A lot depends on the choice of shoes. First of all, the he alth of our feet. Wearing uncomfortable and tight boots and shoes leads to the appearance of corns and calluses. At first glance, this does not seem like a major problem. However, if you do not change your shoes in time, the calluses will be difficult to remove. These, at first glance, harmless formations can lead not only to infection of the lower extremities, but also to deformity of the feet. There are several types of corns. Therefore, before proceeding with their treatment, it is worth determining the type of education. Each type of callus requires specific therapy.
One of the drugs used for this problem is the Salipod patch. It has been used for many years now. The patch not only softens calluses, but also has an antimicrobial property. It is used both at home and before cosmetic procedures.
Causes of calluses
Most often people are faced with rubbed calluses. The reason for their appearance is the wrong choice of shoes. To a greater extent, this problem affects women. Representatives of the weaker sex are often fond of beautiful, but not very comfortable shoes. A rubbed corn appears when wearing tight shoes and ballet flats. This does not mean that such shoes cannot be worn. However, it is worth giving preference to quality materials. Shoes with the correct last made of soft leather will not damage the skin of the feet. Rigid materials contribute to the appearance of corns. In addition, it is worth choosing shoes, paying attention to the size. It should fit not only in length, but also in width. Shoes that are tight and tight put pressure on the skin of the feet, which can lead to blisters and foot deformities.
Other causes of pathology include: excessive sweating of the legs, improper gait and obesity. Excess weight leads to an increase in the load on the lower limbs. This is the cause of flat feet and the formation of an incorrect gait. Due to the increase in the transverse size of the feet, calluses appear on the lateral surfaces of the fingers. In addition, damage to the skin of the feet occurs due to friction on the seams of hosiery. Therefore, when corns appear, you should pay attention to the choice of socks and tights. They should fit the foot and have soft, not too pronounced seams.
Another group of causes of corns is skin diseases. Constant dry feet and excessive keratinization of the epidermis lead to the appearance of corns. Skin diseases of this spectrum include:psoriasis, vitamin A deficiency, vascular pathologies and diabetes mellitus.
Different types of calluses on the feet
There are several classifications of corns. They are based on the localization of the process and the consistency of the pathological formation. Before deciding how to remove corns, it is worth determining their type. Some of them require medical treatment, others can be removed with the help of improvised means.
The following types of corns on the legs are distinguished:
- Dry.
- Water.
- Rod.
Dry callus is a hard formation on the skin of the foot. It occurs in places that are constantly in contact with the surface of the shoe. Often, such formations are found on the sole. They are areas of compacted keratinized epidermis.
Water blisters on the skin of the feet are also called soft corns. Compared to hard growths, they are more painful and dangerous. Many are faced with the fact that the callus on the leg burst. This means that the top layer of the skin has been damaged and an infection is likely to develop. Water calluses are characterized by the accumulation of fluid under the epidermis, which appears as a result of excessive pressure. If you do not release the foot from the constraining shoes in time, inflammation occurs. In this case, the accumulated exudate becomes not transparent, but cloudy.
A separate variety is a callus on the leg with a stem. Nevertheless, it can be attributed to solid formations. A similar seal appears due to the lack of treatment.dry corns. Under the area of keratinized skin, a solid rod is formed, which cuts into the underlying tissues and provokes the occurrence of severe pain when walking.
Differential diagnosis of corns and corns
Some types of corns on the feet (dry, rod) can be confused with corns. These formations are slightly different. In their structure, corns are similar to dry corns. Often they form on the plantar surface of the foot, on the area of skin between the toes. Calluses are represented by coarsened epidermis. Similar formations appear in people with dry skin type. The provoking factor for their occurrence is frequent walking and wearing hard shoes.
The main difference between corns and dry calluses is their location. These coarsened skin areas are present only on the sole. At the same time, their boundaries are blurred, in contrast to the contours of the callus. Calluses are rarely accompanied by pain when walking. However, if you do not pay attention to them, such formations can transform into corns.
The basis of another classification of the disease is the localization of the pathological focus. According to it, various types of corns are distinguished: on the legs, on the feet, on the fingers, on the heel, etc. Plantar formations (corns) are areas of coarse yellowish epidermis. They rise slightly above the surface of the surrounding skin. Sometimes it is noticeable only on palpation of the plantar side of the foot. Calluses lead to rapid fatigue when walking.
There are the following types of corns on the toes: soft (water), dry, bone formations and bunion. The first 2 types of formations are already known. Bone calluses are less common. They are formed due to fractures and damage to the phalanges of the toes. Improper fusion of bone structures leads to increased formation of connective tissue. If you do not fix the foot, there is a constant traumatization of the new epithelium. This, in turn, provokes the formation of even more connective tissue. Excess epithelium quickly turns into cartilaginous, and then into a bone structure. Such calluses can form not only on the toes, but also on other parts of the foot. In particular, on the back surface of the calcaneus (in the place where the skin rubs against the shoes). Bunion is a separate type of digital corns. This formation occurs when the diameter of the foot is compressed (wearing narrow shoes). Bunion is located on the joint of the big toe. Most often, the corn has a soft texture.
Another pathological formation on the legs is a heel spur. It has a bony structure. The spur is located on the plantar surface of the heel. Such a formation always delivers pronounced pain when walking. In some cases, surgery is required to remove the spur.
Methods of treating corns
Different types of calluses on the feet require an individual approach to treatment. There are several methods for removing such formations. In most cases, in order to get rid of corns, it is enough to go to an experienced master inpedicure and follow his advice. To a greater extent, this applies to solid dry formations. When water calluses appear, a special approach is required, because they can lead to infection. Bone and cartilage structures cannot be removed on their own.
