Corns

Questions About Corns In Asheville, NC?

Foot and Flower Every day, the average person spends several hours on their feet and takes several thousand steps. Walking puts pressure on your feet that’s equivalent to 2-3 times your body weight. No wonder your feet hurt!

Actually, most foot problems can be blamed not on walking, but on your footwear. Corns are calluses that form on the toes because the bones push up against the shoe and put pressure on the skin. The surface layer of the skin thickens and builds up, irritating the tissues underneath. Hard corns are usually located on the top of the toe or on the side of the small toe. Soft corns resemble open sores and develop between the toes as they rub against each other.

Many times people want to know how to remove a corn themselves. A corn can be a symptom of an underlying issue that can’t be treated at home. Please call us if corns are a problem for you. We are here to help.

Diagnosis and Corn Removal

Corns can usually be easily seen. They may have a tender spot in the middle, surrounded by yellowish dead skin. Sometimes treating a corn is a team effort. We work together with you to ensure that problems don’t recur.

How we remove a corn:

  • To restore the normal contour of the skin and relieve pain, we may need trim the corn by shaving the dead layers of skin off with a scalpel. (Don’t do this at home, it can cause more complications.)
  • Sometimes there is an underlying problem, such as a toe deformity, that may be part of the issue. We will work with you to determine the best course of treatment.

Can’t I Just Do This Myself?
Yes - and no. The over-the-counter medications that are sold in a drug store are acid and only address the corn topically. If you choose to self-treat, what is causing the corn is not being addressed: is it a deformity that needs to be corrected? Is it your footwear? When you meet with one of our experts, we will discover what the true nature of the corn is.

Never cut corns or calluses with any instrument, and never apply home remedies. We will help you determine the best course of treatment.

If you are diabetic, do not self-treat a corn. A corn can quickly become an ulceration and move through multiple layers of skin and become an open wound.

Prevention

  • You can soak your feet regularly and use a pumice stone or callus file to soften and reduce the size of corns and calluses.
  • Don’t use medicated pads. The may increase irritation and result in infection.
  • Wear shoes that fit properly and have a roomy toe area.

Causes of corns

  • Shoes that don’t fit properly. If shoes are too tight, they squeeze the foot, increasing pressure. If they are too loose, the foot may slide and rub against the shoe, creating friction.
  • Toe deformities, such as hammer toe, claw toe or spurs.
  • High heeled shoes because they increase the pressure on the forefoot.
  • Rubbing against a seam or stitch inside the shoe.
  • Socks that don’t fit properly.

Interested in getting rid of your Corns? Call Blue Ridge Foot Centers in
Asheville, NC at (828) 254-5371 to schedule an appointment!

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