A routine treatment session usually lasts for ½ an hour. At the initial appointment the patient’s details and medical history are taken. During a treatment any excess callus (or hard skin) is removed – if the skin is very dry and flaky, then a small sanding disc may be used to give a fine finish.
If there any corns present, then these too are removed. A pressure-relieving pad may be applied to the foot if the area is sensitive. The most common site for a corn is the dorsum (top) of the lesser toes, especially the small toe.
It is possible that very small corns or hardened skin can be found at the sides of big toes. The pain associated is often confused with that of an ingrown nail. However, although these conditions may differ, the treatments are similar: The offending pieces of skin/corn are gently removed, and packing is then positioned at the side of the nail. leaving the area pain- free.
[Photo 1 - Before corn treatment]
During a routine consultation advice on correct cutting of the nails, skin care and advice on footwear is also given. Toe nails should be cut to follow the curvature of the toe. Corns and callus build up as a result of too much friction, pressure or torsion of an area of skin. Callus formation is a mechanism used to protectthe skin from these stresses. Unfortunately, continued skin stress and trauma leads to continued callus formation which, together with corns (which are localized, circumscribed deeper variations of callus) can become painful.