Tag Archives: corns

How to deal with corns on the feet?

Corns can be a common disorder of the foot that may be painful and difficult to treat. They are due to a lot of pressure on an area of skin. They are part of a normal mechanism that has gone wrong. Whenever there is excessive pressure on the skin, that area of skin will thicken up to protect itself. When the pressure goes on over a extended period of time, it becomes so thick that it is painful. This can be the same as the mechanism that happens when, for instance, cutting up wood. Doing this, you ultimately make a callus on your palm. A similar thing takes place on the foot with pressure from the ground or pressure on a toe from footwear. When you stop chopping wood, the thicker skin on the palms subside. The issue in the foot is that you keep putting on shoes and you continue walking, so the pressure continues and the thicker skin forms into a corn and will become painful.

Getting rid of corns is fairly easy and a skilful podiatrist can certainly take them out. That's the easy part. The difficult bit is stopping them returning. It can be one thing to take them off, however unless you take away that cause (the greater pressures on the region), chances are they will just keep coming back eventually. Corns do not possess roots that they can re-grow from. They come back because the cause remains. Getting rid of a corn is a lot like treating the symptom. They are going to come back unless the cause is taken away. That's where the ability of a podiatrist is needed to identify the correct cause. A full assessment is necessary of the function, footwear, foot shape and activities to sort out just what it is that is bringing about the higher pressure. Once that reason has been identified, then different treatments can be used to reduce that pressure. This might vary from simple shoe suggestions to foot orthotic to surgical treatment

How to deal with foot corns and calluses?

Corns and calluses are areas of thickened skin that develop to guard that area from pressure and irritation. They will occur when something like a shoe puts pressure against the foot continuously or causes excessive pressure against part of the foot. It is known as a callus typically if the thickening of skin happens on the bottom of the foot. If thickening happens on the top of the feet or toe it's usually called a corn. Having said that, there is a great deal of overlap between a corn and a callus. They're not contagious but could grow to be painful when they become too thick. In people with diabetes this may lead to more serious foot conditions, so they really have to be taken seriously.

Corns typically happen where a toe rubs on inside of the footwear or there is a toe deformity. Excessive pressure on the balls of the foot, that is common in females who often wear high heels could cause calluses to develop under the balls of the foot. Those with particular deformities of the foot, for example hammer toes, claw toes, or hallux valgus are prone to corns and calluses. Corns and calluses usually have a rough dull looking appearance. They are often raised or circular and without correct analysis, they could be difficult to distinguish from plantar warts. Should you have a corn or callus that is causing pain and discomfort or interfering with your everyday living then it is perhaps best if you see a podiatrist. This is certainly a lot more crucial for those who have diabetes or poor circulation. The podiatrist is going to conduct a thorough check-up of the feet and your footwear and look at the way you walk to find out exactly why you have got the corns and callus. For minor corns or calluses they could suggest changing your shoes and use padding in your shoes. If they are more substantial, then the podiatrist may reduce them with a scalpel to cautiously and skilfully shave away the thickened skin. Additional treatments may be required if the corn or callus come back.