Nail & Skin Care
Corns and calluses: like a pebble in your shoe.
Corns and calluses both happen when the skin thickens and hardens, and either one can cause discomfort or pain. They need to be managed, and removal can help reduce any pain.
This may help if…
- You have hard, thick or discoloured skin on your feet that's sore
- It feels like there's a pebble in your shoe when you walk
- You have a painful spot between your toes or over a bony part of your foot
- You're not sure whether it's a corn, a callus or a wart
What to expect
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Intake form
You'll fill in an intake form outlining your health problems, family history and any medication you're taking.
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Assessment
Your feet will then be assessed and you can address any problems you are experiencing, such as a sore corn or callus.
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Treatment
Treatment will be provided accordingly, with your consent. For corns and calluses, this may include removal and some offloading measures to take pressure off the area.
Calluses
A callus is a thickening of the skin that can be hard, discoloured and can cause discomfort or pain. Calluses can occur as a result of mechanical stresses placed on the foot from the ground as you stand and walk.
Corns
A corn is a smaller, more concentrated area of hard skin. There are different types of corns that can appear on different areas of the foot. Some corns can be found in between the toes, in areas of high load or pressure and over bony areas.
A corn can cause pain and may hurt on direct pressure. People often describe the feeling of a pebble in their shoe or a sharp pain that may make it hard to walk.
How corns and calluses are managed
Corns and calluses can predispose the skin to ulceration (breaking down into an open sore) and need to be managed. They require removal for maintaining normal skin integrity and reducing any pain.
Some offloading measures may be taken to reduce the tissue load. Offloading means taking pressure off the area where the corn or callus forms. Custom orthotics can be a good way to redistribute the mechanical stresses on the foot and may help in managing pain.
Before you treat it at home
Avoid using any over-the-counter medications to remove calluses, corns and warts. Warts are often confused with corns and calluses, so it's worth having the area assessed first.
Common questions
Yes. If you have diabetes, it is important to have proper foot health, and extra care needs to be taken to avoid infection from occurring or further progression of symptoms. Keep an eye out for any cuts, sores and any other changes seen in skin or colour.
No. A doctor's referral is not required to book an appointment. You can book a time and day that works best for you, and we'll do our best to accommodate you.
Chiropody is not covered by OHIP, but it may be covered by your extended health insurance plan.
This page is general information. Your chiropodist will recommend care based on an assessment of your own feet.
Related care
Let's take care of your feet.
Call us at (905) 232-3338 or email info@solestepfootclinic.ca to book. No doctor's referral needed.