Corns and Calluses

The average Joe or Josephine takes as many as 10,000 steps a day, most of them on hard surfaces. Multiply that by 365 days a year, and then multiply that by 75 or so years, and you've taken enough footsteps to walk around the world--several times over.

The only problem is that most of this traveling is done in shoes designed for fashion rather than function. The very same footwear that protects your feet from the hard realities of glass-littered streets and pebble-pocked lawns is an Achilles' heel to your toes. The friction shoes cause, as you may be uncomfortably aware, can leave you with corns and calluses.

These ugly bumps and lumps of thickened and hardened dead skin cells' produce discomfort that can range from minor to extreme. So here are some treatments for the next time corns or calluses crop up.

Support your arches. "People with high arches are particularly susceptible to corns," says dermatologist Joseph Bark, M.D., past chairman of the Department of Dermatology at St. Joseph's Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. How do you find out whether the shape of your arches is a contributing factor? "Check for corns on three pressure points on your feet that carry your weight: on the ball of the foot, right below the smallest toe and on your heel," Dr. Bark suggests. If this is your problem, try store-bought arch supports.

Be a beachcomber. "Walking barefoot on the beach can get rid of your calluses," says Robert Diamond, D.P.M., a Pennsylvania podiatrist affiliated with Muhlenberg Hospital Center in Bethlehem and Allentown Osteopathic Hospital. "The sand acts as a natural pumice stone and files them down."

When to See the Doctor

Corns and calluses may require the attention of a doctor if they are very painful. And you should also consult a doctor if you have numbness or reduced sensation in your feet.

"Should pumice stones, moleskin and pads fail to eliminate pain, medical attention is recommended," says Robert Diamond, D.P.M., a Pennsylvania podiatrist affiliated with Muhlenberg Hospital Center in Bethlehem and Allentown Osteopathic Hospital. For some people, surgery may be necessary, according to Dr. Diamond.

If you have reduced feeling in your feet, however, you may have a medical problem such as diabetes or possibly poor circulation. If you have a serious cut or injury on your foot, you might not feel it--and you could wind up with a dangerous infection.

If you are diabetic or have poor circulation in your feet, Dr. Diamond recommends that you see a doctor any time you have corns or calluses. Those with diabetes, he notes, should not try any home remedies.

Avoid "Medicated" Corn Pads

One of the most popular store-bought remedies for corns is among the worst, says podiatrist Robert Diamond, D.P.M., a Pennsylvania podiatrist affiliated with Muhlenberg Hospital Center in Bethlehem and Allentown Osteopathic Hospital.

"Medicated corn pads cause more problems than they're worth," says Dr. Diamond. "The 'medication' is salicylic acid, which turns the corn white and blister-free, so it can peel off. But what happens frequently is that the acid is so strong it goes through the corn and eats at the toe, causing an ulcer in the toe."

Bag 'em with aspirin. One way to soften hard calluses is to crush five or six aspirin tablets into a powder, then add 1/2 teaspoon each of lemon juice and water. Apply this paste to all hard-skin areas. Wrap your entire foot with a warm towel, then cover with a plastic bag, suggests Suzanne M. Levine, D.P.M., adjunct clinical instructor at New York College of Podiatric Medicine and clinical assistant podiatrist at Wycoff Heights Medical Center, both in New York City. After sitting still for at least ten minutes, remove the coverings and file the callus with a pumice stone. Caution: Don't try this remedy if you are allergic or sensitive to aspirin.

Soak your feet in Epsom salts. To relieve pain, Dr. Levine recommends soaking your feet in Epsom salts and warm water. Soaking twice a day, for ten minutes each time, should provide some relief.

For footwear, think round. "Many women who wear pointy-toed shoes get corns on the fourth or smallest toe," says Dr. Bark. "Even if you don't get corns there, you're much better off with round-toed shoes or any style shoes with a large toe box." If corns are a recurring problem, he recommends getting a pair of open-toed shoes or sandals and wearing them as often as possible. With no friction on the toes, there's less discomfort--and you're less likely to develop new corns.

Lay on the low-cost lotion. There are many products that can help soften corns and calluses. Lotions and bath oils that contain lanolin, glycerin or urea start at around $2 in most drugstores. "Fruit acid moisturizers such as LactiCare are also very effective when you apply them heavily," says Dr. Bark.

Pump up the padding. Place "horseshoe" moleskin or foam pads around a corn if it continues to hurt when you walk. Be cautious with these pads, though, as they can pressure the surrounding area too much when you're walking. "And if you wear nylons, which can be very irritating, even putting a bandage over the corn helps reduce the friction," says Dr. Diamond.

Go for the insole. "Wearing a Spenco insole to give you more padding is a good idea," says Dr. Diamond. The insole helps protect against calluses on the sole of the foot.

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