. Both are caused by wearing improper footwear, excess forces acting on the feet, obesity and anything which otherwise cause pressure, rubbing and friction.
Prevention is the best way to address foot corns, although treatment is usually straightforward. Preventative measures include avoiding wearing shoes that are either too tight or too loose, using padding to ease pressure and prevent rubbing, and wearing close fitting cotton socks.
Insoles and shoe inserts are also a good choice, especially where there is an underlying condition which affects the way weight is distributed, such as fallen arches or bunions. You should also refrain from constantly wearing high-heeled shoes as these place excessive forces on the balls of the feet and the toes. If the size and shape of your shoes do not accommodate your feet well, corns are likely to form.
If you have already developed corns on feet or foot calluses, some of the easiest treatment methods are listed below.
Soak your feet
To immediately relieve yourself from the pain caused by foot corns, you can soak your affected feet in warm water mixed with salt. Afterwards, apply a moisturizing cream and wrap your foot to keep the area moist. After a few hours, remove the bag and rub the corns gently using a pumice stone or corn file.
Trim your toenails
The purpose of toenails is to protect the toes from injury. However, if your toenails are very long, they can press against the ends of your shoes, forcing the toe joints to push up against your shoes which can lead to calluses and corns on feet.
Use foot shields and pads
Another way to temporarily relieve yourself from the pain caused by corns is by using foot shields and pads. They work by transferring the pressure of your shoes from a painful to a pain-free spot. For example, non-medicated corn pads surround your corns with a material which is higher than the corns themselves, thus, protecting your corns from coming in contact with your shoes. The ring shape ensures that pressure is not exerted on the middle of the corn. You may separate your toes using a cotton ball or a lamb’s wool to relieve yourself from soft foot corns.
Let a doctor cut your corns
Although there are cutting items available to pare away the dry skin, it is always advisable to have this completed professionally. Whilst the dead and dry skin on the outer layers of corns and calluses can be removed easily, cutting away too much can lead to the removal of healthy skin, and leave the area open to infection.
Surgical correction
In rare cases, podiatrists may advise surgery to remove foot corns, but also tackles the underlying problem. This is only used when the problem is severe, and there are other associated problems in addition to calluses and corns on the feet.
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