Treat Painful Corns Now
Having a corn on a toe or on the sole of the foot can be extremely painful and impede on normal activities. Going out for a walk or doing a spot of gardening during the Covid-19 ‘lock-down’ is made less enjoyable because of the troublesome corn.
What is a Corn?
Corns can cause the sufferer to limp. Feels that there is a piece of grit digging into the skin or sore like developing a bad blister. Corns are similar to blisters in that they are caused by friction and rubbing, but are slow developing. They are insidious in nature. Form at points of peak pressure. The skin as a protective response to continual pressure and mechanical friction, becomes compacted to form small hard lesions of keratin. This densely compacted hard skin forms quite deeply into the skin. Corns can vary in size, be singular or multiple(seed corns), soft(between toes) and can be innervated with small capillaries or nerves endings(neurovascular).
Katrina’s Advice on Treating a Corn on a Toe
- Identify what is causing the corn e.g. badly fitting pair of shoes
- Avoid wearing these shoes. Maybe you can get them stretched in the future?
- Switch to your slippers to open toed sandals.
- To make room for your toes in your footwear cut the toe section away from footwear inserts.
- If toe is very painful, take all pressure off it e.g. cut hole out of shoe where toe rubs.
- Soften the corn by soaking foot in warm soapy water for 10-15 minutes
- Gently scrap or file off the hard skin
- Don’t use any sharp implement to ‘cut-out’ corn
- Apply moisturising cream over the cream. Vaseline works well as a barrier cream.
- Avoid medicated corn plasters. Can cause ulceration.
- Apply un-medicated felt oval pads to alleviate and deflect pressure
- Buy a sheet of felt and make your own pads. Very cost effective.
- If corn is between toes insert a little bit of padding to keep toes apart.
- Purchase gel pad protectors. Come in all shapes and sizes.
- Do not use lamb’s wool wrapped around toes
- Wear a simple plaster over toe or a Compeed
- Use an astringent e.g. surgical spirit to dry out skin between toes.
Katrina’s Advice on Treating Corn on Sole of Foot
- Identify what is causing the corn e.g. badly fitting pair of shoes
- Make sure it is a corn and not a verruca
- Is it the shape of your foot or lack of fatty padding?
- Wear your most cushioning soled footwear.
- Try to relief pressure behind the corn by padding up the arch of your foot
- Use any sort of padding material you may have at home e.g. cut up kitchen sponges, kitchen towel, foam.
- Buy adhesive felt and build up in layers
- Lifting up the arch of the foot helps to improve foot function.
- Purchase online a pair of arch supports
- Do not slop around in slippers. This can make corns worse.
- Soften the corn by soaking foot in warm soapy water for 10-15 minutes
- Gently scrap or file off the hard skin
- Apply moisturising cream over the cream. Vaseline works well as a barrier cream.
- Avoid using medicated corn plasters as can make the issue worse
- Wear a plaster or adhesive felt over corn. Try Compeeds.
- Don’t use any sharp implement to ‘cut-out’ corn.
- Soften surrounding hard skin at night by applying a generous application of cream to foot, then place in a plastic bag, pop on socks and leave until morning.
If you are still struggling to treat your painful corn then please make a podiatry appointment.
