Feet: The Ugly Truth

Many of you are probably all about world strife and earthquakes when you follow the news.

In my world, stories like Sarah Brown, wife of U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown, removing her shoes at a Hindu temple, displaying the corns and calluses on her feet is the late-breaking news. And we’re grateful for it: She joined celebrities including Katie Holmes, Amanda Bynes and Rihanna, who are known for having less-than-perfect-feet.

I live to write about celebrities who let the rest of us know there’s nothing wrong with the rest of us, and none of us have anything to be ashamed of.

In fact, nearly 10 percent of American women and five percent of the population as a whole have to deal with ugly, painful corns and calluses that make their feet best suited for boots and other winter shoe styles, and a nightmare for summer trends. But according to dermatologist Dr. Joshua Fox, “By taking care of these problems now, woman and men can enjoy the summer in sandals or their bare feet.”

“Corns and calluses are caused by friction and pressure on the feet, either from wearing shoes that don’t fit properly or from conditions such as arthritis, trauma, bunions or various deformities,” says Dr. Fox, founder of Advanced Dermatology and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Dermatology.

According to Harry Baldinger, M.D., a podiatrist in Monsey, N.Y., “Most people do not get calluses or corns. People do get them when there is extra friction at some point during the gait cycle. Sometimes the cause is the structure of the foot which could be adjusted with devices, biomechanical and padding devices.”

Dr. Fox explains that the yellow or gray, thick, hardened, dead skin on the feet known as calluses and corns form to protect the skin from pressure, friction and injury. While both calluses and corns are less sensitive to the touch than surrounding skin and may feel bumpy, the two are different. Both calluses and hard corns are hard, dry and thick, while a soft corn looks like an open sore. Corns that are neglected can turn into sores which may become infected. Both corns and calluses are diagnosed during a physical exam; your doctor may want to x-ray the foot if he or she suspects a problem with the underlying bone which can be treated by a podiatrist or orthopedic surgeon.

“The best way to remove a corn or callus is to prevent it from forming in the first place,” says Dr. Fox, who offers several at-home suggestions to prevent corns and calluses from forming. “Wear shoes that fit well and give your toes plenty of room,” he says. “Wear protective coverings such as felt pads, lambs wool, cotton balls or bandages over the parts of your feet that rub against your shoes. If that doesn’t work and you’ve developed a corn or callus, you can try an at-home treatment,” he adds.

If you start to feel pain, Dr. Fox says, the first thing to do is to remove the pressure or friction that is causing the problem, giving it time to heal. This is done by wearing shoes that fit properly and using protective padding, which can be purchased at a drug store, to cushion the callus or corn. Podiatrists can make a specialized shoe for your foot to remove pressure. “Don’t use liquid corn removers containing salicylic acid,” he says. “This can irritate healthy skin and promote infection. Soaking your feet in warm, soapy water can soften corns and calluses, making it easier to remove the thickened skin.”

Dr. Fox also recommends rubbing corns and calluses with a pumice stone or washcloth during or after bathing to help remove a layer of thickened skin, and following that with moisturizer. “Never cut or shave calluses or corns yourself, as this could cause infection.”