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 ©2007 Publications International, Ltd. An estimated 87 percent of all American adults have some type of foot problem. |
The main function of calluses and corns is protecting sensitive areas on the foot. Corns come in two varieties: hard and soft. Hard corns are usually found on the tops of the toes or on the outer sides of the little toes, where the skin rubs against the shoe. Sometimes, a corn will form on the ball of the foot beneath a callus, resulting in a sharp, localized pain with each step. Soft corns, which are moist and rubbery, form between toes, where the bones of one toe exert pressure on the bones of its neighbor. Both hard and soft corns are cone shaped, with the tip pointing into the foot (what you see is the base of the cone). When a shoe or another toe puts pressure against the corn, the tip can hit sensitive underlying tissue, causing pain.
Unlike corns, calluses generally form over a flat surface and have no tip. They usually appear on the weight-bearing parts of the foot: the ball or the heel. As people age, the padding on the bottom of the foot begins to thin, so calluses naturally develop to protect the foot from too much pressure and chafing. Each step presses the callus against underlying tissue, and that may cause aching, burning, or tenderness but rarely sharp pain.
Mistreating the feet by wearing shoes that don't fit well or that are too inflexible or nonporous are common causes of calluses and corns. Shoes that squeeze the toes force one toe to rub against the other, ultimately causing a corn to develop. High-heeled shoes also are major culprits, since they put pressure on the front of the foot, as can ill-fitting socks or irritation from your foot rubbing against a sock seam or shoe stitching. Shoes that are too loose cause your foot to slide, creating friction that can cause calluses.
- Walking on hard surfaces.
- Having flat feet (people with flat feet are more likely to get calluses).
- Thinning of the skin on the sole of the foot.
- Being diabetic. Diabetics and others with circulatory problems should never self-treat or ignore foot problems.
For more information on foot problems and home remedies to treat them, try the following links:
- To see all of our home remedies and the conditions they treat, go to our main Home Remedies page.
- For self-help tips on relieving the sting of athlete's foot, read Home Remedies for Athlete's Foot.
- Home Remedies for Foot Odor offers a number of simple measures to keep your feet odor-free.
- If painful feet are causing you concern, go to Home Remedies for Foot Pain to learn more.
But socks and shoes aren't the only causes of corns and calluses. You can also get them from:
