Corns and calluses in athletes’ feet: a cause for concern

The risk of suffering disorders of the skin and underlying tissue in the lower extremities is one of the few adverse effects of a physically active lifestyle. Engagement in a physically challenging sport, demanding and repetitive physical activity or high-impact exercising has particularly been linked to hyperkeratotic lesions such as corns and calluses. Corn and callus formation is the skin's natural attempt to compensate for prolonged or excessive pressure, friction and other forms of local irritation by increasing its thickness at sites of excessive mechanical stress. Initially this thickening of the skin is helpful, but over time it builds up and becomes a source of morbidity. Increased mass of the lesion results in increased pressure and discomfort. Thus, a vicious cycle develops which is only broken by decreasing the size of the hyperkeratotic growth and relieving or eliminating pressure on the affected area of the skin. Failure to treat these conditions appropriately and adequately may contribute to the development of serious and disabling skin pathology. This paper considers the incidence of corns and calluses pertaining to athletes’ feet, describes their clinical characteristics, outlines the underlying causes or etiology of their formation, provides an overview of the pathogenetic mechanism responsible for their development and addresses certain diagnostic procedures used to identify them. The therapeutic means available for the treatment of corns and calluses along with their potential complications are further presented and discussed.