Corns

Corns are areas of thick skin that form on the top of the foot or around the toes, in response to the pressure and friction of repeated skin rubbing. The hardened skin develops in order to protect itself from further damage.

Corns usually occur as a result of wearing uncomfortable shoes that don’t fit properly. They are also caused by certain styles of walking, aging, or arthritis. People with foot deformities and specific skin types are also more prone to corns.

There are five different types of corns:

• Hard Corns are the most common types of corns, which form as a concentrated hard skin roughly the size of a small pea.
• Soft Corns develop similarly to hard corns, but they are softer in their texture and they appear between toes where the skin is moister.
• Seed Corns are very small corns that appear on the bottom of the foot.
• Vascular Corns are painful and can bleed severely if cut.
• Fibrous Corns are painful and appear when corns have been present on the same spots for a longer period of time.

The first symptoms of corns include pain while walking, and an appearance of a small, rounded mound of rough skin on the affected spot.

The treatment of corns includes wearing wider shoes, applying topical acids, using pumice stones to remove hardened skin, and redistributing pressure with soft padding. If the condition becomes more severe, and if it causes pain and discomfort on a daily basis, a patient must see a podiatrist, who will examine the feet, and develop a proper treatment based on the patient’s specific situation.

If you experience pain or discomfort because of corns, feel free to contact our podiatric surgeon, Dr. Benjamin Tehrani.