| Revision as of 13:10, 6 August 2004 editDrgnu23 (talk | contribs)255 edits Re-write with detail← Previous edit | Revision as of 13:30, 6 August 2004 edit undoDrgnu23 (talk | contribs)255 edits Major disambiguation, combination of corn and callus, re-work of titlesNext edit → | ||
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| =What |
=What are corns and calluses?= | ||
| Most commonly, callus is a small area of skin, usually on the foot which has become relatively thick and hard, from rubbing and/or pressure. Calluses may lead to other problems such as serious infection. ] that fit well can keep calluses from forming. A special case of callus is a ]. | Most commonly, callus is a small area of skin, usually on the foot which has become relatively thick and hard, from rubbing and/or pressure. Calluses may lead to other problems such as serious infection. ] that fit well can keep calluses from forming. A special case of callus is a ]. Corns are much like calluses but usually occur on the top of the toes or fingers on thin, or ] skin surfaces. | ||
| ==History of the Corn== | |||
| ⚫ | =How do calluses develop= | ||
| The name corn comes from the appearance under the microscope. In the days when lenses and microscopes were first invented, scientists put everything under the microscope. When corns were removed, the hard part, the center of the corn appears to look like the inside of a funnel with a broad rasied top and pointed bottom. It lookes, when examined under magnification, much like ]. In Europe, ] is called 'corn', hence the name stuck. The scietific name is heloma. Hard corns are called ]. Soft corns are called ]. | |||
| =Development of skin corns and calluses= | |||
| ⚫ | ==How do calluses develop== | ||
| Players of stringed instruments such as the guitar will develop calluses on their fingers if they play frequently enough. They are a good thing in this case, because without them, playing the instruments for longer than a few minutes (or for someone who just started, a few seconds!) can be extremely painful. Sometimes a ] is produced before a callus. | Players of stringed instruments such as the guitar will develop calluses on their fingers if they play frequently enough. They are a good thing in this case, because without them, playing the instruments for longer than a few minutes (or for someone who just started, a few seconds!) can be extremely painful. Sometimes a ] is produced before a callus. | ||
| A callus is thickening of the skin. Although usually found on the ] they can occur anywhere on the body where there is pressure. It is a natural reaction of the thick skin on the ] or ] surfaces to react to pressure to produce callus. The example of the ] player below demonstrates how callus can protect the skin. Sometimes, when the callus builds up, without any way to rub off or when it is caused by constant pressure it becomes thick and hard and painful. |
A callus is thickening of the skin. Although usually found on the ] they can occur anywhere on the body where there is pressure. It is a natural reaction of the thick skin on the ] or ] surfaces to react to pressure to produce callus. The example of the ] player below demonstrates how callus can protect the skin. Sometimes, when the callus builds up, without any way to rub off or when it is caused by constant pressure it becomes thick and hard and painful. | ||
| ⚫ | People who have ] deformities of the great toe find that they have painful calluses behind the second or third toe on the plantar surface of the foot. These are caused by unequal pressure placed on the smaller ] rather than under the larger first metatarsal. These types of pressure induced calluses can be very painful and often do not respond to trimming of the callus, soft materials nor ] but require surgical change in the function of the foot. | ||
| ⚫ | =What can be done about calluses?= | ||
| ==How do corns develop?== | |||
| ⚫ | Most calluses under the foot are caused from pressure of the bones in the foot pressing against or holding the skin from moving against the shoe or the ground. While changing or using well fitting shoes will help some of these problems, most of the time some intervention is required. The most basic treatment is to put a ] or material into the shoe or against the foot. Sometimes this will reduce pain caused by heat buildup without making the callus go away. Sometimes a change in the function of the foot by use of an ] is required. Sometimes surgical correction of the pressure is needed. Sometimes the only thing that relieves the pain is to shave the calluses down and perhaps pad them. This is usually done by a . | ||
