Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFoot Corn TypesSymptoms of a Foot CornWhat Causes a Foot Corn?How Is a Foot Corn Diagnosed?TreatmentsPrognosisCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Foot Corn Types
Symptoms of a Foot Corn
What Causes a Foot Corn?
How Is a Foot Corn Diagnosed?
Treatments
Prognosis
Coping
A footcorn—or clavus—is a type ofcallus. It is an area of thickened skin that forms to protect your foot from constant pressure or rubbing. The steady irritation promotes the growth of tougher cells that grow to protect the problem area.
Foot corns tend to appear on:
They often form in places where the bones are close to the surface of the skin, called bony prominences. A foot corn can also form between your toes.
Foot corns are somewhat common, affecting almost half of the population.
This article describes a foot corn, its types, symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment.
Евгений Харитонов / Foot Corn
There are three types of foot corns. They can be identified as follows:
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Foot corn symptoms vary based on size and location. A foot corn can have any of the following symptoms:
A foot corn usually forms as a lump of hard skin in a place regularly exposed to rubbing or pressure. Some of the most common locations for a foot corn are:
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A foot corn can result from any of the following causes:
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The visible core of hard skin at the center of the affected area is an identifying characteristic of a foot corn. Lab tests usually are not necessary for a diagnosis.X-raysmay be used to identify maligned foot bones, which have increased pressure and can cause calluses.
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Foot Corn Treatments
The type of treatment a foot corn needs depends on its location and the symptoms it is causing. Treatment is aimed at relieving pain and correcting the pressure that caused the corn. Most mild corns usually go away on their own when the source of pressure and rubbing is removed.
Foot Corn Home Care
The following strategies can be used to treat a foot corn at home:
Do not try to self-treat your corn if you have diabetes or another medical condition. Over-the-counter creams or treatments that contain urea or salicylic acid can cause a burn or foot ulcer, which can lead to serious damage if you have a wound-healing problem like diabetes. Consult a podiatrist before using this type of product.
Foot Corn Professional Treatment
A podiatrist can perform the following procedures to treat a foot corn:
When to See a Podiatrist About Your Foot CornWhile mostcorns improve with treatmentthat involves home care, you should consult a podiatrist if your corn involves any of the following issues:Pain and discomfortProblems in your daily lifeBlood, pus, or dischargeDiabetes, poor circulation, or other serious conditions
When to See a Podiatrist About Your Foot Corn
While mostcorns improve with treatmentthat involves home care, you should consult a podiatrist if your corn involves any of the following issues:Pain and discomfortProblems in your daily lifeBlood, pus, or dischargeDiabetes, poor circulation, or other serious conditions
While mostcorns improve with treatmentthat involves home care, you should consult a podiatrist if your corn involves any of the following issues:
Foot Corn Prognosis
The prognosis for a foot corn is usually positive. Without treatment, the corn may continue to grow and cause more pain. Proper care can prevent the corn from interfering with your ability to walk normally.
Complications of foot corn most often occur in people with diabetes or other chronic conditions that affect circulation. These problems can include foot ulcers and infections.
Coping With a Foot Corn
Taking steps to relieve the source of irritation causing your corn is the best way to cope with the problem. This can reduce pain, prevent growth, and help reduce the area of inflammation.
Avoid using tools with sharp edges like razor blades to correct the corn yourself. Doing this without proper training can result in injury. Consult your podiatrist for a corn that doesn’t improve with home care or is causing severe pain.
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Summary
A foot corn is an area of thickened skin that can occur on your toes, the tops of your feet, between your toes, or on the weight-bearing sections of the bottom of your feet. It often forms on places called bony prominences, where your bones are close to the surface.
Problems like hammertoe, osteoarthritis, or other foot deformities can change your feet and toes so they rub against your shoes. This can increase your risk of developing a foot corn.
A corn forms to protect an area from a source of constant rubbing or pressure. It results from the overgrowth of skin cells that form in response to the damage.
14 Sources
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Arosi I, Hiner G, Rajbhandari S.Pathogenesis and treatment of callus in the diabetic foot.Curr Diabetes Rev. 2016;12(3):179-83. doi:10.2174/1573399811666150609160219
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