What causes corns and calluses?
Your skin thickens to protect itself where it rubs or bears extra pressure. Common causes include shoes that are too tight or loose, bunions or other toe deformities, the way you walk, and spending long hours on your feet. Corns usually form on or between the toes; calluses are broader and often appear on the heel or ball of the foot.
How we help
- An assessment of where the hard skin is and what may be causing it
- Safe reduction of corns and calluses with sterilized instruments
- Advice on footwear, padding and moisturizing
- A look at how you walk, when it may be contributing to the problem
Our nurses provide this care at home across Ottawa East, including Orléans, Blackburn Hamlet, Gloucester, Cumberland, Navan and Vars, in English or French.
Please avoid treating them yourself
Cutting corns or calluses with blades or razors can cause injury and infection. Over-the-counter medicated corn pads contain acid that can also damage the healthy skin around them, and they are especially risky if you have diabetes or poor circulation.
When to see a doctor
Contact your doctor if a corn or callus bleeds, becomes an open sore, or shows signs of infection such as redness, warmth or swelling, particularly if you have diabetes.
Common questions
Will my corns or calluses come back?
If the pressure that caused them continues, they can return. That’s why each visit includes advice on footwear and other ways to reduce pressure.
Is it painful to have them reduced?
The thickened skin is removed gently and gradually, and most people feel relief afterward.
How much does it cost?
Initial appointments start at $70 and follow-ups at $60. Specific treatments are extra, so ask about pricing when you book.