Carmel Foot Specialists

Podiatrists in
Charlotte, NC (Pineville)

Patient Rating:
(4.8 out of 5 based on 301 Ratings)
10370 Park Rd. #100
Charlotte
, NC 28210
Map Us

Phone: 704-542-8253

Languages

  • English
Hours
Monday8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Corns & Calluses

 

What are Corns & Calluses?

Corns & calluses are your body’s response to friction or pressure against the skin. If your foot rubs inside your shoe, the affected area of skin thickens. Prominent foot bones may also cause skin to rub.

In response to the pressure, the outer layer of skin thickens to protect the foot. In many cases, corns & calluses may be unsightly, but they cause no harm. However, severe corns and calluses can become infected, destroy healthy tissue, or affect foot movement.

With corn and callus care from your doctor, these can be controlled.

Where Do Corns & Calluses Form?

A corn or callus is a thickening of the outer layer of skin on your foot.

Corns usually grow on top of the foot, often at a toe joint. Calluses spread on the bottom of the foot or on the outer edge of a toe or the heel.

Corns:

Corns can range from a slight thickening of skin to a painful, hard bump. They often form on top of buckled toe joints (hammer toes). If your toes curl under, corns may grow on the tips of the toes. You may also get a corn on the end of a toe if it rubs against your shoe.

Corns can also grow between toes, often between the first and second toes.

Calluses:

A callus may spread across the ball of your foot. This type of callus is usually due to a problem with a metatarsal (the long bone at the base of a toe, near the ball of the foot).

A pinch callus may grow along the outer edge of the heel or the big toe. Some calluses press up into the foot instead of spreading on the outside.

A callus may form a central core or plug of tissue where pressure is greatest.

Your Physical Exam:

Your doctor will check your feet for skin changes, such as red areas, blisters and warts. He or she will also look for corns and calluses.

If you have a buckled toe joint, your doctor may test its flexibility. He or she may also look for a misaligned bone or collapsed joint. An x-ray may be taken to pinpoint a suspected bone problem.

Treating Corns & Calluses:

If corns or calluses are mild, reducing friction may help. A different style of shoe, protective adhesive patches, or soft pads may be all the treatment you need.

In more severe cases, further care is needed. Orthoses (custom-made shoe inserts) may be prescribed to help reduce friction and pressure.

Shoe Choices:

If you have corns, your doctor may suggest wearing shoes that have more toe room. This way, buckled joints are less likely to be pinched against the top of the shoe.

If you have calluses, wearing a cushioned insole, arch support or heel counter can help reduce friction.

Office Care:

In some cases, your doctor may trim away the outer layers of skin that make up the corn or callus. For a painful corn, medication may be injected beneath the built-up tissue.

Orthoses:

Custom-made shoe inserts are made to meet the needs of your feet. They cushion calluses or divert pressure away from these problem areas. Worn as directed, orthoses help limit existing problems and prevent new ones from forming.

If You Need Surgery:

If a bone or joint is out of place, certain parts of your foot may be under too much pressure. This can cause severe corns and calluses. In such cases, surgery is often the best way to correct the problem.

Outpatient Procedures:

In most cases, surgery to improve bone position is an outpatient procedure. Your doctor may shave or cut away excess bone. Sometimes tendons or ligaments are cut to reduce tension on a bone or joint.

For more information on corn & callus care, give us a call!

Myers Park Location