Corns and calluses are dead skin cells which form thick lesions on one’s hands or feet. However, they differ from each other in appearance. While corns are small and well-defined regions of thickened dead skin cells with a hard and thick core, calluses are comparatively larger, vary in size and thickness and contain no core. Both calluses and corns should be treated immediately to prevent them from getting infected, spreading and becoming painful.
While corn treatment usually involves removal through surgical and non-surgical means, the good news with a corn on the foot is that you don’t have to wait for it to appear. Instead, you can prevent it with simple measures, say experts.
How is a foot corn formed?
Corn (foot corn), also called a “heloma” or a “clavus” are thickened skin cell lesions.
“Whenever people stand or walk, the whole-body weight is felt by the sole of the feet,” says Dr Sarika Jambhulkar, podiatrist, FootImpact Podiatry Clinic, Mumbai. “As a result, more pressure is exerted on certain regions of the feet. The pressure changes based on the type of feet — especially in flat feet or high-arched ones — and different regions as well. So, these areas where the pressure is felt more are prone to callus development, which could transform to corn, when left untreated.”
However, a corn is not always preceded by callus formation. At times, it develops directly.
Foot corn causes and symptoms
The pressure exerted on the feet while standing, walking and running is among the many factors that can lead to corn formation. Wearing narrow-fitting shoes and high heels can also cause it, alongside other hazards such as toe cramps and postural issues. “They also alter the way the bodyweight gets distributed, thus causing an increased pressure on the forefoot. This increases the chance of corn being formed on the toes, under the feet,” adds Dr Jambhulkar. “Another major cause of corn includes wearing ill-fitting or improper sized sports shoes, which creates a lot of friction.”
Both pressure and friction lead to the thickening of the skin layer in that area of the feet and could lead to corn formation.
Painful symptoms and effects of corn
Both the hard corn on the toes and the soft corn found in between them might not be painful when you touch them. Rather, one feels pain during activities that put a load on the area, such as standing, walking and running. The pain aggravates with delay in treatment.
“Since people with corn find it painful to even walk, they are less likely to do any form of physical activity in their daily life, which can also hamper their fitness,” says Dr Jambhulkar.
How can foot corn be prevented?
The key to prevention lies in rectifying the cause of the problem. “Since improper footwear is one of the major causes, using shoes that fit correctly is vital,” explains Dr Jambhulkar. “Avoid wearing high heels or walking barefoot. While wearing sports shoes, opt for socks that are slightly thicker than normal ones to reduce friction and give more protection to the feet during physical activity.”
Maintaining good skin health is also important. It involves cleaning and moisturising feet regularly. Hence, even if any callus is formed, it gets removed even before developing into a corn.
How to treat corns?
Corns can be removed by both surgical and non-surgical methods. Usually, people tend to try and scrape off the thick lesion of skin. While works for removing calluses, it is not advisable for corn treatment. This is because they could grow deep into the tissue layers in the feet and trying to scrape them can do more harm.
“Some people also use certain ointments or corn caps, which are not very efficient when it comes to corn treatment,” shares Dr Jambhulkar. “Wearing the right footwear that helps redistribute the pressure will help to relieve the pressure from the corn region. Following this, the corn can be removed without destroying the surrounding healthy tissues.”
Removing the corn completely can reduce the chances of its recurrence. But one should also continue to follow the podiatrist’s advice of wearing the right-sized footwear to distribute the weight equally and reduce pressure and friction.
Takeaways
- Corn or foot corn is a small and well-defined region of thickened dead skin cells with a hard and thick core.
- Depending on how the body weight is distributed on the feet, pressure points are created. Over time, these could lead to the thickening of tissue in the region, causing the formation of corns.
- Improper shoe size, which creates friction, is another cause of foot corn.
- They can be removed through surgical and non-surgical means. Consulting a podiatrist, correcting footwear, and keeping the feet clean and moisturised will help keep the skin supple and healthy, preventing foot corn.