| Corns are a special case of ] of the skin. They are formed when there is pressure against the skin and the pressure point or the skin traces an elliptical or semi-elliptical path. This forms a swirl of tissue, the center of which is at the point of pressure gradually widening. There is stimulation of the tissues which produce a corn. In that way, even when the corn is removed or the pressure surgically removed, sometimes the skin continues to grow corns for some time. | |||
| ⚫ | =Shoes and callus formation= | ||
| ===What is the difference between soft and hard corns?=== | |||
| The difference between soft and hard corns is where they occur. Hard corns occur on dry flat surfaces of skin. Soft corns, frequently between two toes, stay moist, keeping the skin surrounding the hard center of the corn soft. The corn itself is not soft. | |||
| ⚫ | =What can be done about calluses and corns?= | ||
| ⚫ | Most corns and calluses under the foot are caused from pressure of the bones in the foot pressing against or holding the skin from moving against the shoe or the ground. While changing or using well fitting shoes will help some of these problems, most of the time some intervention is required. The most basic treatment is to put a ] or material into the shoe or against the foot. Sometimes this will reduce pain caused by heat buildup without making the callus or corn go away. Sometimes a change in the function of the foot by use of an ] is required. This reduces friction and pressure allowing the skin to rest and stop forming protective skin coverings. Sometimes surgical correction of the pressure is needed. Sometimes the only thing that relieves the pain is to shave the calluses down and perhaps pad them. This is usually done by a . | ||
| =Shoes and their role in corns and calluses= | |||
| ⚫ | ==Shoes and callus formation== | ||
| Although well fitting shoes may keep the feet from being painful, they rarely change the way the foot functions. Well ] can keep some problems from advancing and can keep problems from being painful. | Although well fitting shoes may keep the feet from being painful, they rarely change the way the foot functions. Well ] can keep some problems from advancing and can keep problems from being painful. | ||
| ==Shoes and corn formation?== | |||
| ⚫ | =Other causes of callus= | ||
| Shoes can produce corns by rubbing against the top of the toes or foot. Stretching the shoe over that area may reduce the pressure and make the corn stop hurting. If the foot continues to move in the area the corn may stay but not hurt. | |||
| ⚫ | =Other causes of callus and corns= | ||
| ⚫ | Some callus occurs where there is no rubbing and no pressure. These ] can be caused by a variety of things. Some toxins like ] can cause thick palms and soles. Some diseases such as ] can cause thickening of the palms and soles as well as pin point hyperkeratoses. | ||
| ==Corns at the nail edge== | |||
| The nails, particularly toenails, are very stiff. If the toenail or fingernail rubs against the skin and pinches it between another surface for a period of time, a corn can form at the edge of the nail. These are difficult to treat because frequently it is the nail itself which is the cause of the corn. | |||
| ⚫ | Some callus occurs where there is no rubbing and no pressure. These ] can be caused by a variety of things. Some toxins like ] can cause thick palms and soles. | ||
| ==What about corns on the hands or legs or other spots?== | |||
| =Calluses and diabetes= | |||
| Much like calluses, corns can form in other areas for other reasons. There is a benign condition called Keratosis palmaris et plantaris which produces corns in the creases of the fingers and non-weight bearing spaces of the feet. Most of this type of corn are called and occur with age and with hormonal shifts. | |||
| =Corns, calluses and the diabetic= | |||
| ] are much like calluses but usually occur on the top of the toes or fingers on thin skin surfaces. | |||
| Example 1 | |||
| Players of stringed instruments such as the guitar will develop calluses on their fingers if they play frequently enough. They are a good thing in this case, because without them, playing the instruments for longer than a few minutes (or for someone who just started, a few seconds!) can be extremely painful. Sometimes a blister is produced before a callus. | |||
| Example 2 | |||
| ⚫ | People who have ] deformities of the great toe find that they have painful calluses behind the second or third toe on the |
||
| See also: | See also: | ||
Revision as of 13:30, 6 August 2004
What are corns and calluses?
Most commonly, callus is a small area of skin, usually on the foot which has become relatively thick and hard, from rubbing and/or pressure. Calluses may lead to other problems such as serious infection. Shoes that fit well can keep calluses from forming. A special case of callus is a corn. Corns are much like calluses but usually occur on the top of the toes or fingers on thin, or glabrous skin surfaces.
