In general, calluses are areas of thicker than usual skin, which can develop to protect against continuous pressure or friction over a particular part of the body. A corn is basically the same thing, but it is caused by pressure on your feet. Calluses can form anywhere where you place continuous stress on one particular area of your body, such as the bottom of your feet near where you put your weight when standing or walking. Corns occur because that point must be pushed even more to keep up with this added force, thus creating the raised bump that we call a corn. This article will examine many of the different aspects of calluses and corns, as many people are not comfortable with them being a part of their body.
Signs and Symptoms
There are several signs that a corn or callus is forming, or already exists. Some of these include:
- A Large, Raised Area on The Skin - This is the most apparent sign of corns or calluses. It can be pink, yellow, red, brownish, blackish, or any color in between. Additionally, there are usually very tiny bumps that form around it - these are called pustules. Your doctor might tell you that they are filled with bodily fluids that have seeped through the skin to relieve some of the pressure caused by your condition.
- Skin is Dry and Flaky - Often it seems as if there is much more skin on top of your corn or callus than one would expect, considering its size. This will cause your skin to flake off, much like what happens when one has dandruff - but only in the area where this corn or callus is.
- It Seems to be Getting Larger Over Time - This is one of the most common signs of a corn or callus and also occurs because of the skin constantly forming over the area in an effort to try and protect you against further damage (like when your body forms a scab after getting cut). As long as they are left untreated, this process will continue until eventually there is no more "space" for new skin cells to form due to existing ones. This means that they can get quite large relatively quickly if they are not taken care of.
- Pain During Different Activities/Exertion - This usually happens during weight-bearing activities such as walking, especially if the area where you have this problem is quite large. This pain can often be unbearable, and it may even feel as if someone has just punched you in the corn or callus, which is why some people refer to those types of pains as "getting a corn punched." However, this type of pain is simply a result of your body's way of telling you that something needs to change! Regardless, most people who experience this will seek their doctor out for help because they honestly do not know what else to do.
Causes and Risk Factors
There’s plenty of reasons that calluses are forming. Some of the most common include:
- Repeated Stress or Friction on Particular Areas - This is the number one reason why people get corns and calluses. This includes things like repeatedly wearing certain types of shoes, placing weight on certain areas of your foot while standing or walking, or even engaging in activities that cause you to stress particular areas due to how you move your body (such as playing tennis).
- Heredity - If several other members in your family have gotten these before, it is more than likely that you will develop them too, especially if the cause is already present. Unfortunately, this means that if someone in your family has psoriasis, then there is a chance for you to get it, too, even if you have no clue what it is! Fortunately, there are treatments available to help keep these conditions in check for most people.
- Age - Since the skin thins as we get older, any friction or pressure on your feet will cause your corns and calluses to form much more readily than they would when you were younger, but that does not mean that you should ignore them! It is still very important to try and avoid causing this problem since eventually they may become so large that they can be quite dangerous for your bones.
Getting Treatment
Your doctor will likely recommend a corn and callus shaving kit to get rid of the top layer of skin that has been damaged from this condition. This type of kit is actually made up of two different types of tools: one with very small razors for removing the top layer and another with a liquid that helps soften the area so that it can be shaved more easily. Your doctor will typically use liquid bandages instead if your corns or calluses cause you pain when engaging in activities such as walking, running, jumping, etc. Work with your doctor and there will be a way to help deal with these common problems.