Today we are learning about differences between corns and callouses.
Corns tend to be small and round. You are most likely to see corns on the tops or sides of your toes. There are different types of corns. Hard corns are small, hard dense areas of skin usually within a larger area of thickened skin. Hard corns usually form on the top of toes – areas where there is bone pressure against the skin. Soft corns are whitish/gray and have a softer, rubbery texture. Soft corns appear between the toes. There are different off-the-shelf products to help protect the area from reoccurring pressure, however proper fitting shoes is quite important to ensure the foot has enough room.
Callouses are hard and thick patches of skin. Callouses are larger and have a more irregular (more spread out) shape. You are most likely to see calluses on the bottom of your foot on the bony areas that carry your weight – your heel, big toe, the ball of your foot and along the side of your foot. Some degree of callus formation on the bottom of your foot is normal, however excessive callousing may mean that there is abnormal pressure being placed on the foot. This can be addressed with custom-made orthotics.
You can try at-home remedies to take down some of the extra skin, however it is important to do this slowly and not take too much. If you have conditions such as diabetes or neuropathy, it is best to leave removal for a professional. The hardened layers of skin of corns and calluses are actually your body’s way of protecting the underlying skin from the irritation and pressure so make sure you speak with your foot care provider to see what can be done to help!