Need Someone to Treat Those Painful Feet?

When you’ve been on your feet all day and your toes hurt, all you want to do is kick off your shoes and put your feet up. But sometimes that isn’t enough; your toes are still hurting. On closer inspection, you see and feel a small, hard lump over the joint of a toe and when you press on it, it hurts. Unfortunately for you, you may have acquired a corn.

Why You Have a Corn

Corns develop over bony areas, like toe joints, when the joint has been subject to too much pressure, friction or torsion. Initially, the skin over the pressure point may just thicken but eventually it forms a hard center—the corn. If your toes have been squeezed into narrow, pointed-toe shoes, soft corns may develop between the toes. Because this area is prone to heat and moisture, these corns may be rubbery and white.

The most common cause of corns is ill-fitting footwear or hosiery that is either too tight or too loose. A lumpy seam in a sock or shoe can be an underlying factor. Regardless, it’s not going to go away on its own unless you adopt a barefoot life.

Getting Rid of a Corn

The easiest and most painless way to rid yourself of corns is to visit a podiatrist like Sheldon H. Nadal, D.P.M., who is based in Toronto. Podiatrists not only have the skill to remove corns, but also have the added advantage of being able to easily see and gain access to the corn. For most of us, trimming our toenails requires dexterity; attempting to remove a corn can require us to be a contortionist!

Besides, home treatments can be risky. Using sharp objects can cause pain and further damage and over-the-counter corn pads contain salicylic acid. If the acid gets on any skin beyond the corn, it can cause ulceration and possible infection.

After removing the corn, your podiatrist may recommend a shoe insert (orthotic) or a different style of shoes. If the corn is the result of a deformed bone or joint, surgery may be recommended to correct the deformity.