Up to 48% of people develop corns at some point. If you’re dealing with the discomfort of corns, don’t risk infection by trying to remove them yourself: The Family Foot & Ankle Center team offers expert corn treatment and removal at their Upland, California, office. Reach out to the office by phone or click on the online appointment maker to get help with your corns.
request an appointmentWhat are corns?
Corns are thick spots of dead skin. They develop due to extra pressure or friction. The feet are the most common place for corns, and they can take different forms.
Hard corns
Hard corns are the most common type. They are round growths with a callous outer shell. The most common spot for hard corns is the top of the toes. Hammertoe is a common cause of hard corns on the toes. It causes the middle joint in the toe to bend, leading to friction with your shoe that causes the corn.
Soft corns
Soft corns are rubbery and grow between the toes. Like hard corns, they’re caused by pressure and friction, but sweat trapped between the toes stops soft corns from hardening.
Seed corns
Seed corns are the smallest corns. They appear on the heels and balls of the feet and usually occur in clusters. Seed corns can look a lot like plantar warts.
How are corns and calluses different?
Corns and calluses are patches of dead skin, and both happen because of pressure and friction. But they’re two different things.
Calluses are usually bigger than corns. While corns are circular, calluses can have an irregular shape.
Corns can be painful, especially when you put pressure on them. Calluses sometimes don’t cause any pain.
Can corns be dangerous?
Corns can be dangerous if untreated. They can sometimes develop a crack, allowing harmful bacteria into your skin. This can cause an infection. In the most severe cases, the infection can spread to the bones or joints.
Can I treat corns at home?
Over-the-counter corn treatments are available, but they can actually lead to problems. For example, one popular drugstore corn remedy is patches that contain an acid. The acid is supposed to gradually destroy the corn. But it can also burn or destroy some nearby healthy tissue if it’s not applied perfectly.
At Family Foot & Ankle Center, the team treats your corn using methods like shaving or paring the corn with a scalpel. They expertly remove only the dead skin in a painless process. The team could recommend wearing custom-fitted orthotics or corn pads to ease pressure and help avoid new corns.
Call Family Foot & Ankle Center today or book your appointment online for help with corns.