The following methods of treating calluses are distinguished:
- Warm herbal baths.
- Antimicrobial agents (plasters, ointments).
- Remove rough skin with a pumice stone or razor.
- Surgical treatment.
- Laser therapy.
- Cryosurgery.
In some cases, combined therapy is required to remove the callus. An untimely appeal to a specialist leads to the addition of a fungal and bacterial infection, as well as to the ossification of a pathological formation. How to treat calluses on the legs, an experienced pedicure master or orthopedist will tell you. In its absence, you should contact the surgeon.
Corn removal at home
If the case is not running, then you can remove the corn at home. For this, warm foot baths are used. For the best effect, various herbs are added to the water. First of all, you should steam the corn well. How to get rid of at home, the doctor or pedicure master will tell you. In order for rough skin to soften faster and infection does not occur, a decoction of chamomile, calendula or tea tree is added to the water. These herbs have an antiseptic and soothing effect on the skin. After the roughened area becomes soft, it should be wellrub it with a pumice stone. You can also use a razor for this purpose, but this can lead to deep damage to the epithelium and injury. After the procedure, you should lubricate the feet with a greasy cream or moisturizing oils. To consolidate the effect, put on socks. This will help keep the environment warm. Such procedures should be carried out repeatedly so that dry corns completely disappear.
In addition to warm baths, home remedies such as aloe, onion, lemon, vinegar, potatoes, etc. are used to remove rough skin. These products help to soften the corn faster. For the best effect, they are used in the form of compresses at night. Aloe or lemon should be cut off and a slice fixed to rough skin with a patch. A gruel of onions or potatoes is applied to the corn and the foot is bandaged with a bandage. In the same way, a compress is made from the pulp of bread moistened with vinegar. A cellophane film is applied over the gauze and a warm sock is put on. Such compresses are left overnight, and in the morning it is recommended to make a warm foot bath using a pumice stone.
Getting rid of corns with medication
To remove old dry corns, and even more so the core ones, the use of medications is required. In most cases, a patch is used that has a keratolytic property. A similar effect has the drug "Salipod". The patch not only helps to soften rough skin, but also to avoid infection. The active substance of this drug is salicylicacid. Use the patch "Salipod" from corns. Outwardly, they may resemble a nailhead or have a recess in the center.
In addition to rod formations, water corns require drug therapy. They resemble a blister, inside which fluid accumulates - lymph. The color of water calluses is most often transparent or whitish. With deep damage to the skin, blood can penetrate into the lymph. Increasing pain in the area of the blister indicates infection. If the soft callus does not burst on its own, it can be pierced with a needle. Beforehand, it is worth disinfecting the instrument so as not to bring in the bacterial flora. How to treat calluses on the legs, it is better to ask a specialist. In such cases, the use of keratolytic drugs is contraindicated. To make the callus heal faster, antibiotics are used. In case of infection, the drugs of choice include drugs such as erythromycin and tetracycline ointment. When the inflammatory process subsides, healing agents are prescribed. An example is Levomekol ointment.
Drug "Salipod": instructions for use
Salipod plaster is considered a proven remedy for the treatment of corns. It has established itself as an effective drug for more than 50 years ago. The composition of the drug includes salicylic acid, sulfur, rubber, lanolin and rosin. The drug has two important effects: it destroys the coarsened layers of the skin and disinfects the surrounding tissues. The Salipod medical product, the instructions for use of which are included in each package, is used as follows:
- Before using the drug, it is worth steaming the corn.
- Stick a patch on the hardened area. In this case, you can not get on he althy skin.
- After 1-2 days, carefully peel off the patch.
The drug "Salipod" from calluses should be used several times. If the process is not started, then a solid formation (root) will gradually break through the softened skin. It can then be carefully removed.
Folk treatments
It is worth remembering that alternative therapy is used only for shallow calluses. To remove the root of the pathological formation, the skin should be strongly steamed and treated with pumice. Then the foot should be smeared with a moisturizer. After a traditional foot bath, you need to take an ordinary adhesive plaster and cut a small hole in it. It is necessary in order for the corn core to be opened. The patch must be glued to a completely dried foot so that moisture does not accumulate under it. It must be firmly pressed against the skin, otherwise he althy epithelium can be damaged. After sticking the adhesive plaster, a few drops of acetic acid are dripped into the hole with the rod. In order for the root of the corn to completely disappear, the procedure is repeated 3-4 times. This method is used carefully, as the probability of burning he althy skin is high.
Surgical removal of calluses
In some cases, quite deep ossified calluses appear. They not only bring severe pain, but also damage he althy tissue. To suchformations include callus on the heel. What to do if you cannot remove the rod yourself? In such cases, you should consult a doctor. Unfortunately, deep calluses and heel spurs can only be removed surgically. Alternative methods of treatment are laser therapy and cryodestruction. In the first case, a strong light flux acts on the corn. Cryodestruction is the removal of a callus stem with liquid nitrogen, which freezes the pathological area.
The traditional surgical method consists in the surgical removal of the ossified area. The root is gradually drilled out of the heel using a special apparatus. Such treatment requires rehabilitation.
How to prevent corns
Prophylactic measures include wearing comfortable shoes. It should not constrain the leg or, conversely, dangle on the foot. To keep your feet from sweating, you need to choose socks made from natural materials. In summer, it is recommended to wear well-ventilated shoes. In addition, the prevention of corns includes foot hygiene and the use of moisturizers.