History of the Corn
The name corn comes from the appearance under the microscope. In the days when lenses and microscopes were first invented, scientists put everything under the microscope. When corns were removed, the hard part, the center of the corn appears to look like the inside of a funnel with a broad rasied top and pointed bottom. It lookes, when examined under magnification, much like barley seed. In Europe, barley is called 'corn', hence the name stuck. The scietific name is heloma. Hard corns are called heloma durum. Soft corns are called heloma molle.
Development of skin corns and calluses
How do calluses develop
Players of stringed instruments such as the guitar will develop calluses on their fingers if they play frequently enough. They are a good thing in this case, because without them, playing the instruments for longer than a few minutes (or for someone who just started, a few seconds!) can be extremely painful. Sometimes a blister is produced before a callus.
A callus is thickening of the skin. Although usually found on the foot they can occur anywhere on the body where there is pressure. It is a natural reaction of the thick skin on the palmar or plantar surfaces to react to pressure to produce callus. The example of the guitar player below demonstrates how callus can protect the skin. Sometimes, when the callus builds up, without any way to rub off or when it is caused by constant pressure it becomes thick and hard and painful.
People who have bunion deformities of the great toe find that they have painful calluses behind the second or third toe on the plantar surface of the foot. These are caused by unequal pressure placed on the smaller metatarsals rather than under the larger first metatarsal. These types of pressure induced calluses can be very painful and often do not respond to trimming of the callus, soft materials nor orthotic devices but require surgical change in the function of the foot.
How do corns develop?
Corns are a special case of hyperkeratosis of the skin. They are formed when there is pressure against the skin and the pressure point or the skin traces an elliptical or semi-elliptical path. This forms a swirl of tissue, the center of which is at the point of pressure gradually widening. There is stimulation of the tissues which produce a corn. In that way, even when the corn is removed or the pressure surgically removed, sometimes the skin continues to grow corns for some time.
What is the difference between soft and hard corns?
The difference between soft and hard corns is where they occur. Hard corns occur on dry flat surfaces of skin. Soft corns, frequently between two toes, stay moist, keeping the skin surrounding the hard center of the corn soft. The corn itself is not soft.
What can be done about calluses and corns?
Most corns and calluses under the foot are caused from pressure of the bones in the foot pressing against or holding the skin from moving against the shoe or the ground. While changing or using well fitting shoes will help some of these problems, most of the time some intervention is required. The most basic treatment is to put a friction reducing insole or material into the shoe or against the foot. Sometimes this will reduce pain caused by heat buildup without making the callus or corn go away. Sometimes a change in the function of the foot by use of an orthotic device is required. This reduces friction and pressure allowing the skin to rest and stop forming protective skin coverings. Sometimes surgical correction of the pressure is needed. Sometimes the only thing that relieves the pain is to shave the calluses down and perhaps pad them. This is usually done by a .
Shoes and their role in corns and calluses
Shoes and callus formation
Although well fitting shoes may keep the feet from being painful, they rarely change the way the foot functions. Well fitting shoes can keep some problems from advancing and can keep problems from being painful.
Shoes and corn formation?
Shoes can produce corns by rubbing against the top of the toes or foot. Stretching the shoe over that area may reduce the pressure and make the corn stop hurting. If the foot continues to move in the area the corn may stay but not hurt.
Other causes of callus and corns
Some callus occurs where there is no rubbing and no pressure. These hyperkeratoses can be caused by a variety of things. Some toxins like arsenic can cause thick palms and soles. Some diseases such as syphillis can cause thickening of the palms and soles as well as pin point hyperkeratoses.
Corns at the nail edge
The nails, particularly toenails, are very stiff. If the toenail or fingernail rubs against the skin and pinches it between another surface for a period of time, a corn can form at the edge of the nail. These are difficult to treat because frequently it is the nail itself which is the cause of the corn.
What about corns on the hands or legs or other spots?
Much like calluses, corns can form in other areas for other reasons. There is a benign condition called Keratosis palmaris et plantaris which produces corns in the creases of the fingers and non-weight bearing spaces of the feet. Most of this type of corn are called and occur with age and with hormonal shifts.
Corns, calluses and the diabetic
See also: