What Are Corns? A Podiatrist Explains the Causes and Treatment
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A podiatrist explains what corns are, what causes that painful patch of hard skin, and how to relieve the pressure behind them.
By Sophie McLellan, Co-Owner & Podiatrist, Little Big Feet Podiatry, Brisbane
Key Facts
- What it isA small, dense patch of thickened dead skin that forms where excessive pressure meets the foot, and unlike a callus it tends to be painful.
- Most at riskPeople in ill-fitting shoes that are too tight or narrow, and those with abnormal bone structure, some forms of arthritis or lesser toe deformities such as hammer or claw toes.
- Common symptomsA firm, tender, thickened spot between or on top of the toes or under the sole; neurovascular corns can be especially deep and painful.
- Primary treatmentOffloading the pressure through better-fitting footwear, padding, insoles or orthotics, plus professional debridement by a podiatrist.
What are corns?
Unlike Calluses, Corns tend to be painful and are caused by a dense thickening of centralised dead skin. A Corn is typically caused by excessive pressure (such as ill-fitting shoes: too tight/too narrow) and may develop between toes, on the top surface of toes, under the soles of the feet or in any areas where poor alignment is met with pressure. People with abnormal bone structure, some forms of arthritis and lesser toe deformities (hammer toes, claw toes etc) are prone to developing Corns.
What types of corns are there?
There are four main types of Corns, each of which will present differently depending on their location: Seed Corns, Hard Corns, Soft Corns and Neurovascular Corns. Neurovascular Corns may be especially painful as they contain nerve fibres & blood vessels. They tend to be especially deep and chronic in nature.
How are corns treated?
Podiatrists are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of corns. Corns are best treated by eliminating or offloading pressure. This may be a change in footwear, off-loading innersoles, orthotics or custom pads. Podiatrists are trained professionals and well adept at painlessly debriding (removing) Corns.
The Comfort Co Breakdown
Corns, in plainer English
Corns are painful, thickened patches of skin formed from pressure, often from ill-fitting shoes. They are common on the toes and soles, and they affect people with toe deformities most. There are four types, with neurovascular corns being the most painful. Podiatrists treat corns by relieving the pressure and safely removing them.
Why does it hurt?
A corn packs its hard, dead skin into a small central point, so all that pressure lands on one tender spot rather than spreading out like a callus does. Take the pressure away and the pain usually settles.
Written by The Comfort Co team.
The Comfort Co Solutions
Corns are a pressure problem, so the goal is to take the load off the spot that is hurting. Better footwear does most of the work, and a good footcare routine keeps the skin soft while it settles.
1. Cushioned shoes with a wide toe box
Look for shoes that give your toes enough room and offer soft cushioning to reduce pressure on the corn. Anything in the Anodyne range suits this well, and brands like Vitasole and Scholl that focus on foot health and comfort are a good place to start.
2. Supportive, arch-support sandals
Sandals that keep the foot properly aligned reduce friction on the areas most prone to corns. Have a look through the sandals collection.
3. Padding and shock-absorbing insoles
A good pair of insoles helps redistribute your weight more evenly across the foot, so pressure stops concentrating on one spot.
4. Moisturisers and a pumice stone
Keeping the skin soft and hydrated can stop corns forming or worsening. Look for a urea-based foot cream like Callusan to deeply hydrate, and use a pumice stone to gently reduce hardened skin.
Comfort Co Pro Tip
Resist the urge to shave a corn off with a blade. You will usually take too much or too little and risk an infection, so leave the debriding to a podiatrist and focus on offloading the pressure at home.
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Quick questions
What is a corn?
A corn is a small, dense patch of thickened dead skin that forms where there is excessive pressure on the foot. Unlike a callus, a corn tends to be painful and often develops between or on top of the toes.
What causes corns?
Corns are usually caused by excessive pressure, often from ill-fitting shoes that are too tight or too narrow. People with abnormal bone structure, some forms of arthritis, or lesser toe deformities such as hammer toes and claw toes are more prone to them.
What are the different types of corns?
There are four main types: seed corns, hard corns, soft corns and neurovascular corns. Neurovascular corns contain nerve fibres and blood vessels, so they can be especially painful, deep and chronic.
How do you get rid of corns?
Corns are best treated by removing or offloading the pressure that caused them, which can mean a change of footwear, off-loading insoles, orthotics or custom pads. A podiatrist can also painlessly debride, or remove, the corn.
Should I cut a corn off myself?
No. It is safest to have a podiatrist remove a corn, as they are trained to debride it painlessly and without damaging the surrounding skin. This is especially important if you have diabetes or reduced sensation in your feet.
Sources
- Cleveland Clinic. Corns. my.clevelandclinic.org
- DermNet. Corns and calluses. dermnetnz.org