Darrick Robles Corns are harmless corneal calluses that sometimes cause severe pain to the patient. Corns are often found on the foot or toe and are caused, for example, by shoes that are too tight. Corns usually heal on their own and can be treated without medical help.
Definition
Corns describe an increasing keratinization of certain pressure-exposed skin areas. Their yellowish rounded appearance with a white dot in the middle has given them the name “corn eye” or “crow’s eye” .
Over time, corns grow inward in a thorn-like manner, resulting in an inward-pointing cone-shaped horn tip. Experts also call corns clavus, which translates from Latin as nail.
Causes of corns
Permanent pressure or recurring friction on certain areas of the skin causes corns to form. The cornea is heavily stressed and thus receives a growth stimulus. The skin cells multiply, the skin hardens and, over time, a callus forms. Bone-like, thin skin on the hands and feet is particularly often affected.
Tight shoes are considered a risk factor for the formation of corns. The disease can also occur with the frequent use of tools, sports equipment such as dumbbells and playing a musical instrument . Patients with foot deformities such as hallux valgus (crookedness of the big toe) or hammer toes are particularly at risk of suffering from corns. Joint diseases also promote the formation of corns. Clavi is also more common with dry skin. Diabetics with sensory disorders also tend to develop corns.
Symptoms of corns
Corns cause pain both when walking and when standing. The rounded skin changes often occur on the toes, in the spaces between the toes and on the soles of the feet. A whitish core can usually be seen in the middle of the corn, which is particularly painful for the patient.
diagnosis of corns
As a so-called visual diagnosis, the disease can be recognized very quickly. The doctor treating you examines the skin change and can thus determine what it is about. Only in individual cases is an additional skin sample necessary to make the final diagnosis.
Corn or wart?
Corns can look like warts. Warts also often appear on the soles of the feet and other pressure-exposed areas. However, they usually lie flatter on the skin and show small black dots on the surface. Warts are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), which can be transmitted as a smear infection. For this reason, care should be taken during removal to prevent the virus from spreading. The diagnosis of a wart is more likely, especially if there are many small skin changes. If corns are very difficult to treat, an underlying wart should also be considered. If anything is unclear, talking to a doctor can help.
Treatment of corns
Corns form due to constant pressure or frequent rubbing on the same area of skin. It is therefore important for the treatment to recognize and eliminate the triggers. In addition, you can try to support the healing with simple home remedies for corns.
- Remove corns yourself: Hold the affected part of the body in warm water for about ten to twenty minutes. The heat dissolves the horny layer and makes it soft. The excess skin can then be carefully removed with a pumice stone. Do not use sharp tools such as blades, planes or callus burs. Repeat this regularly until the corn is completely removed.
- Callus agents (keratolytics) such as urea (urea) or preparations containing salicylic acid can also support the healing process. These are available in pharmacies without a prescription in the form of corn plasters, creams, solutions and tinctures. Depending on the product, these should be applied regularly to the affected area. The surrounding skin should be protected with fatty ointment (Vaseline).
- In the case of very annoying corns or if the patient wishes, the corneal layer can be removed by a medical chiropodist (podiatrist) or a doctor . Treatment should be left to the experts, especially in the case of sensitive feet as part of diabetes mellitus or circulatory disorders.
You can do this for corns
- Tight shoes should be exchanged for wide shoes .
- Try to go barefoot as often as possible .
- In the case of foot malpositions, orthopedic insoles can enable better foot posture.
- Small padding patches can also be used to protect the affected area from pressure.
- For corns caused by repeated use of sports equipment, for example, foam pads can be used to relieve friction.
- If the corns on the hand are caused by the use of tools at work, the employer should be made aware of this. There may be ways to avoid this by wearing gloves or appropriate protective clothing .
When to the doctor?
You can usually treat your corn yourself. However, if there is no improvement over a long period of treatment, you should consult a doctor. An increase in complaints should also be discussed with an expert if necessary. Treatment by a doctor should always be considered for pre-existing conditions such as diabetes mellitus , peripheral arterial disease (PAD), neuropathy and other conditions that restrict sensation or blood flow in the legs . Inadequate treatment of corns can lead to complications such as fistula formation and infection.
