Corns

Print Version

DEFINITON – Corns are very hard callous concentrated in a very small area often resulting in inflammation and acute pain. There are two types of corns: hard corns and soft corns. Hard corns are usually found on the ball of the foot, on the side or the tip of toes. Soft corns can develop on the end of the toes or between them, where the skin stays moist because of sweat or insufficient drying. Soft corns look white and rubbery and are also very painful.

CAUSES – Through everyday walking, standing and bearing the normal pressures of movement, your feet are sometimes subjected to a lot of friction or pressure on specific parts of your feet’s skin. Corns are a natural response of the body, to continuous pressure or friction in specific areas of the foot. Corns can therefore be the symptoms of underlying problems and may be early warning signs of abnormalities in the bone structure or in the way you walk. They can also be caused by ill-fitting or inappropriate footwear.

TREATMENT – Since corns are often symptoms of other problems, it is important to have a podiatrist check your feet and find the cause of the corns. painful corns can be regularly pared back and gently removed by a podiatrist but to prevent them from reoccurring, the pressure on the foot needs be redistributed for long term relief. This can be achieved by wearing insoles (also called “orthotics”) which will correct the way someone walks and redistribute the continuous pressure or friction in specific areas of the foot. Orthotics will also help absorb shock and distribute pressure equally over the whole foot.

Footwear may need to be checked and changed since properly fitting shoes are essential to prevent extrafriction. The toe box should be high and wide enough so as to not squash or squeeze the toes. Shoes that are too tight or too loose need to be avoided.

The daily use of a moisturiser on your feet will help keep your skin supple.

For any questions about corns, orthotics, or our treatment procedures, give us a call.