Corns

Corns

What is a Corn?

A lot of people will notice when they have a corn on their foot. This is an area of hardened and thickened skin that often appears when there has been pressure and friction. It happens as a result of your feet trying to protect themselves. Most of the time, corns may be unsightly but not painful. On occasion, they can cause pain and discomfort.

What is the Cause of Foot Corns?

One of the main culprits for corns is your footwear. In particular, shoes that cause pressure are likely to result in the growth of a corn. This can result if you are wearing shoes that are too small or you are not wearing any socks. Women often suffer more from corns than men. This is due to wearing high heels and tight footwear. Another reason why people get corns on their feet is from long periods of exercise and from standing a lot.

Are there Different Types of Corns?

Foot specialists will be able to identify three common types of corns. First, there is the hard corn. This is known to have a core and dead layers of skin will surround it. Then you have soft corns, which are often found between the toes and consist of less dead skin. The third type of corn is a seed corn. They get their name because they are a lot smaller. But they can be painful.

Is a Corn the Same as a Callus?

The corn is different from a callus, but they are often mistaken for each other. Most of the time, a corn is going to be smaller in size than a callus. In addition, they are usually hard and feature inflamed skin. You can find a corn anywhere on your foot, including between any of your toes. In addition, you will find that they can cause discomfort.

On the other hand, a callus tends to be larger than a corn. In addition, you are more likely to find them on the sole or ball of your foot.

What is the treatment for a Corn?

If you are experiencing no discomfort from the corn you have, you might not need it treated. However, if you have diabetes or another condition where your blood flow can be affected, it is best that you see about the corn with your chiropodist.

For others, it is possible to treat a corn at home. For example, you can use an emery board to file some of the skin. In order to make the skin soft, you can soak your feet in warm water with Epsom salts. Foot lotion is also going to help keep the skin soft so that you can file the corn down. This can take a number of weeks. For some quicker relief, you may opt to see your Chiropodist.