What are corns?

Corns. You always heard your grandmother complain about hers. Now you have a few and they do hurt. At Blue Ridge Foot Centers in Asheville, NC, Dr. Daniel Waldman can treat your corns and help keep them from returning. While corns are just hardened areas of skin on the foot, they need expert care.

You and your corns

You are incompatible. Corns are unattractive bumps of hard, dry skin that form on pressure points on your feet. The sides, balls, and tops of your feet are common corn sites. Corns develop because of deformities such as bunions on the inner area of the foot or claw-like hammertoes which frequently accompany bunions.

However, most corns form due to friction and pressure, says the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Dr. Waldman sees corns on people of all ages who come to his Asheville, NC, office. Why? Their shoes and socks rub against the skin and bones of the feet, and the body's defense mechanism produces corns of varying sizes and shapes.

After a complete foot examination, Dr. Waldman will remove those bothersome corns. Plus, he'll show you how to keep them from coming back.

Removing corns

Do not try removing corn at home. You could injure your feet, causing an infection and bleeding, particularly if you are diabetic.

Dr. Waldman typically uses a scalpel to carefully remove all the corns. As corns are not innervated, this procedure will not hurt. Also, your podiatrist will address any foot deformity you may have which contributes to corn formation.

Preventing corns

There are many ways to do this. Your foot doctor will tell you what strategies are best for you and your feet. Interventions include:

  1. Changing footwear and socks to ones that fit properly and do not unduly rub against the feet.
  2. Soaking your feet and gently filing the corns with a pumice stone.
  3. Applying moisturizer to all foot surfaces every day.
  4. Wearing moleskin padding (available at the drugstore or supermarket) around the corn to protect it from friction.
  5. Trimming your toenails straight across.
  6. Avoiding high-heeled, narrow, tight shoes.

Healthy, happy feet

You can have corn-free feet. Call Blue Ridge Foot Centers for caring, professional help from Dr. Daniel Waldman. Phone our Asheville, NC, office at (828) 254-5371.

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