Hard calluses: causes, treatment, prevention

The article will figure out what to do with corns. If constant friction or great pressure is exerted on a person’s skin for a long period of time, it turns on its protective mechanisms. It holds dead surface cells, preventing them from exfoliating. In this case, the probability of injury to the deeper layers, in which the nerves, blood vessels, immunoglobulins, and other useful substances are located, is significantly reduced. This is precisely the mechanism for the appearance of hard calluses. Legs, forced to withstand the entire weight of the body, as well as being in uncomfortable shoes, suffer from dry calluses much more often than hands. Elimination of areas of excessive keratinization is possible only by applying constant effort.

To understand what a hard callus is, what its structure is, how to act in order to get rid of it in a short time, it is necessary to study the structure of the dermis and the reasons why callosity occurs.

Skin structure

The integumentary tissue (skin) is the longest organ. It is he who primarily comes into contact with environmental conditions and is able to weaken or completely suppress adverse factors. The protective properties of the skin are due to the fact that it has a two-layer structure.

Epidermis

The epidermis is called the outer layers of the integumentary tissue. In translation, the word means "above the dermis." The epidermis in its structure resembles a five-layer brick wall. In the lower part are cells that give rise to other layers. The last is a row formed by dead plates. It has high strength due to keratin protein. The thickness of the last layer of the epidermis will be the thicker the greater the load will be assigned to it.

Dermis

The epidermis is often compared to a brick wall, and the dermis, in turn, can be described as a "spring-water mattress." It consists of a number of elements, among which:

1. Nerve terminals, special structures that are associated with nerves and are able to respond to heat, cold, vibration, pressure.
2. Vessels.
3. Hair follicles.
4. Sweat, sebaceous glands.
5. Fibers
6. The intercellular matrix, which is a gel-like substance that allows you to provide such an important property of the skin as straightening after collecting it in a fold. Thanks to the intercellular matrix, the skin is not damaged by bending parts of the body in the joints.
7. Various cells: taking part in immuno-inflammatory reactions, destroying microbes, penetrating through the epidermis, forming other dermal structures.

How does a solid callus come about?

Skin keratinization process

Over time, the epidermal cell begins to age and rise higher, separating from its structure (this process takes the longer, the greater the person’s age). First, eleidin begins to accumulate in the cell, gradually transforming into keratin. After 28 days in young people and 72 days in elderly people, exfoliation of the upper stratum corneum occurs. Together with the scales, mechanical contaminants, ammonia, salts, and other substances that were released with sweat and were on the surface are separated. Many are wondering if corn can be pierced. About it below.

Dry corn

Dry callus is a local thickening of the epidermis, which occurs as a result of constant mechanical irritation. A thickening is formed, usually over the joints. Quite often, the formation of dry callus can be observed on the toes, in the place where they touch.

Hard calluses on the palms are formed too. From the outside, such formations are covered with many corneocytes (keratinized cells), which did not have time to exfoliate. This phenomenon in medical practice is called hyperkeratosis.

Under the stratification of keratinized plates, there is a core that has a conical shape, its tip is directed down into the deep layers of the skin. If the nucleus has a cartilaginous density and sufficient length, the formation is called a corns with a core. It is formed around foreign bodies remaining in the skin (it can be a small splinter, a grain of sand, a sliver), or at a place where there was previously wet callus. Hyperkeratoses with an axial center may be a sign that the skin is infected with a fungus or papillomavirus.

In cases where the top of the nucleus reaches the nerve endings located in the deep layers, the corn begins to manifest itself as extreme soreness. Most often, solid corn with a core is formed in the following places:

1. Mid heel.
2. Pads under the toes.
3. Between the first two toes.
4. Between the little finger and the ring toes.

Hard calluses on the hands are very rare. To get rid of dry corn, which has a core, is much more difficult than to simply dry. The best option for her therapy is laser removal.

Risk groups

Specialists have long figured out the reason for the appearance of such zones of excessive keratinization. First of all, this is the performance of work that is associated with friction and pressure on certain areas of the skin:

1. Wearing uncomfortable shoes.
2. Wearing shoes over a loose toe creasing.
3. Forced long walking (especially if a person is overweight and does not have physical fitness).
4. Pathologies that cause deformation of the foot (arthritis, arthrosis).
5. Friction on the handles of hand tools.
6. Friction on sports equipment.
7. Friction on musical instruments.

