Corns or calluses are hardened and thickened layers of skin or tissues occurring especially in the palms and soles due to excessive friction and pressure. The corns are characterized by very hard surface having a tough nodule like formation at the center. The corns generally occur at the sides and the top part of the toes of the feet. There are various reasons behind the development of corns. There are two types of corns. Hard corns are the most common type. They are caused primarily by ill-fitting shoes and toe distortion. They usually develop on the tops and tips of the toes and on the sides of the feet. Soft corns (heloma molles) usually occur as the result of bone abnormalities in the toes. They develop between the toes and are sometimes referred to as "kissing corns." Soft corns (heloma molles) usually occur as the result of bone abnormalities in the toes.

What causes corns? Corns are basically caused by too much pressure against the skin. The most common cause of this pressure is from shoes that are too tight or don't fit properly. As your shoe continues to rub against the surface of your toe, in order to absorb the punishment, the skin hardens. As the years go by, this skin, which is quite dead by now, is molded into what is called a hard corn. These can be very painful. You can also develop what are called soft corns. Corns are largely caused by pressure or friction from ill-fitting shoes. Unlike a wart however, a corn does not contain blood vessels or nerve endings. People with a cavus foot type or extremely high arch are often prone to this affliction because their toes are pulled back a bit and thus corns tend to form on the tips and tops of the toes as well.

A foot corn is an area of thickened skin that occurs in areas of pressure. In the foot, the skin will thicken up to protect itself when the areas of high pressure have not been eliminated. Eventually, you will experience a great deal of pain in the foot at the area of the corn. Soaking your foot corn with warm water and Epsom salt for at least five minutes, three times a day will help to soften the corn. Another common treatment is using a pumice stone on the corn which will file it down and it will begin to remove part or all of the corn. Corns on the tops of the toes are generally hard whereas the ones found in between the toes are more often soft in nature. A very common location of corns is on the outside of the little toe, most often seen in women, particularly those wearing fashionable yet ill-fitting shoes which because of the tight and narrow toe box cause an increased friction and pressure on the outside of the toe. Other common forefoot problems can also occur such as the development of bunions or hammertoes.

There are many acid preparations, which are available for calluses and corns. One of the widely used solutions is a mixture of lactic acids, salicylic acid and collodion (Salactic Film, Duofilm and Viranol). There are some over-the-counter products such as trichloroacetic acid, which are used for treatment.


Read about Home remedies and also read about Colitis treatment and Corn treatment

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