Dear Readers,

DM is a security officer working with a security company in Kingston. His work involves a significant amount of walking and he proclaims his life to be a most uncomfortable one at this time. DM suffers with painful 'corns' on his toes which he has had to deal with for years. Right now, they are at their very worst and he is having a hard time remaining on the job. DM says that corns may seem like a simple and insignificant matter but just wait until you are the person who is plagued with the problem! He asks Lifeline how to treat and prevent corns, as this problem is costing him days from work.

All health issues are relevant and need to be addressed! Suffering and pain should never be ignored. As a wise man said,"Don't judge until you've had the experience yourself!"

Corns and calluses refer to thickening which occurs in the outer layer of the skin (the stratum corneum) in response to constant friction. These thickened areas most commonly occur over the hands and feet. Corns tend to be more localised, appearing over the sides of the feet or on the toes. The disorder occurs because of the constant compression and pressure on the tissues which are restricted inside a closed area. The mass of a corn occurs as an inverted cone of thickened tissues which extend deep into the skin and can cause severe pain. The compressed tissues are 'glassy' in appearance and have no blood supply.

The most important consideration in eliminating corns (or calluses) is to eliminate the source of the pressure and friction, permanently. If this is not done they are very likely to recur.

shoe inserts

Tight shoes are to be discouraged and high-heeled shoes cause the same problem as they send the entire pressure of walking to the toes! Special shoe inserts should be placed in the shoes to support and protect the tissues of the feet. These can often be obtained from the pharmacy. Orthopaedically designed shoes may also be necessary in bad cases and these can be obtained from several medical outlets which sell medical rehabilitation supplies and appliances.

At home, corns and calluses should be soaked in a warm three per cent acetic acid solution or Epsom salts solution to soften the tissues, which can then be shaved down or sanded down using a pumice stone. Very thick corns or calluses can be soaked in a 20 per cent urea lotion (prescribed by a physician) overnight and then sanded down. Some physicians may excise some of the bulk of the callus or corn if they are really large and painful before using the soaks. Applying Vitamin E oil up to four times daily also helps to soften corns.

This is one situation tailor-made for the axiom "prevention is better than cure". Or, in keeping with the locally popular song "woman (or man) wear yu size!" Wear well-made and well-fitting shoes. Be careful with high-heeled shoes and avoid pointy toe shoes except for special occasions!

Write

Lifeline,

PO Box1731,

KGN 8