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What to look for
Corns are small skin calluses caused by chronic irritation of the skin. There are two types: soft corns and hard corns.
Soft Corns
These look like open sores between the toes but they are really soft calluses. They are usually found between two smaller toes where the skin is moist.
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Causes
Soft corns are caused by pressure on the skin from a bony prominence on the next toe. Shoes with a pointed toe box squeeze the toes together and can cause the corn to develop.
Treatment
Do not try to remove the corn. Wear shoes with plenty of toe room and use lamb's wool between the toes to separate them.
If these measures do not relieve pain, a simple outpatient surgical procedure can be performed to help make you more comfortable.
Hard Corns
These corns are commonly located on the outside aspect of the fifth toe and the upper aspect of the smaller toes where the skin is dry.
Causes
Hard corns are caused by an underlying bony prominence pushing against the shoe. Shoes with narrow and low toe boxes bunch up the toes causing these pressure areas. Hammer toe, claw toe and mallet toe deformities increase the likelihood of hard corm formation.
Treatment
Treatment
Proper shoe fit is an important factor in treatment. Shoes with high and wide toe boxes usually relieve pressure on the corns. Shaving the corn and then using horseshoe- or doughnut-shaped pads may relieve pressure.
If these methods do not give sufficient relief, outpatient surgery can be performed to improve your comfort.
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