Feet aren’t pretty. Toes are weird. But a corn or callus can make things worse!
Corns and calluses are caused by pressure. Your skin grows thicker to protect itself from the pressure. Calluses will develop in places where pressure is frequent and repeated — most often, your hands and feet. Tight shoes, deformed toes, misaligned foot bones, or an abnormal walk can cause calluses to form on your feet. Flat or severely arched feet can also be prone to calluses. And if you wear high-heeled shoes frequently, you may find calluses developing on the ball of your foot!
Corns are a special kind of callus that usually show up on thin, hairless, smooth skin surfaces — like fingers and toes. When the pressure point moves in a circular motion, the callus develops in a swirl. So why are they called “corns”? Under a microscope, the center of the irritation looks like a small grain seed: a pointed bottom and a broad top. That kind of looks like a kernel of corn… if you use your imagination a little.
If your calluses crack, your foot may have trouble healing. The tougher, outer layer of skin is pulling on the healthy, thinner skin below. A drop of superglue can be a quick and temporary fix for a cracked callus, but it is only a temporary measure! You can soften the hard calluses over time by:
- Using a moisturizer twice a day. You may want to make one of your lotion times right before you go to bed — the foot rub can be very relaxing!
- Using a pumice stone to wear away the thickened skin.
- Picking shoes with a cushioned sole to help relieve pressure.
- Visiting a podiatrist to have the callus shaved down — never try to do it yourself!