Most of us have had minor, yet uncomfortable, foot issues like corns, calluses, and blisters. While these foot issues may be minor, they can be highly disruptive because navigating a painful blister or corn is no small effort.
Furthermore, if you’re one of the more than 38 million Americans who have diabetes or the 12 million American adults who have peripheral artery disease (PAD), these minor foot issues can turn the corner into far more serious foot wounds.
Whether you need to pay more attention to corns, calluses, and blisters for your health or you just don’t want to develop these uncomfortable issues, our team of foot health specialists at Neuhaus Foot and Ankle recommends the following.
Corns, calluses, and blisters are all responses to extra friction and pressure points that mostly come from wearing shoes.
When you walk, the pressure on your feet is about 2-3 times your body weight, so a 150-pound person might place up to 450 pounds of pressure with each step.
Given the enormous pressure on your lower limbs, make sure your footwear supports and protects your feet.
This means wearing shoes that surround your feet snugly and evenly.
You can get corns, calluses, and blisters on both ends of the fit spectrum — shoes that are loose are just as likely to create friction issues as shoes that are too tight. So make sure you hit the sweet spot with your shoes.
A great way to reduce friction is by wearing good socks that create a snug cocoon for your feet that can protect them against corns, calluses, and blisters.
We understand that you want to show off a new pair of shoes, but go easy on the first few outings. New shoes need to be broken in slowly and in a way that allows them to mold to your feet, not beat them up.
A great idea is to outfit yourself with a good pair of custom orthotics that you can pop into new shoes.
Another fast track to corns, calluses, and blisters is letting your feet linger in sweaty or wet socks and shoes. It’s always a good practice to swap out damp socks and shoes for dry ones.
If you know that there’s a pesky pressure point with certain shoes, you can use pads or bandages to protect that area against corns, calluses, and blisters from forming.
If you develop a painful corn, callus, or blister, we have several ways we can address these issues.
A blister is usually a temporary issue that should resolve itself within a week. That said, if you have diabetes, PAD, or another condition that affects how quickly your feet are able to heal, schedule an appointment so we can make sure your blister doesn't become infected.
For common calluses, try a pumice stone to gently clear away the thickened patches of skin. To prevent them from returning, you can use extra padding in areas where your feet tend to develop calluses. We can also prescribe creams that prevent calluses from developing.
For corns and painful calluses, we recommend coming to see us so we can treat the issue correctly. During the visit, we can shave away the dead skin and provide you with padding that will make you more comfortable.
If you have any questions about preventing corns, calluses, and blisters, or if you need one of these foot conditions treated, please contact us at one of our 16 locations in Tennessee to schedule an appointment.
