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Differentiating points
Corns and calluses are thick, hardened layers of skin as a result from abnormal mechanical stresses on the skin .
Coz of abnormal mechanical stresses:
-intrinsic factors : bony prominences or hammertoe deformities.
-extrinsic factors (tight shoes, irregularities within the shoe, wearing shoes and sandals without socks or high activity levels).
Differentiating points :
1.Site
-A callus (or callosity ) is a broad-based or diffuse hyperkeratotic lesion with usually undefined margins.
result from a pressure or rubbing on areas of the foot that usually bear weight, as the bottom of the foot ( on the heel, under the metatarsal ) , the side of foot and on the 1st toe if there is a bunion .
-A corn is a circumscribed hyperkeratotic lesion with a central conical core of keratin .form on areas that do not bear weight .
2 types :
*Hard corn ;on the top of the foot ,(commonly occur on the dorsolateral aspect of the fifth toe).
*Soft corns .(most commonly develops between the fourth and fifth toes).
2.Appearance
-Both of them are thickened and hard with a shiny whitish wax-like appearance.but ,corns are smaller than calluses and the callus is hard and thickened from top to bottom where as a corn only has a hard center core.
3.Pain
The soft corn is an extremely painful lesion .
Calluses are rarely painful , is generally superficial and doesn't often cause pain.
4.Treatment :
1. Reduce the size of the callus by regular home care .This work more with callus than corn because it more superficial :
-soaking the area of callus in warm water .
-Then immediately use a pumice stone to gently exfoliate the skin on and around the callus..to lightly wear away the dead skin.
-Then application of soften cream.
2.Protective pads: these pads surrounds painful calluses with a soft, comforting silicone to ease painful shoe pressure and friction.
3. Trimming : regular pairing reduces the pressure . Initial procedure is often best done with scalpel and subsequent with a abrasive device .
4.Salicylic acid :
- Topical keratolytic preparation and patch containing 40 percent salicylic .
- for soft corn use 10-20 % salicylic acid .
5.well- fitting shoes
the shoes should be fit well and are roomy, with wide and deep toe boxes (the area that surrounds the toes):
wide to relieving pressure on corns and deep to relieving pressure on callus.