In some cases, corn is not just a cosmetic defect, but indicates diseases of its carrier, such as:

1. Fungal infection. The skin of the entire foot becomes dry, the area of ​​the transverse arch of the foot and heel is redder, becomes thicker and begins to crack. The main method of treating dry corns in this case will be the use of local antifungal medications.
2. Deficiency in the body of vitamins A and E. As a result of their deficiency, the skin is dried up, the skin's ability to resist various infections is significantly reduced.
3. Vascular diseases of the lower extremities, against which there is a malnutrition of foot tissues. Such diseases may include: obliterating endarteritis, varicose veins, atherosclerosis.
4. Diabetes. Therapy of dry corns that occur against the background of diabetes mellitus exclusively with local medicines will be ineffective. Correction of glucose level is required.

How to treat corns on the feet of shoes, we learn below.

Symptoms of Dry Callus

Areas of coarse skin that do not have a core inside appear to look like formations whose borders are rounded and clear. The structure, as a rule, has a yellowish color, slight redness may be observed around it. When probing the corn, its special dryness is detected, pressure does not cause pain.

The callus looks a little different:

1. The area of ​​the coarse dermis resembles a mushroom hat.
2. Has a whitish or yellowish color.
3. Pressure causes soreness.
4. In the middle of the formation is a crust. If you remove it, you will find a recess with increased density and light color.

So what to do with corn?

Callus therapy

When dry callus appears, you should pay attention to the problem and start timely therapy. Otherwise, as the corn grows, difficulties will arise when working or walking, accompanied by much soreness. In order not to injure the area, a person begins to position the foot or palm differently, as a result of which the axis of movement of the joint is disturbed. Such a violation can lead to the development of arthritis, arthrosis and other unpleasant diseases.

Corns with a core are subject to mandatory removal, as they may crack over time. Pathogenic microorganisms begin to penetrate into the cracks that provoke infection and are able to penetrate the bloodstream. In such situations, blood poisoning is not excluded. How to treat foot blisters from shoes?

Therapy of painless corns

The therapy of dry corns, recently formed, without a core, not cracked and not infected, is a fairly simple process. The procedure for the patient should be as follows:

1. It is necessary to be examined for diseases that can cause the constant formation of hyperkeratotic zones. The examination is carried out by four specialists: an endocrinologist (who first of all excludes diabetes), a vascular surgeon (examines the condition of the vessels located in the legs and arms), a neurologist (recommends the necessary therapy in cases when hyperkeratosis occurs against the background of pathological changes in the nerve fibers of the limb) , dermatologist (appoints an examination to identify fungal infection and papillomavirus).
2. Hygiene procedures should be performed: steam the feet in a solution of soda and soap, treat the coarsened areas with pumice, foot scrub. After the skin on the legs is cleaned and dried, it is necessary to apply a greasy cream. Any baby cream, Bepanten, D-Panthenol, a self-prepared mixture of vitamin A, which has an oil base, and baby cream (1: 1 ratio) is suitable for this purpose.
3. It is important to change the existing shoes to more comfortable, which is suitable for the weather and purpose. An ideal option would be if the shoes are seamless inside, will have an arch support, a wide back, a fairly wide toe, and a heel of 3-4 cm.

Is it possible to pierce a corn? Proponents of this method provide several arguments proving the benefit of piercing the growth. Among them: the disappearance of pain and discomfort during movement, quick healing, sterility due to preparedness (if the corn bursts by itself at an unexpected time, there may not be a medical kit at hand).

Puncture is necessary if the corn is in an open place and there is a risk that it can accidentally burst if the blister inflames to a huge size. Autopsy subject exclusively to water types of corns.

Removal of corns, painful formations

If a corn with a core appeared, it should be the same as in the previous case, first pass an examination. Therapy can be carried out at home in only a few cases:

1. Dry callus is not infected (that is, it is not accompanied by reddening, turning blue, the appearance of a blood or purulent discharge).
2. The appearance of corns is not provoked by a fungal infection.
3. The corn did not appear as a result of exposure to papillomavirus.

Home therapy for hard corns on the legs is as follows: it is necessary to steam off the calloused areas and apply local products (folk, pharmacy) on them, capable of exfoliating excess keratinized cells. If it turns out that such agents are ineffective, and the corn has a fungal origin or is provoked by a papillomavirus infection, you should consult a dermatologist to remove the formation.

How to get a hard callus, everyone should know.

Baths

Trays help soften the areas to be treated. They should be followed by following a few rules:

1. Water should be moderately hot (up to 45 degrees).
2. Steaming time - up to 20 minutes, until the water cools down.
3. The volume of water used should be about 5 liters.

