A foot corn is a patch of hardened, dead skin on the foot that develops from repeated friction or rubbing. This can happen from wearing tight shoes, spending a prolonged time standing, problems with the shape of your foot or toe bones, or an abnormal gait. Over time, a corn may become raised, and it can become painful to wear shoes and walk. It is common to get a corn on the side of the pinky toe, which can become inflamed, irritated, and uncomfortable. The center of the corn will look like a white spot. As time passes, the corn can appear red, brown, or black from continuous irritation and it can become infected. If you have developed a corn on your pinky toe, you can try soaking the affected foot in warm water so that the skin softens and the dead skin starts to come away from the toe. After soaking and drying the foot, you can try to gently rub the corn with a pumice stone to file off the dead layers of skin. This may take repeated treatments. You can try cushioning the corn with a medicated corn pad which can help dissolve the corn. However, if these at-home treatments do not resolve the corn, it is suggested that you see a podiatrist who can shave or remove the corn so that it has less of a chance of recurring.
If you have any concerns regarding your feet and ankles, contact Shawn Echard, DPM of Laurel Podiatry LLC. Our practitioner will treat your foot and ankle needs.
Corns: What Are They? and How Do You Get Rid of Them?
Corns can be described as areas of the skin that have thickened to the point of becoming painful or irritating. They are often layers and layers of the skin that have become dry and rough, and are normally smaller than calluses.
Ways to Prevent Corns
There are many ways to get rid of painful corns such as wearing:
- Well-fitting socks
- Comfortable shoes that are not tight around your foot
- Shoes that offer support
Treating Corns
Treatment of corns involves removing the dead skin that has built up in the specific area of the foot. Consult with Our practitioner to determine the best treatment option for your case of corns.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in Greensburg and Somerset, PA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.
