Despite what you might hear, foot corns do not have roots. Instead, they are thick areas of skin that develop because of pressure or friction.
They often take on a cone-like shape and occur in places such as between the 4th and 5th toes. While it’s true that corns are very painful, they do not grow bigger unless more pressure is applied.
Causes
Corns and calluses are areas of thickened skin that develop in response to friction and pressure. They are usually painful when pressed upon or touched. These patches of hardened keratin typically form on weight-bearing areas like the soles, heels, balls of feet and the tops of toes. Calluses typically have a flat appearance while corns are more cone-shaped. Both can be found on hands and fingers as well.
Athletes, workers and those who do physical hobbies or work may have a tendency to develop these conditions due to repeated rubbing or friction over certain areas of the foot. Ill-fitting shoes, especially shoes with tight or narrow toe boxes, are a major cause of these problems. Wearing high-heeled shoes can also lead to the development of these issues as they put extra pressure on the feet.
Other causes can include:
Having medical conditions that change the alignment of the bones in your feet, such as bunions or hammertoes. Having diabetes or other medical conditions that can increase the risk of infection.
These thick areas of skin are typically not dangerous and do not need to be treated unless they are causing pain or making you feel self-conscious about your appearance. However, these patches of keratin can become infected when the skin tears or breaks, and bacteria enters through the break. A Kelowna podiatrist can develop a treatment plan that will address your needs and protect the health of your feet.
Symptoms
Corns and calluses are thickened areas of skin that develop in response to repeated pressure, friction, or irritation. They are not a medical condition, but rather the body’s way of protecting a painful area from further damage. They are most common on the feet and can be found on the bony areas that a person walks on (corns) or in between the toes (calluses). Both are unpleasant and sometimes painful, but they are usually not serious enough to warrant medical attention.
Symptoms include pain, swelling, and an indentation of the skin. In many cases, the only treatment needed is to trim the dead skin with a pumice stone or an emery board and apply a moisturizing cream daily. If a corn becomes painful or irritated, however, the cause should be addressed to prevent it from reoccurring.
Some people attempt to remove the corn “roots” by soaking their feet in mouthwash or using aggressive scraping techniques. This is not advised because it can damage the surrounding healthy tissue, and it also puts you at risk of infection. A podiatrist can provide gentle and safe removal of the corn and offer advice on how to prevent it from returning. Contact Texas Foot & Ankle Specialists in Mesquite, Forney, and Kaufman to schedule an evaluation today. They can recommend a home care regimen that may include customized orthotic inserts to even out weight-bearing forces on the feet and prevent further rubbing or irritation; or padding or toe separators to help alleviate the pressure between the toes.
Treatment
Corns and calluses can be a painful nuisance, but they usually aren’t life-threatening. Typically, they won’t cause serious problems unless you repeatedly put pressure on them or if the skin becomes inflamed or bleeds. It’s best to seek medical care if you notice your corn is painful or changes in appearance, or if you have a health condition that impacts blood flow to the feet such as diabetes.
A podiatrist can diagnose a corn or callus simply by looking at it and asking you questions about your footwear, physical activity, symptoms, and past foot injuries. They may also ask you to stand and walk so they can see how your foot strikes the ground and evaluate your posture and gait.
The treatment for your corn or callus will depend on its location and size. Typical conservative treatments include shaving overly thick skin with an emery board or pumice stone and applying a medicated pad that reduces pain. Depending on the severity of your condition, a healthcare provider may recommend padded shoe inserts or surgery to correct a foot deformity that’s causing excessive pressure on the area.
Seed corns develop on the soles of your feet and are small and hard. They are typically surrounded by inflamed skin and feel rough to the touch. If you scrape the area with a nail file and it bleeds, it’s likely a wart instead of a corn.
Prevention
Corns develop as a result of pressure and friction on the skin. Many people who have them develop them in response to ill-fitting shoes, but also foot deformities like hammer toes and bunions can lead to excessive pressure on specific areas of the feet. Certain medical conditions like rheumatoid arthritis can also increase the likelihood of developing corns because it changes the shape of the feet and creates high pressure points.
To prevent corns and calluses, one must address the source of the pressure. This may require a podiatrist to recommend custom silicone toe splints that are made for the particular foot deformity. They can be worn in shoes to help distribute the weight evenly across the foot. This will also eliminate the high pressure points that cause the corns.
Another way to prevent these skin problems is to regularly inspect the feet for any signs of friction or pressure points. This will allow for early intervention to alleviate the pressure and friction that can lead to the development of corns or calluses. If left untreated, these can develop into painful ulcers that are difficult to heal. This is especially true for individuals with diabetes or circulation issues who can experience reduced blood flow and nerve damage that delays wound healing. If a foot injury becomes infected, it can progress into a serious condition called cellulitis that requires prompt treatment with antibiotics.