You can add to the bath water: a mixture of two tablespoons of chopped laundry soap and ten teaspoons of soda, decoctions of celandine, St. John's wort, chamomile, a mixture of four tablespoons of sea salt and one liter of milk (cream, whey), up to 4 tablespoons of starch , several crystals of potassium permanganate.

After steaming the feet in the bath, they should be wiped dry, treated with a file, a pumice stone. Then, an ointment intended for dry calluses, a fat cream, another remedy of folk or pharmacy origin, with keratolytic properties is applied to the skin. After some time, it must be washed off, apply a fat cream to the affected area of ​​the skin.

What else is used to remove hard calluses on the toes?

Topical medicines

An external agent that can break the connection between unnecessary layers of keratinized plates will help get rid of dry corn. Most often, the following drugs are used for this purpose:

1. Ointments for solid calluses and other agents based on salicylic acid. For example, the salipod patch, salicylic ointment. These funds, when applied to pre-steamed and towel-dried skin, give a peeling effect, destroying communication cells between dead cells and exfoliating them. A similar effect is exerted by Nemozol Cream. It contains salicylate, which helps soften and separate corns. Sulfur present in the cream acts as an antiseptic and antimycotic agent, which allows healing of cracks and wounds in areas of hyperkeratosis.
2. Preparations containing hydrocolloids. One of such means is a patch "Compide". It is made of silicone, which allows you to create a moist environment at the place of gluing. Salicylic acid present on the patch surface at this time fights against an array of corneocytes. The composite callus plaster "Kompid" is produced by the manufacturer in various forms, which are convenient for gluing on the heels and the spaces between the fingers. They should not be removed until they peel off on their own.
3. Gel preparations containing trichloroacetic acid. The most popular is Wartner Gel. It is available in the form of a handle applicator, convenient to use.
4. Preparations containing refrigerants. For example, "Cryopharma". Dead cells are removed under the influence of the drug due to the cessation of nutrition of the surface zone of the dermis. Initially, a blister forms on the treated area of ​​the skin, which eventually disappears.
5. Phenol-based products that can cauterize hyperkeratosis.
6. Preparations containing natural ingredients. The most popular with Papillek, Superchistotel, containing celandine extract. Apply the drug to the affected surface, avoiding contact with healthy areas. Do not rub the product. As a rule, with the help of celandine, corn can be removed in a week.
7. Combined drugs. They contain natural and chemical keratolytic substances.

Pencil from corns Compeed:

• acts as a natural lubricant, immediately reducing friction and rubbing;
• almost invisible on the skin, colorless;
• for ease of use is available in the form of a pencil, easy to apply.

If you do not pre-use the miracle drug or ignore the first signs of a growth and do not take appropriate measures, then the formation of large callosity is not excluded. A Compeed callus pencil will help prevent this.

Folk remedies for removing corns

You can try to remove dried corn using the following folk recipes:

1. Applying propolis to the surface of the corn, which is then fixed with a band-aid.
2. Applying a cut aloe leaf to the corn for a day.
3. Applying tortillas made from grated raw potatoes. Such a cake is left overnight, bandaged with a bandage.
4. Application onion gruel on corn, which is then covered with polyethylene, is fixed with a patch, leaving for half an hour.
5. Application of a few drops of pre-washed celandine juice to the surface of the corn.

These are the most popular remedies for hard calluses on the legs.

Operative therapy

The main method of therapy conducted by specialists is the removal of corns using a laser, electric current, liquid nitrogen. A medical pedicure may also be used.

1. Laser removal of dry callus is indicated in those cases when its appearance is provoked by a viral, fungal infection, as well as if the corn has a core or infection has occurred. Dead cells under the influence of a laser are painlessly and bloodlessly evaporated from healthy tissues. Laser removal of corns takes about one session.
2. A medical pedicure is performed by a dermatologist or podologist.
3. Electrocoagulation is rarely used. As a result of such removal, a crust remains in place of the corns.
4. Removal using liquid nitrogen. This method is used if the hyperkeratotic area has a small area, since the effect of nitrogen in depth is difficult to predict, unlike a laser. After cryodestruction, a blister (wet necrosis) forms on the site of the removed callus, the healing of which takes quite a long time. It is possible that a repeated removal procedure will be required.

It is important to remember that only timely treatment of corns on the foot and other parts of the body will help to avoid the appearance of pain and the development of complications.