Treatment Options

The treatment of calluses and corns falls into two main categories: conservative and surgical. Within the conservative category is prevention. Prevention of corn and callus formation, for many people, is as easy as selecting shoes that fit properly. Selecting a shoe with an accommodative or cushioned insole may provide significant relief for the person with a tendency to form calluses on the ball of their foot. Other shoes have more instep and arch support, which can help share the load placed on the ball of the foot. A shoe with a wider toe box (more space for the toes) is often helpful for those whose toes are painfully cramped in other shoes, causing discomfort on top or between the toes. Still others will prefer a shoe with extra depth for the toes, to allow for the relative increase in the height of a toe in the shoe caused by a hammertoe deformity. Discussing your specific needs with knowledgeable shoe retailers is important in finding the shoe appropriate for one's unique requirements.

Other conservative measures include padding, which can be found both over the counter in drug stores, or provided by your podiatrist. Care should be taken when selecting pads advertised as being "medicated;" this usually means that there is an acid additive to the pad itself, to dissolve the hyperkeratosis (callus tissue). Remember that acid will work on whatever skin it comes in contact with, so if a pad shifts in the shoe, the acid may be working on healthy skin instead of the corn or callused tissue. This can be a potential drawback, and are therefore not recommended for patients with decreased sensation in their feet.

Padding or inserts can also be made to pad around the painful callus, instead of directly over it. This idea of offloading the pressure area is designed to eliminate or at least slow the formation of a corn or callus. It is important to note that all over the counter inserts are designed to work for as many people as possible; they are not custom-made to any specific person. Custom orthotic inserts can be designed and prescribed by a podiatrist to meet one's specific needs.

Trimming of corns and calluses is another conservative service provided by the podiatrist, often in conjunction with shoegear recommendations or modifications, and padding. Corns and calluses can be trimmed using sterile surgical blades, often with little or no discomfort or bleeding. The corn or callus will return, however, if nothing is done to accommodate for or correct the reason they formed in the first place. For many people, occasional debridement (trimming) of calluses, adjustments of shoegear, and inserts or padding are extremely successful. For non-diabetics with good sensation in their feet, daily maintenance with mild abrasives like pumice stones can be effective for troublesome area. This quick treatment each day after bathing can keep a callus from becoming uncomfortably large. Again, diabetics are discouraged from self-treating unless it is recommended by their podiatrist; even conservative home-treatment of the foot with poor sensation or circulation can be disastrous.