If you work a job where you are on your feet all day long or if you stress out your feet by wearing work boots on the job, then you may notice some hard formations developing on the feet. These are called corns and they are fairly common. Keep reading to learn about the ways that your podiatrist can help to get rid of the corns depending on the severity.
Mild Corn Formations
If you have smaller corns that develop on the balls of the feet or on the outsides of the toes, then you may need little treatment. Simply put, your skin is starting to harden and thicken due to the direct pressure and stress on these areas of the feet. Your podiatrist will likely investigate why the corns have formed and will give you suggestions on how to minimize the formations and how to reduce discomfort.
You may be asked to choose a different pair of shoes. Ones that are comfortable with a wide toe are ideal with at least one-quarter to one-half inch of space between your big toe and the shoe. Also, the shoes should not allow your foot to slide or move as you wear them. Since a good fit is essential to ensuring that your corns are minimized, you should also think of having a professional shoe fitting completed. Every shoe manufacturer will have footwear that fits slightly differently and understanding the fit can help to minimize future issues.
Your foot doctor may also instruct you on how to use a pumice stone to gently exfoliate the corns at home. Moisturizing with the use of foot cream can also help.
Serious Corns
When you have more serious corns on your feet that extend uncomfortably from the toes, then you may need a bit of assistance from your podiatrist. In this case, the professional may order an x-ray to make sure that you do not have bunions or other abnormal formations that are contributing to the development of the corns. If there are no underlying issues, then your podiatrist will inspect the corn and decide if removal is best.
If the foot doctor feels like corns should be removed, then he or she will use a scalpel to gently shave the hardened and dead skin from your foot. In some cases, an acidic fluid may be placed on the corns to remove them. However, this is only necessary if less aggressive treatments do not work. Also, you may e provided with cortisone shots within the foot itself if joints pain is an issue due to the corns. Contact a foot doctor such as Carolina Foot & Ankle Specialists for more information.