Summer is the time when you can wear lighter clothes, including sandals or even walk around bare feet. However, some never enjoy this freedom because they feel self-conscious about the hard, dry skin on their feet. Corns and calluses can be more than just an aesthetic problem – they can be a real source of discomfort, both physical and emotional.
These skin conditions can prevent people from enjoying the things they love, like going out for a walk or wearing sandals. Corns and calluses can hurt someone’s quality of life.
Dr Phumelela Sambumbu, who operates mobile clinics in Tsomo, Eastern Cape, for The Youth Health Movement #Ke ready, says that the type of shoes you wear, whether they’re open or closed, can contribute to the development of corns and calluses.
She also notes that the sole of the shoe can play a role. For example, shoes with harder soles may be more likely to cause corns and calluses than shoes with softer soles.
“Open shoes with thin soles and tight straps can also cause friction. The same applies to the type of closed shoe.”
Dr Phumelela Sambumbu
‘Criticism undermines my self-assurance’
Andisiwe Ndabeni, a student from Cape Town College, says that due to social pressure and teasing from her peers and strangers, she has become self-conscious about her corns and now only wears closed shoes, even when the weather is hot.
“It’s a nightmare to be told that you have ugly feet. I only feel comfortable wearing open shoes at home.”
Ndabeni has tried various remedies for corns and calluses suggested on social media, including using bicarbonate of soda, Vaseline, and oils. However, she found that these home remedies were not effective and did not solve her problem.
12 years is a shame
Vuyokazi Gamedala, from Philippi in Cape Town, has been struggling with corns and calluses for the past 12 years. She has tried a variety of home treatments and chemical creams, but nothing has worked. She finds it uncomfortable to wear closed shoes, as they cause her feet to feel burned and painful.
“I soak my feet in warm water and then cut away the layers of dead skin, but the corns and calluses always come back within a few days. It’s like I’m fighting a losing battle.”
Vuyokazi Gamedala
Even though she has tried following foot routines such as grating her feet with a machine and wearing socks, the problem persists.
From a medical point of view
Sambumbu explains that the bones in the feet have bony projections, called ‘bony prominences,’ and when there’s too much pressure on the skin over these areas, the body’s natural defence mechanism is to create a thick layer of the outer layer of skin, called the ‘epithelium.’ This process can cause the skin to become inflamed, red, and painful.
If the pressure on the skin continues, it can cause a ‘vicious cycle’ where the pain and inflammation become worse over time.
There are many reasons someone might develop corns or calluses, according to Sambumbu.
These include:
- Wear shoes that don’t fit properly, whether they’re too tight, too loose, or have the wrong shape.
- Wear open shoes that don’t protect the skin on the feet from pressure and friction.
- Having abnormal anatomy of the toes, such as claw toes, hammertoes, or mallet toes.
She adds that wearing formal shoes for lengthy periods might exacerbate the condition. Especially if the shoes are too tight, have abrasive stitching, have uneven soles, are ill-fitting, or are worn with ill-fitting socks.
Treatments and recommendations
Avoid wearing tight or ill-fitting shoes, standing for extended periods, especially in shoes with uneven soles, lengthy periods of training, walking or standing (especially in tight shoes), wearing shoes without socks, loose shoes with friction, and shoes with tight seams or stitching, says Sambumbu.
She stresses that medical care is generally necessary if they become symptomatic such as experiencing pain, discomfort, big prominences, etc.
“Surgery is considered only if conservative methods have failed or if there are anatomical abnormalities that can be surgically repaired. Conservative methods include symptomatic relief, advise on footwear and orthoses (corn pads, silicone toe splints etc.)”
According to Sambumbu, one can heal corns and calluses by bathing their feet in warm water until softened, then gently filing corn off (avoid using sharp objects).
- Surround the corn with adhesive padding for symptomatic relief.
- Apply cold pack over pain corn.
- Wear proper footwear to prevent further hardening and discomfort.
People should be aware of self-treatments, which can be harmful to their health. For example, patients with poor circulation to their feet owing to medical issues and patients with diabetes should seek medical advice before self-treatment, she says.
“This may lead to non-healing ulcers and sores, complicated by infections.”
If calluses become large, painful, and uncomfortable, it can eventually make it difficult to wear shoes. Therefore, it is necessary to consult a doctor for a proper diagnosis and to explore available treatment options.
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