FAQ about Corns

If you regularly wear shoes that rub against certain parts of your foot, you may have noticed a hard, skin-colored bump starting to appearing in the area. This is a corn, it is your body’s way of trying to protect itself from the pressure that’s being placed on it day in and day out. Fortunately, our Asheville, NC, podiatrist, Dr. Daniel Waldman, can treat this condition and prevent it from causing larger issues for your feet. Read on to learn more about corns and what Dr. Waldman can do to help.

What causes a corn?

Wearing shoes that are a bit too tight, as well as performing certain repetitive activities such as running, can both cause corns to develop. Common foot deformities such as bunions and hammertoes are also susceptible to corns.

Is a corn and callus the same thing?

While both a corn and a callus are protective defenses against friction and foot trauma, calluses are typically larger and often develop on the heels or balls of the feet. Corns, on the other hand, are smaller and develop in areas that aren’t usually weight-bearing.

How can you prevent a corn from developing?

Wearing shoes and socks that aren’t too loose, too tight, and don’t rub against the skin is the best way to prevent corns from developing. If there is an area such as a bunion that is prone to corns, you can also apply a non-medicated pad to the area to protect it.

I have a corn. How do I treat it?

While corns are common, they are also often easy to treat. First, you should avoid the shoes that cause the problem in the first place and only wear properly fitted shoes. You can also apply a protective pad to the area to prevent the corn from getting worse. Healthy individuals may additionally want to soak the corn in warm water for 10 minutes to soften it and then use a pumice stone to carefully file it down (be careful not to file too much of the skin).

However, if you have circulation problems or diabetes and you develop a corn, it’s important that you seek treatment from a footcare professional in Asheville, NC, right away and don’t try to treat the problem yourself.

Need care? Give us a call

If you are regularly dealing with corns or other foot problems, it’s important that you find out what might be going on by turning to a footcare professional. Do so by visiting our website at www.blueridgefoot.com, and contacting our Asheville office by dialing (828) 254-5371. Call today to set up an appointment with Dr. Waldman, a board-certified podiatrist who is an expert in the latest minimal incision techniques and teaches surgery both nationally and internationally.

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