Hard skin, split heels / corns / soft corns
This is a huge part of what we do as podiatrists. We are specialists in treating skin conditions and if possible offer you a treatment plan to stop these painful conditions from recurring
What is a corn?
A corn is an upside down cone of hard skin with the point of the cone facing into your foot. They can be very painful and are found in between toes, on the sole of the foot or on the tops of toes.
What causes a corn?
A corn is caused by an area of pressure from your shoe or by poor foot function. The body responds to pressure by creating hard skin to protect itself. The build up of hard skin can become extremely painful.
Who gets corns?
Anyone with slightly abnormal foot function or poorly fitting shoes may get a corn. They are common in older people who have lost the protective fat from the sole of their foot or in heavier individuals and sporty people. Any repeated pressure being put through the same area will cause hard skin formation.
Treatment options
A quick trip to a registered podiatrist will enable them to remove the corn, usually totally painlessly.There are treatments available to buy, such as corn plasters, however these often contain harsh acids which can damage the skin. These types of plasters should be avoided. A podiatrist can make you a pad to deflect the excess pressure away from the area to slow down the return of the corn.
Self care treatment is advisable in between visits to your podiatrist. This is very simple and includes buying a foot file and some moisturising cream (emollient) that suits your skin type (aqueous cream, E45 or cocoa butter are all suitable). You should file your hard skin or corn depending on the severity 2-4 times a week when dry (before a bath or shower) and then apply cream after bathing. This will keep the hard skin down and keep you more comfortable.
Orthotics may be required if poor foot function is causing the corn.
Outcome
It is wholly necessary to see a podiatrist if you have a corn. If the cause of the corn is identified, it is possible to fully resolve a corn. It may be necessary to return every so often if the cause cannot be treated or you are unable to carry out self care.
What is callus?
A callus or callosity is an extended area of thickened skin on the soles of the feet which also occurs on areas of pressure.
What causes callus?
It is the body’s reaction to pressure or friction, and can appear anywhere where the skin rubs against a bone, a shoe or the ground. Most calluses are symptoms of an underlying problem like a bony deformity, a particular style of walking or inappropriate footwear.
Who gets callus?
Some people have a natural tendency to form callus because of their skin type. Elderly people have less fatty tissue in their skin and this can lead to callus forming on the ball of the foot.
Treatment options
You can control a small amount of hard skin by using a foot file before a bath of shower. Use a moisturising cream (emollient) daily after bathing. Emollient creams delay callus building up and help improve the skin’s natural elasticity. Your podiatrist will be able to advise you on the most appropriate skin preparations for your needs. If this does not appear to be working, seek advice from a registered podiatrist or pharmacist.
If the callus is painful and feels as if you are “walking on stones”, consult a registered podiatrist who will be able to advise you why this has occurred and, where possible, how to prevent it happening again.
Your podiatrist can also remove hard skin, relieve pain and redistribute pressure with soft padding, strapping or corrective appliances (orthotics) which fit easily into your shoes. The skin should then return to its normal state. The elderly can benefit from padding to the ball of the foot, to compensate for any loss of natural padding.
Outcomes
Following daily or weekly regimes will improve the condition of your skin and will delay the onset of callus production. You may need to see your podiatrist regularly to keep the callus under control or consider the use of orthotics to prevent the cause of callus build up.
What are split heels or heel fissures?
Usually split heels are when the skin around the edges of the heels becomes dry and cracked. They can be painful and bleed or sometimes they are just unsightly.
What causes a split heel?
Dry skin is the main cause. Some skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis cause these too.
Treatment options
A quick trip to a registered podiatrist will enable them to assess and treat split heels usually totally painlessly.
In some cases, you will need to return to the clinic every 6-8 weeks to keep on top of heel fissures.
Self care treatment is advisable in between visits to your podiatrist. This is very simple and includes buying a foot file and some moisturising cream (emollient) that suits your skin type (we recommend specialist foot creams). You should file your heels depending on the severity 2-4 times a week when dry (before a bath or shower) and then apply cream after bathing. This will keep the hard skin down and keep you more comfortable.
Outcome
It is wholly necessary to see a podiatrist if you have split heels, especially if they are painful or bleeding. These can be solved along with self care and maintenance at home but, it may be necessary to return every so often if the cause cannot be treated or you are unable to carry out self care.
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