Corns and Calluses are formed by the
accumulation and consequent thickening of hard or dead skin cells over tender,
sensitive skin that gets the most exposure in terms of pressing or rubbing
against the ground and thereby the most pressure from the underlying bones.
Corns usually occur on the toes and balls of feet while calluses can develop
anywhere on hands, feet or other parts of the body with constant contact with
hard foreign surfaces. For corns, badly fitting shoes are the most common
cause. Calluses can result from any sustained contact and the resultant friction, like the callus that
develops on the hands of workers who lift weight regularly.
Symptoms
Where corns and calluses are about to arrive,
places where maximum friction takes place, the skin gets hardened. The corns
can become reddened and painful over time, and it can also get infected or
ulcerated, with the discharging of pus. Calluses sometimes can act as a
protection to the tender skin from possible wounds caused by friction.
Do's and Don’ts
To avoid the forming of corns on your feet, it
is best to choose your shoes or chappals wisely.
Always wear comfortable, flat-soled shoes, and
avoid tight, pointed, or high-heeled shoes.
Soaking your feet in Epsom salt foot bath will
help in softening and soothing your skin, giving back your skin’s natural
texture. Other remedies like applying a non-medicated soothing lotion will also
help. You should also expose your feet to fresh air and ensure that it
sufficiently hydrated and healthy. A pumice stone can be used to remove rough
skin from patches where it forms. You should take care to not cut a corn or
callus yourself as there is a possibility that it gets infected. Instead, you
could use a callus file to rub dead skin gently off the callus. However, callus
files can be used only for calluses and not for corns.
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