having corns & calluses pain on the footCorns develop due to production of skin tissue caused by the constant rubbing of your sneakers against your foot while running. Calluses, while similar in nature to corns, occur on the bottom/plantar surface or ball of your foot due to prominent bony areas. An abnormal foot type will typically develop calluses. For example, a flat foot will create calluses in different locations versus a person with a high arch/cavus foot type. While running, certain bones in your foot may become more prominent and increase excess skin production at areas of high pressure.  These painful and annoying skin projections are actually a protective mechanism which is created in order to protect the underlying veins, nerves, bones, and/ or muscles from being injured while you exercise. The most common causes of corns and calluses include: 

  • Poorly fitting sneakers (too tight or too loose)

  • Friction and pressure areas between shoes and your foot

  • Abnormal foot type and prominent bony areas

Two of the most common types of corns which affect runners are defined as heloma dura and heloma molle. Heloma dura occur on the top part of toes due to friction or rubbing of sneakers against the toes. Heloma molle, on the other hand, occur between toes caused by the rubbing of toes against each other. 

Treatment options:

  • Debridement (medical removal of thickened skin tissue causing pain)

  • Offloading devices

    • Corn cushions, interdigital padding and metatarsal pads are utilized in order to prevent the painful prominent boney areas of your foot from pushing against your shoes.

  • Custom-Molded-Orthoses 

    • For prevention of painful calluses, orthotics are beneficial in relieving pressure associated with prominent boney areas on the bottom of your feet.

    • Can appropriately distribute your body weight across your foot while providing necessary arch support to eliminate pressure sites and pain.

  • Buy the correct size running sneakers

    • If you sneakers are too tight, your toes will constantly become contracted and rub into the end of your sneakers while running.

    • If your sneakers are too big, your foot while constantly slide back and forth while running which can not only causes corns, but potentially other pathological disorders in your foot later down the road as well.

Get the World-Class Podiatry Care You Deserve—Right in Your Own Backyard

Don’t live with uncomfortable, embarrassing, or painful podiatric skin and nail conditions—or feel the need to travel to Seattle, Salt Lake City, or Denver for advanced options. At Alpine Foot & Ankle Clinic, our experienced skin and nail podiatrist offers exceptional care and the latest, most effective treatments, right here in the Garden City. Contact us to schedule an appointment at our Missoula office.