condition
Corns and calluses
Corns and calluses are areas of thickened and hardened skin caused by the repeated minor friction or rubbing of the skin, and they can often be painful. They tend to occur on the feet, but can occur on any area subject to repetitive friction, such as the hands if your job involves using certain tools or you play certain instruments. Ill-fitting shoes is usually the cause of those on the feet, as excessive rubbing on prominent areas of the skin causes it to become hardened.
Calluses generally consist of a broad area of thickened skin such as on the ball of the foot, whereas corns may present as a hard dense knot of skin on the top or sides of toes. Corns can also appear between the toes but are usually not as thick and hard.
What can you find here?
Are they contagious?
Corns and calluses are not contagious and aren't usually a serious problem. They can often be remedied if they occur on the feet, by wearing correctly fitted footwear or footwear with less abrasion between the feet and the inside of the shoes.
Caidr pharmacists' top tips
We recommend a trial of cushioning pads that can provide pain relief and prevent any further worsening of the corn or callus.
A foot filer or pumice stone can also be purchased to gently file away the excess hardened overgrown skin, which can reduce pressure and pain symptoms.
There are a number of exfoliating products containing salicylic acid such as Bazuka gel which can also help to gently chemically exfoliate the skin.
Pharmacist recommended products
When should I see my doctor?
Your pharmacist can help you with initial interventions to help with the corn or callus. However, you should book a routine doctor's appointment if you have a corn or callus and have an underlying health condition, such as diabetes or a heart or circulation issue, or the area is becoming increasingly painful. If you have tried the interventions suggested above for three weeks without improvement then we recommend seeing a podiatrist or your doctor.
If there are any signs of infection – red inflamed skin around the corn or callus, pus, severe pain or fevers – then book an urgent doctor's appointment.
What will my doctor do?
Your doctor will ask you about your medical history, what symptoms you’ve been having, what you've tried so far, and they will examine the corn or callus is. They may also look at the alignment of the foot bones, to check that's not adding to the problem.
They may refer you to a podiatrist who can cut away the corn or callus, in a process called paring down. If there are any signs of infection you may be prescribed a course of antibiotics.
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