by Linda
(San Antonio,Texas)
On the bottom left outside side of my left foot, in the middle.(between heel and toes,I have a hard calousy spot that hurts. It is not discolored..but it has a white sort of core in the middle. I have been wearing one of those dr. scholls corn covers to pad it. Sometimes the white core moves up out from the center. It is sore to walk on. Have any ideas what this could be??? It is sore to put pressure on.
Hi Linda,
I am a footspecialist, of course I have an idea what it might be. (just kidding)
The callus of course if from too much pressure on the base of the fifth metatarsal bone; the callus can be painful, but most often is more annoying then anything else.
The white spot in the center is one of two things. If you are using medicated pads, they contain acid and attempt to break up the callus by macerating it (like your hands get when in water for a long period of time).
If you had the spot before you applied the pads then the white spot is a skin cyst. Usually, it will be the most painful section of the callus; press on it.
Your best bet would be two-fold. See about having an orthotic made that will take pressure off the fifth metatarsal base and thus over time reduce the pressure causing the callus.
Secondly, see a podiatrist and let he or she curette (carve) out the white spot. It is not a painful procedure and will make your foot feel a lot better.
Marc Mitnick DPM
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