Our feet are often the most neglected parts of our bodies. You’ll notice that you tend to accumulate dead skin cells and rough skin quite easily, especially on the bottoms and pressure points of your feet. Commonly, our bodies develop corns or calluses as a protection method to help cushion sensitive skin. Most people experience both of these ailments throughout their lifetime, but don’t really understand the difference between them, how they form, or how to get rid of them.
Let’s take a look at what corns and calluses are and the best ways to deal with them!
What is a corn?
A corn is small patch of thick, dead skin with a small, central core. They will typically occur on the top or side of your feet. A soft corn will generally have a much thinner surface and is most commonly found between the fourth and fifth toes. You also might experience another type of corn called a seed corn, which surfaces as a tiny, discrete callous that can be very tender if it is placed on a weight-bearing area of the foot. The cause might be attributed to clogged sweat ducts.
What is a callus?
Calluses, unlike corns, can surface just about anywhere on your body, not just on your feet. They will pop up anywhere where there is repeated friction on your skin. Hands and elbows are some common locations to spot a callus. A common callus will occur with repeated friction, whereas a plantar callus can be found on the bottom of the feet.
What causes corns and calluses?
As we just mentioned, calluses are caused by repeated friction and contact with the skin. Corns are generally formed the same way. You might get a callus or corn after wearing poorly fitted shoes, new shoes that haven’t been broken in, or high heels. You might also develop them if you have foot deformities, which cause unusual pressure and friction on sensitive skin.
How do you get rid of corns and calluses?
Despite being completely normal, corns and calluses can be uncomfortable, unsightly, and irritating to deal with in your daily life. Fortunately, there are a range of options available to prevent and cure them both. Felt callus protectors can help absorb pressure and friction while also comforting existing calluses. Felt corn protectors are great for cushioning and protecting the tops of your toes from corns. Corns can also heal naturally with the help of gel corn protectors.
At BEK Medical , we carry an extensive selection of premium foot care products, with an entire category just for corn and callus prevention and treatment. You’ll find everything you need to relieve your discomfort and heal your corns and calluses in our online store or at our Dallas and El Paso locations.
Browse our foot care products online and start walking comfortably again in no time!
