Calluses that develop on pressure points are known as corns. They most often develop on feet, especially when bad shoes and poor foot care are a habit. Calluses and corns are patches of dead, hardened skin that build up over time. The difference is a callus can appear anywhere, while a corn is a callus on a pressure point. Corns are often smaller as well with a firm, waxy core that can lead to severe pain.
How do I know if I have corns?
- Rough areas of skin
- Hardened areas of skin
- Raised, thick bumps on the skin
- Tender skin beneath the bumps
- Dry skin
- Waxy Skin
How do I prevent corns?
- Wear shoes that fit properly.
- Always wear socks with your shoes.
- Wear gloves to help protect your hands.
- Be sure to stretch before an athletic event.
- Treat conditions such as bursitis so that corns don’t develop.
- Keep your toenails properly trimmed.
How can I treat corns?
- Soak your feet in warm water, then gently exfoliate with a pumice stone.
- Soak in a mix of baking soda and warm water to help remove hardened, dead skin that causes corns.
- Massage the foot with a baking soda past to help wear down calluses.
- Put cornstarch between your toes to help keep feet dry.
- Rub vinegar over the corns and let sit overnight, then gently exfoliate the next morning.
- Bandage the corn with a fresh piece of pineapple skin every night for a week. Gently exfoliate every morning. The pineapple peel has enzymes that will soften corns and make them easier to exfoliate away.
- If you feel a corn forming, soak it in a warm epsom salt bag, then cover the foot or hand with a plastic bag for an hour, then exfoliate the corn away gently.
