A corn is a small, rough mound of thick, hardened
skin. Corns can develop wherever skin rubs together. They usually occur
at pressure points on the foot, such as the top of the toe “knuckle” or
in between toes.
Corns are caused by one thing - friction. They can be
trimmed away with a small knife during a visit to a podiatrist;
however, to permanently remove corns, it is necessary to address the
source of pressure that is causing the corns to develop.
Reasons for treatment
Corns will not simply disappear without treatment.
They are a symptom of an underlying problem with the structure of the
foot. Unless the source of friction causing the corns is removed, they
will continue to become thicker and more painful.
Corns can eventually bore down into the skin and
press on underlying nerves, causing extreme pain. At a certain point,
the body begins to treat corns as a foreign object and an ulcer can
develop. Ulcers present a serious complication for those with diabetes
and poor circulation.
How corn treatment is performed
Corns are merely a symptom of an underlying foot
problem. It is important to treat the corn and the problem causing the
corn. Self-treatment is possible, but if you have persistent corns you
should see a doctor.
To remove corns, your physician may begin by
recommending a change in footwear. To reduce pain, protective padding
can be used to cushion the corn and give it time to heal. Your doctor
can remove a corn in a single office visit by using a small knife to
trim down the corn. Part of your treatment plan may also include surgery
to correct foot deformities that might cause corns to continue
developing.
People with diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, and poor
circulation should never try to treat a corn themselves; the risk of
infection is too great. Never use over-the-counter corn drops or
'medicated pads', they all contain dangerous acid.
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