Corns
Corns are small circles of thick skin that usually develop on the tops, sides and between the toes along with the the soles of the feet, they are usually yellowish in colour and are caused by excessive pressure and friction.
In addition to excessive pressure and friction, soft corns that form between the toes are caused by excessive moisture or sweating.
Corns are often more painful than calluses but this can vary from one individual to the next.
The excessive pressure that causes corns and calluses can be due to tight, pointy or high heeled shoes or changes in structure of the feet or toes.
What are common causes of Corns and Calluses
- Inappropriate footwear such as high or tight pointy shoes
- Feet that have lost some of their fatty padding, possibly as the result of the aging process
- Weight gain
- Some medical conditions such as diabetes or hypothyroidism, which cause drying out of the skin to a higher degree than normal
- Some skin disorders such as psoriasis and eczema
- Excessive sweating of the feet.
- Stepping on sharp objects such as nails or glass, the resulting damage to the skin leaves the areas affected more prone to the formation of corns and calluses.
- Previous treatments such as cryosurgery, this is often used to treat troublesome verrucae.
What treatments can our podiatrists provide for Corns and Calluses?
- Perform a physical examination to ascertain the cause
Custom Made Shoe Insole
- Gentle removal of the thickened hard skin and corn
- Advice on suitable footcare products to delay the hard skin and corns returning.
- Footwear advice, as many individuals wear incorrect fitting and styled footwear
- Provision of protective padding
- Custom made shoe insoles to remove the cause of the hard skin
- We do not recommend patients using corn plasters that contain acids
- Recommend surgery if non surgical or conservative treatment is not deemed appropriate (rarely required)
What other skin lesions look similar to corns to the untrained eye?
Verrucae are often confused with corns, verrucae are caused by a virus, whereas corns and calluses are caused by pressure and excessive moisture.
What treatment should I book if I have problems with Corns, Callused Skin and Cracked Heels?
Our routine podiatry treatment is the perfect appointment for individuals suffering from problems with hard skin, calluses, and cracked heels.
