365 Fulbridge Road
Walton, Peterborough
PE4 6SJ
Phone: (01733) 578440
Callous are areas of thickened skin that form due to high pressures on your feet, and may be particularly sore. Treatment involves gentle debridement to remove them and the possible use of insoles to take pressure away from certain areas. Please note that such insoles are CUSTOM MADE FOR THE PATIENT, and those purchased from a chemist shop or mail order company for example probably will not work.
Hard corns (Heloma Durum) consists of a small, dense round nucleus of dead skin covered by callus. The nucleus is usually in the shape of an inverted cone. The corn is found over a bony prominence where the skin is intermittently pressed against the shoe, ground or other bones.
Heloma Molle are soft corns only occuring between the toes. They are completely or partially ring-shaped consisting of white, macerated, rubbery skin. There is usually no clear nucleus. They are caused by one sharp edge of bone in one toe pressing against another sharp edge of bone in the opposing toe. The corn stays soft because of the retention of sweat, which due to the close contact of the toes can not evaporate. They are frequently confused with blisters or warts, because of their often small, round appearance.
Heloma Vasculare (HVasc.) and Heloma Neurovasculare (HNVasc.) The vascular corn is a hard corn that contains irregular patterns of small bloodvessels in and around the nucleus. The neurovascular corn is also a hard corn, but contains both irregular patterns of small bloodvessels and nerve endings within the nucleus. Both types of corn are caused by excessive intermittent stress over a bony prominence for a long period of time. They are extremely painful, they bleed easily and are therefore hard to treat.
Infection
If the pressure on the corn becomes continuous, the tissue underneath the corn might break down (ulcerate) resulting in an increased chance of invasion by micro-organisms. In most cases the invading micro-organisms are Staphylococci, which tend to produce localised wound infection, whose symptoms are hot,red, swollen, painful and loss of function.
The inflammation might be accompanied by pus production. Fortunately, this infection responds very well to local anti-septic treatment.
On the other hand, if the invading micro-organisms are Streptococci the infection tend to spread causing Cellulitis (diffuse inflammation of the connective tissue). In that case, systemic antibiotics are required to prevent further spreading to the lymphnodes.
Ulceration
If the pressure on the skin becomes continuous, there may be localised tissue death (breakdown). This is usually very painful (except to e.g. diabetics, who are often less sensitive to pain) and could become infected.
Perforating Ulcer
A perforating ulcer is where the ulcer goes on to penetrate underlying structures, such as joints or tendon sheaths. Infection could then even spread into the bone (osteomyelitis)
In accordance with rules, all patients have given their consent for the photos to be published on my website. Please note that I could not have achieved the same outcome "in the comfort of your own home".
Before treatment
After treatment
Before treatment
After treatment
Before treatment
After treatment
Before treatment (heel L & R)
After treatment (heel L & R)
Before treatment
After treatment
Before treatment
After treatment