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Read the pattern first
Before you think about shoes, have a proper look at where the hard skin actually is. Each area can provide a clue about where the pressure is coming from.
- Across the ball of the foot: shoes with a thin, flat sole and no support, or a lot of standing on hard floors.
- Under the big toe joint or the little toe joint: pressure landing on a bony point, often in a shoe that is too narrow.
- Along the sides or the back of the heel: a shoe that lets the heel slip and rub, which slip-ons and mules do particularly well.
- On the tops of the toes: a toe box that is too shallow, so the shoe presses down on the knuckles.
- Between the toes, where it feels soft rather than hard: toes being squeezed together side to side.
What actually makes a shoe kinder
This has very little to do with price and quite a lot to do with shape and fastening. Four things do most of the work.
- A wide toe box, deep enough that nothing presses on the tops of your toes. Your toes should be able to spread when you stand.
- A fastening, whether laces, a strap or a buckle. A secure fastening helps to hold your foot in place and prevent it from sliding forward with every step.
- A firm heel counter, so the back of the shoe does not collapse and let the heel move around.
- A low heel. Higher heels shift more weight towards the ball of the foot, which can increase pressure in this area.
You can check the first three in the shop in about a minute. Press the toe box down over your toes, try to fold the heel flat, and walk a few steps to feel whether your foot stays put.
The usual suspects
Ballet flats and thin canvas plimsolls may provide very little cushioning on hard ground. Slip-ons and mules let the heel lift and rub. Narrow, pointed shoes squeeze the front of the foot into a shape it is not. Very worn trainers can also cause problems because the cushioning may have flattened long before the shoe looks worn out.
Flip flops deserve their own mention. Gripping them with your toes changes how you walk, and the sole is usually too thin to be much use on pavement. They are fine for the beach and less good for a day in town.
Shoes do not have to be ugly to be kind to your feet. They do have to hold your foot still and give your toes room.
Reducing the skin, and keeping it away
Hard skin that has built up needs reducing properly, and that part is quick. Once it has been reduced, a urea-based cream can help keep the skin supple and slow the build-up, while appropriate footwear can help reduce the pressure that causes it to return.
If it keeps coming back in exactly the same spot despite sensible shoes, that is worth investigating. Sometimes the pressure comes from the way the foot is shaped or the way you walk, and padding or an insole may help where a change of footwear alone does not.
If you have diabetes or reduced sensation, do not use corn plasters or a blade on hard skin at home, and have new shoes checked for rubbing after the first few wears.
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