GARY WEBB

Corns - How to Avoid Getting Them and Have Comfortable Feet



Posted: Thursday, July 09, 2009

by GARY WEBB
WEBB'S PODIATRY

CORNS & CALLUSES- (HYPERKERATOSIS)

Corns and Calluses - what are they?

Well, corns (Heloma) are small and round: they also have a hard thickening bit of skin in the middle and are very painful. They usually affect your smaller toes: and wearing poorly fitted shoes can cause excessive friction and rubbing of the skin to form a corn. There are seed corns, hard corns and soft corns.

- Seed corns are the least common, a small patch of stiff skin around a tiny plug of cholesterol which occurs only on the bottom of your foot. This is usually caused by a condition lacking in perspiration.

- Hard corns develop on the top of your smaller toes and underneath and on your forefoot. Hard corns have the same makeup as seed corns.

- Soft corns develop between your toes caused by sweating which can become infected.

Corns can be caused by a misalignment of the foot or an imbalance in weight bearing which can cause more pressure on your foot, so you may need prescription orthotics from your Podiatrist.

Calluses (Tyloma) develop on the soles and heels of the foot. They are rarely painful but have larger areas of hard skin than corns. Hard skin on the soles and heels can be caused by too much walking and running. You could try a urea-based cream to soften your calluses.

Corns and calluses develop in people who have prominent bony toes. If you develop corns and calluses you need to seek professional advice from a Podiatrist. They will use a scalpel blade to reduce the hard thick skin on your feet, sometimes repeated treatment is required. If you suffer from diabetes or have poor circulation this may cause rubbing on your feet resulting in corns and calluses. Again it is vital that you seek the help of a Podiatrist or other qualified medical professional if you suffer from this condition.

You can also help yourself by soaking your feet for twenty minutes in warm water to soften your corns and calluses, and using a pumice stone rubbing down the hard skin. Also you can use a corn pad to fit over the corn to relieve the pressure and pain until you can seek help from your Podiatrist.

- Ways to prevent developing corns and calluses are to wear properly fitting shoes. You should have plenty of room, also you can have shoe insoles (orthotics) fitted or some extra cushioning padding around the foot to prevent re-occurrence of corns and calluses. If you need advice on footwear the best person to speak to is your Podiatrist.

Copyright © Gary webb MChs 2009

Gary is the Proprietor of Webb's Podiatry and Medical; their aim is to give excellent customer service, coupled with good, clear technical advice to the public on foot health related matters, offering the very best in Chiropody/Podiatry and medical Products. Gary is a qualified Podiatrist specialising in Biomechanics, podiatric acupuncture and Remedial therapies.CV: Chiropodist/Podiatrist Health Professions Council Registered Member of the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists 1998 - Qualified at the Liverpool School in October 2005 – Completed Local Anaesthetics Part A exam with the Society (Including; Vascular Assessment, Neurological Assessment, Rheumatology, Diabetes, Wound Management and infection control). 2006 - 2007 - Completed LA Part B and Nail Surgery exam with Glasgow Caledonian University and Southern General Hospital, Glasgow. 2007 - 2009 - Post Graduate Certificate in Podiatric Musculoskeletal Medicine (PCMM) at the Nottingham School of Biomechanics, Sports and Remedial Therapies. 2009 - Foundation Certificate in Podiatric Acupuncture. Reiki, Tai Chi and Chi Gung Practitioner November 2007 - Level 3 Reiki Master Practitioner. June 1996 - Level 3 Business Administration

 

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