Corns and Calluses
What are Corns and Calluses?
Corns and calluses are hard or thick areas of skin that can be painful.
They can occur anywhere on the feet where there is pressure or rubbing, usually over your joints.
What causes Corns and Calluses?
Corns and calluses can be caused by your shoes not being the right shape for your feet or because of the way your foot moves as you walk.
Advice to treat and prevent Corns and Calluses
- Check that your shoes are not too tight or too loose and that they are the right shape for your feet. Laces, buckles or velcro straps help to keep your foot still in your shoe as you walk.
- Use a moisturising cream every day. Creams which contain Urea are often the best ones to use. These can be bought in supermarkets or pharmacies.
- Gently rub area with a pumice stone or foot file 1-2 times a week.
- NEVER use razors or sharp instruments to remove the skin.
- Cushioned insoles may help.
Photo credit: Jmarchn, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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If you have a problem which does not improve as you would expect with self-care, you should contact a healthcare professional for advice. This may be your GP, Pharmacist, NHS Podiatry Service or a Private Podiatrist.
Please make sure your podiatrist is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council and look out for the letters HCPC after their name.
