We Save Soles

Often times, I am asked about the efficacy of one pad or another. Usually the patient has either a hammertoe or painful callus on the bottom of their foot. They are wanting to know if these pads that they see advertised either on TV, over the Internet, or hear about from friends would help their condition.

Understand that hammer toes, in particular are bony deformities. While these pads may remove the callus or corn question, they do not address the deformity present. What makes the situation worse is that most of these pads contain some sort of an acid, and it is the acid that destroys the callus tissue. The acid oftentimes is indiscriminate, and if the pad is not placed correctly, normal skin can be damaged.

Hammer toes, bunions and metatarsalgia are all structural deformities of the foot. All of the callus tissue that these pads have worked so hard to destroy will only come back. This is simply because it is the hammertoe or bunion that is the root of the problem. The deformities are causing abnormal friction when the foot comes in contact with the shoe.

It is very sad and disheartening to see diabetic patients coming in to my office with ulcerations starting on their toes because of the use of these medicated pads. Diabetics and other sensory deprived patients are most at risk with the use of these pads.

My advice is that the use of nonmedicated pads is perfectly okay. I don’t recommend the use of medicated pads. These usually contain some sort of acid, which can damage normal skin.

The pads pictured here are non-medicated, and acceptable.