If you have developed hard and thickened areas on your skin, it is due to friction or pressure in the particular area. These issues occur naturally to protect the skin underneath and can occur anywhere on your body. However, corns and calluses on your feet can cause undesirable symptoms such as discomfort, inflammation, and tenderness, but you can seek help from Coral Springs corns and calluses experts at Advanced Foot, Ankle, & Wound Specialists, PA. To effectively manage your condition, your provider can recommend several medical options and recommend several self-care tips.
Medical Treatments
In severe cases of corns and calluses, your doctor can offer some medical remedies to help ease your symptoms. They are outlined below.
Trimming
This is where your doctor uses a scalpel to trim large corn or pare down any thickened skin. It would be best if you never attempted to do this independently, as it can cause infection and further complications. Therefore, let your provider do this at an office visit.
Medication
Your provider can apply callus-removing medication where they can use a patch containing about 40 % salicylic acid. Your provider will also help you know how often you should use and replace the patch as they are readily available without a prescription, and you can be misled. Before applying the patch, you may be required to use a nail file, pumice stone, or emery board to smooth away the dead skin.
Shoe Inserts
If your corns or calluses result from a particular foot deformity, your provider may recommend customized padded shoe inserts to prevent the recurrence of the complications.
Surgery
Although very rare, surgery can become an option, mainly where your condition results from friction caused by underlying bones. Surgical intervention can be required to correct the alignment of such bones.
Self Help Tips for Corns and Calluses
In less severe cases, your provider can recommend some self-help care tips to curb your complications. Besides, they can also be used alongside medical interventions to optimize your results. Such tips include:
Wear Comfortable Socks and Shoes
Wearing unfit shoes and socks can cause unnecessary rubbing and friction, causing corns and calluses. If you eliminate this by wearing comfortable footwear, your condition can improve and prevent reoccurrence. You can choose cushioned shoes and polyester-cotton blend socks until your corns and calluses go away.
Wear Non-Medicated Pads
Non-medicated corn or callus pads are readily available from the stores and help protect your skin from friction. However, be careful when using these over-the-counter pads as they can irritate your skin and cause infection.
Rub the Corns and Calluses Away
You can gradually rub off the thickened skin layer with a pumice stone or a washcloth after bathing. Be sure not to remove all the skin at once or cut it or shave it down as it can lead to infection.
Keep Your Skin Moist
This is simply applying a moisturizer on your feet to keep your skin soft and avoid corns and callus formation.
If you develop painful or inflamed corns and calluses, please don’t hesitate to contact your foot care doctor for expert intervention even before you try self-help care. It is good your condition is diagnosed first, and then the necessary remedies are recommended