A TV doctor who starred in last year’s edition of Strictly Come Dancing has issued a warning on the BBC to gardeners and other people with hardened skin on their hands and feet. A regular on BBC Morning Live, Doctor Punam Krishan, issued the guidance as she said that people need to stop neglecting their feet – and explained why.
She said she often sees patients who try to cut bits of thick, hard skin from their feet themselves. But she said people should ‘absolutely’ not do this.
Over the last few months, she noted that we’re all wearing tight socks and tight shoes due to the cold weather which equals increased pressure on certain points of your foot. Because of this, you can end up forming corns and calluses on your feet, and in some cases, your hands too.
Corns and calluses are hard or thick areas of skin that can be painful. They’re not often serious and thankfully, there’s things you can try to ease them yourself at home.
Corns and calluses – diabetes warning
However if you have any conditions, you may need help. She said: “It’s important if you have got conditions like poor circulation or diabetes, it is important to speak to your GP and we can refer you to podiatrist. You can self-refer as well and they can take care of your feet and remove corns safely.”
Urging people to “look in between toes”, she explained that corns and calluses are caused by pressure or rubbing of the skin on the hands or feet. This means simple day-to-day activities and habits could cause it such as wearing high heels, uncomfortable shoes or shoes that are the wrong size, not wearing socks with shoes and playing a musical instrument.
Are you a gardener, carpenter or weight lifter?
The doctor also noted that if you’re a gardener, carpenter or like weight lifting, then you may be more at risk. She explained: “You can get it on the sole of your feet and also the heels.
“You can also get it on the palms of your hands so if you are someone who is perhaps a gardener, if you’re weightlifting or a carpenter, then you can actually get quite hardening of the skin there too.”
Punam further mentioned that there’s a study in 2023 which showed that “at least a third of people of the age of 65 will have corns and calluses”. This is “because as we age, we tend to lose fatty tissue so your bones become a bit more prominent and increases your chance of rubbing and friction.”
Wear the right shoes
When it comes to your shoes, this is also key with the doctor saying: “Your footwear is really important when it comes to the development of corns and calluses. It’s important to always make sure that they are comfortable, and if you are, for example, running, you’ve got adequate cushioning and support in your trainers.
“You need to be mindful of the activities that you are doing. If you have any arthritic problems, perhaps you’ve got a problem with the way that you walk,” it’s important to get it checked by a professional “because if you have an uneven walking pattern, that can increase weight and pressure on a particular foot.”
How can I prevent corns and calluses?
Urging people to “avoid wearing shoes without socks”, she says that there are ways to prevent and treat it. This includes:
- Soak your feet
- Moisturise your feet
- Use a pumice stone
- Wear thick socks and comfy socks
Corns and calluses – never use a blade
In her final warning, she strongly urges against one method of removing them. “I’ve seen so many people who tried to treat it at home with a blade”, Dr Punam revealed.
“I know the temptation can be real. It is hard skin, but you shouldn’t shave it off. I know you can get safety blades at supermarket and pharmacies, but really you need an expert like podiatrist to do it for you if it’s getting to that stage. So I would absolutely avoid that.”