Introduction Types Consult your doctor if Diagnosis Conventional treatment

Causes Symptoms Prevention Self-help Homoeopathic treatment

Repetitive exposure of the skin to forces like friction and pressure gives rise to protective thickening of skin known as Callus (Tyloma). Most often callus occurs on the feet, hands, and any other part of the skin where constant friction is present.
	Due to constant pressure on a particular spot a callus develops a mass of dead cells in its center; then it is known as a Corn (Heloma). Corns usually occur on the toes and balls of the feet.
Both the above conditions can be relived by removing the source of friction and pressure. However it does not remain just a cosmetic problem when they become painful and sometimes infected. Recurrence is also a common problem associated with these conditions.

• Ill fitting shoes
  Constant pressure on the foot can be result of shoes or footwear that are too tight or those that having high heels. If the shoes are loose then the foot may frequently rub against the edges and sides. Often wrongly placed seams and stitches can result in friction and/or pressure.
• Not wearing socks
  Wearing shoes and other footwear without socks cause constant friction between the shoe and foot. Ill fitting socks and socks with seams at the toes can also be a problem.
• Manual labor
  Frequently using hand held tools for various activities at job and at home can be a source of constant pressure and friction.
• Body structure
  Bony prominences, bursa, faulty gait (walking style), bunion, foot deformities, etc. all may result in friction and pressure on the foot.
• Hereditary
  In case of a child suffering from callus with no other clear source of pressure, it is probably a genetically determined hereditary callus.

• Hard corn (Heloma durum):
  It is a small patch of thickened, dead skin with a packed nucleus. They are found on dry flat skin surfaces.
• Soft corn (Heloma molle):
  This type of corn has a thinner surface and they usually stay moist even though their center is hard. Most often they are found between the toes.
• Seed corn:
  It is the least common type of corn. There is a patch of stiff skin around a tiny plug of cholesterol. Such a corn occurs only on the sole of the foot and is often accompanied by anhidrosis, or lack of perspiration.
  
  
• Common callus:
  This usually occurs due to friction on the hands or feet.
• Plantar callus:
  This type of callus is commonly found on the sole of the foot.
• Hereditary callus:
  As the name suggests, these types of calluses run in the family and are usually found on the soles or palms.

Corns
• Skin may be dry, waxy, transparent or a horny mass
• The lesion has distinct borders
• May be hard or soft
• Usually painful

Calluses
• Skin is thick without distinct borders
• Color varies from white to gray-yellow, brown, or red
• Often painless or tender
• May throb or burn when infected

You must seek medical advice when

• Your corn/callus becomes painful or inflamed
• Persons having diabetes or poor circulation should immediately consult a health care provider as they have potentially higher risk of developing secondary infection or ulcers which are difficult to heal.
• Pus like discharge or bleeding from or around them

• Use protective gloves while doing manual jobs and using hand held tools.
• Use shoes and socks that are a right fit and do not cause friction or pressure on the feet.
• Avoid wool or synthetic fibre socks as they might irritate the skin.
• If the cause of the corn is an abnormal foot placement or hip rotation, Orthopedic shoe inserts may be used.
• Avoid pointed and high-heeled shoes. In case of women wearing high-heeled or pointed shoes at work, pressure should be taken off the feet by walking to and fro at the workplace in correctly fitted athletic shoes.
• Have shoes repaired regularly as worn soles give little protection from the shock of walking on hard surfaces and worn linings can chafe the skin and harbor bacteria.
• If the soles or heels of shoes tend to wear unevenly, see an orthopedist about corrective shoes or insoles.
• One may use over the counter pads; it is advisable to avoid products with liquid contents as they have salicylic acid and it can cause skin irritation.

A physical examination of the lesion is done to diagnose it; your health care provider may suggest x-ray to rule out any underlying bony prominence. Rarely a skin biopsy is done to confirm the diagnosis.

• Avoid shoes activities which cause friction or pressure.
• Apply protective pads or bandages over the affected area to reduce friction till the sore heals.
• Use non medicated moisturizer to soften the calluses and corns.
• Soak feet in an Epsom salt footbath everyday to soothe and soften the skin.
• To soften tender corns, rub them with lemon juice.
• Elevate feet and expose them to fresh air whenever possible.
• Use pumice or a callus file to gently rub dead skin off a callus, but never rub a corn.
• Apply a non-medicated soothing lotion.

• Shaving or cutting off the thickened skin layer by the doctor.
• Surgical removing the affected skin lesion, often it is done as a simple minor procedure in OPD (Out Patient Department).
• Application of Keratolytic agents to soften the hard skin
• Antibiotics to treat infections
• NSAID for relief form pain and swelling

Homeopathy has good scope in the treatment of Corns and Calluses. The medication can help in reducing the corns over a period of time and also reduce the pain associated with the condition. It is important to note that removal of the causative factor is very essential for the treatment. E.g. If the corn has been caused due to ill-fitting shoes, the patient must change the footwear so as to remove the causative factor for more corns to develop.

Some people have an inherent tendency to develop corns and calluses and Homeopathy targets this tendency and strives to remove it from the roots. Homeopathy is strongly suggested for all cases of Corns and Calluses.