Foot Health Guide - Corns

Foot corns, are the irritating bumps that can appear on the sides of your toes, at the foot sole and in between the toes of your feet. There are two types hard corns and soft corns, both types of foot corns are annoying and uncomfortable.

Foot corns are your body’s response to the pressure and irritation your shoes cause as they rub against your feet. There are two types of foot corns, hard corns will commonly locate on the fifth toe and feel hard to the touch, Soft corns generally show up between the fourth and fifth toes.

What are the symptoms of foot corns?

Foot corns, thickened patches of dead skin that commonly emerge on toe knuckles – especially the pinky toe – are concentrated and feel much harder than the surrounding skin. You probably have a corn on your foot if:

- you have a small patch of excess skin on a toe
- if there is an area on your toe that feels hard
- if there are any patches of skin on your feet that are noticeably higher than the smooth skin surface

What causes foot corns to develop?

Women develop corns more often then men - women tend to wear the wrong fit of shoe in the name of fashion.

Major causes of foot corns include:

- Shoes with narrow toe boxes will cause Increased moisture trapped between toes
- Toe friction inside shoes or socks
- Pressure of high-heeled shoes

Relief and prevention of foot corns

Wear properly fitted shoes to minimize unnecessary pressure or irritation to the feet. Women: Limit the length of time you wear high heels, or stop wearing them altogether. Use insoles and inserts in your shoes to combat pressure points and rubbing.

If you already have a corn, try trimming down excess skin with pedicure files, or applying softening cream to help eliminate discomfort.

Wearing shoes with a wider toe box will decrease the pressure inflicted on current foot corns.

Information on foot pain, leg and lower body health conditions taken from FootSmart.com and provided by The Podiatry Institute, dedicated to advancing the standard of care in podiatric medicine and its effects on muscoskeletal health.


    

The Comfort Shoe Store is affiliated with FootSmart.com Experts in keeping feet moving in comfort