Therapy
Corns occur in many people. They are often caused by incorrect strain or chronic pressure at one point on the foot. Compared to warts, they are not caused by a viral infection.
Corns are just increased growth of the cornea at the affected area. Corns can be treated for reasons of aesthetics and the occurrence of pain. Basically, corns are not dangerous to health.
However, their appearance can be a sign that there is an incorrect exposure. In consultation with a doctor, an attempt can be made to reduce or remove this incorrect strain. For example, if the foot or a single toe is incorrectly positioned, an insole can be used to restore a more natural position.
This changes the pressure conditions in such a way that no further corns should develop in the future. For the removal of existing corns, patches with and without additives, corneal shavings, various tinctures and, finally, controlled treatment in foot care are suitable. Treatment by a specialist is particularly recommended for people with diseases such as diabetes or rheumatic forms of the disease, as they are no longer aware of possible causes, such as incorrect strain, due to the possibly damaged nerves (polyneuropathy).
Here, a permanent treatment should be carried out by a podiatrist to ensure that the feet are not affected by more complicated diseases. Under no circumstances should affected persons try to remove the corn themselves with sharp and pointed objects or instruments! There is a risk of pathogens entering the wound and causing local inflammation and, in the worst case, blood poisoning (sepsis).
Corn plasters can be purchased without a doctor’s prescription. Various manufacturers offer them at relatively low prices. The aim of the application is that the affected area is cushioned by the patch, thereby reducing the friction or pressure that has led to the formation of the corn.
The padding is achieved with some plasters by the special shape. They are shaped like a ring that surrounds the corn, so that the pressure that would otherwise weigh on the corn is distributed to the surrounding area. Furthermore, many patches contain a kind of gel, which causes the skin on and around the corn to become softer.
The idea behind this is that the corn can be removed more easily. The removal is done with cornea planes or rasps. Other patches contain additional salicylic acid or other rather weaker acids.These acids increasingly lead to softening of the skin and the chicken eye.
The application is particularly suitable for longer lasting and more strongly cornified corns. However, care must be taken that the use of plasters with additives such as salicylic acid is not long-term, as it attacks not only the corn, but also the surrounding skin. One of the first measures is to soften the corn and the surrounding skin.
This can be done by warm water baths, which can last between 15 and 30 minutes. Furthermore, these can be mixed with other substances, such as various oils. On the other hand, the corn and its surroundings can be rubbed with moisturizer and then an envelope with household foil can be made.
This also softens the skin. After both applications the corn can be gently removed with a pumice stone. Other traditional household remedies are for example onions and lemons.
The juice of both is supposed to soften the skin in the appropriate places. Another possibility is the use of aspirin tablets. Several of them (up to five pieces) should be crushed and ground and then mixed with lemon juice.
This mixture is then applied to the corn. The reason for using aspirin is the salicylic acid it contains, which is also present in known remedies from pharmacies. To remove a corn, the first step is to soften the respective skin region.
This is done by warm water baths and various other household remedies. By softening the skin, the corn can be removed more easily and the surrounding area can be treated more gently. If removal with corneal shavings or planing is not effective and the corn does not go away, then consulting a podiatrist (foot care) can help.
In places that have been or are exposed to a lot of pressure, strong calluses often develop, which form a kind of core in the depth of the foot. These deep cornifications are often more difficult to remove. Therefore, the superficial layers are removed first.
In the next step, a scalpel or knife is used to approach the core in the depth of the foot. This can also be softened again for this purpose. Depending on the depth and characteristics of the corn, a corn cannot be removed all at once, but requires several sessions with an appropriate specialist.
Particularly in patients with diabetes or sensory disorders in the feet, it is highly relevant that the removal is carried out by a specialist and followed by regular check-ups. The most important preventive measure is to wear healthy, appropriate footwear, which means that the shoes should not fit too tightly and preferably have a flat sole. If necessary, orthopedic insoles should also be worn.
Another component concerns foot care, which includes, for example, regular inspection of the feet, reduction of calluses by using a pumice stone and thorough drying of the feet. The prognosis for corns is very good, after appropriate treatment they usually heal completely and relatively quickly. Only in a few cases, problems such as an ulcer or infections occur, which then require further treatment. Diabetics and patients with circulatory problems are most likely to develop complications.
