Q: I have really bad corns on the bottoms of my feet. They hurt! About every three months my doctor will scrape them off but they are soon back. Is there any cure or any way to control them? Thank you for any help.
A: Corns (and calluses) are hardened layers of skin that often develop on the feet and toes,or on the hands and fingers. Healthy individuals can ignore them unless they cause discomfort. However, should a medical condition that causes impaired circulation be present, a person can experience pain and other complications. You don’t ask about calluses, yet the two are often confusing for people to understand. Calluses generally develop on the soles of the feet, on the knees, and palms of the hands. They vary in size and shape, rarely cause pain, and are larger than corns. Corns, on the other hand, are smaller, most frequently develop on non-weight bearing parts of the feet such as the sides and tops of the toes, or even between the toes, and cause pain.
The most common cause for corns and calluses to develop is from wearing poorly fitting footwear, whether that translates to shoes being too tight or too loose. Areas of the foot react to the pressure or sliding, they may become compressed, and a buildup of skin can occur. Going barefoot can lead to rubbing and socks that have seams can hamper the feet. I personally know individuals who wear their socks inside out so the seams cannot be felt as much when shoes are worn. With respect to the hands, any repetitive chore such as digging with a shovel or using garden tools and equipment on the job can cause a callus buildup. Those at an increased risk are diabetics and individuals with circulation difficulties so specific attention must be taken to prevent ulcers from forming because of possible infection and delayed healing.
There are some steps an individual can take for relief. Over-the-counter corn removers are available to lessen the pain; however, most of the OTC corn pads contain salicylic acid that for some individuals can irritate otherwise healthy skin and lead to infection. You might consider using a pumice stone to slough off the dead skin prior to the application of another patch. Don’t attempt to remove the whole corn immediately. Instead, accomplish it over a period of days or weeks, depending on the buildup present, taking extreme care not to compromise the skin. Custom made shoe inserts can be purchased to prevent corns from recurring, and while rare, misaligned bones in your foot/feet foot may require surgery to correct bone alignment causing the friction that leads to corns.
On the home front and with your physicians or a podiatrists approval, soak your feet in warm, soapy water or Epsom salts to soften the corns. This will allow you ease in removing the skin buildup with that pumice stone or an emery board. Wear comfortable, good fitting polyester/cotton blend socks that wick moisture away, thus preventing infection. Wear cushioned shoes that fit your feet and possibly shoe inserts, also. This may sound like a no-brainer but women wear high heeled shoes with pointed toes that place a great deal of stress on the feet, while others wear shoes with worn-down backs that slide as the individual walks. Style and comfort should work hand-in-hand (or foot-to-foot) when it comes to selecting appropriate shoes that will keep your feet healthy and free of corns.