title: New alternative in treatment of callus.
abstract: The pathological transformation of the skin into a thick and hard callus due to repetitive trauma or friction is commonly known as corn. Although a variety of medical and operative treatment choices have been proposed, an ideal treatment method is yet to be defined. Effectiveness of tangential excision together with topical cantharidin has been evaluated. We used Canthacur-PS as an adjunct to excision in an outpatient setting. Canthacur-PS is a commercially available topical solution that includes 1% cantharidin, 30% salicylic acid and 5% podophyllin. The treatment has been applied to 72 patients. We found that 65 patients (90.3%) had corn on their feet and seven patients (9.7%) on their hands. Thick, hard and hyperkeratotic skin area was scraped with the help of a no. 15 blade. The solution was applied on and around the periphery (up to 1–2 mm) of the lesion with a cotton swab, and kept closed for 5 days with an antibiotic dressing. All the patients had been followed up for at least 1 year and evaluated by clinical examination and patient satisfaction query. One session of treatment succeeded in 57 (79.2%) corn patients. Two sessions in nine corn patients (12.5%), three sessions in five corn patients (6.9%) and four sessions in one patient (1.4%) were needed. Only one recurrence (1.4%) was seen. No scar formation or other side-effects were seen. Our findings show that this treatment method is a simple, minimally invasive and reliable treatment for calluses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ege University Medical School, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ovunc
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Akdemir
authors.forename: Ufuk
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bilkay
authors.forename: Yigit Ozer
authors.initials: YO
authors.lastname: Tiftikcioglu
authors.forename: Cüneyt
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ozek
authors.forename: Hede
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yalcin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Akin
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D002145:Callosities / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D002193:Cantharidin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005533:Foot Dermatoses / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011033:Podophyllin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D020156:Salicylic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D011033:Podophyllin; D002193:Cantharidin; D020156:Salicylic Acid