In our day-to-day activities as we walk around sometimes a great force is applied to our hands and feet. By these activities, our skin is exposed to frequent friction and pressure. Our skin often protects itself by building up corns. 

Corn is a thick, hardened layer of skin which is a normal protective response of skin to chronic excessive friction or pressure.

Corns most commonly present on the sides of feet and between the toes. They are harmless and can also be found in weight bearing areas. 

CAUSES 

1. Mechanical stress from faulty footgear/ tight shoes (the wearing of poorly fitting shoes).
2. Perspiration of foot.
3. High-heeled footwear.
4. Deformity of the foot exerting abnormal pressure (Hammertoe deformity).
5. High levels of activity (seen in Athletes, Diabetic patients).
6. Farmers and rowers – usually get corns while working with tools which cause repeated pressure on their bare hands.

TYPES

1. Hard corn (heloma durum)
2. Soft corn (heloma molle)

SYMPTOMS

• Pain with or without tenderness.
• Thick and hardened skin with rough area; in the center of the hardened skin, there is rising of a bump.
• Flakes or dry or waxy skin.
• Most common on the dorsum of the toes, in the last interdigital web space, as well as on the soles.

COMPLICATIONS

• Complications are rare except in Diabetic patients who are more prone to develop ulcers and infections.

DIAGNOSIS

• By examination of the skin.
• CBC (Complete Blood Count) to exclude any infection.
• X-ray to rule out other causes of hardened skin.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT

• Use crest pad or gel-filled corn pad if you have deformity in toes; it will reduce the deformity by straightening the toes when the foot is load-bearing.
• If corns are not painful, use a pumice stone to reduce the corn after first soaking the foot in warm water. 
• Therapeutic padding – For hard corns, foam pads or silicone toe sleeves will offer the cushioning and protection needed after surgery of corn.
• Use gloves during gardening or during activities that cause friction.
• Soak the area of corn in warm water for about 10 minutes or until it becomes soft.
• Apply moisturizing cream or oil to the area of corn.
• Change your shoe – 

1. Wear low heeled shoes with a soft upper portion and a roomy toe box. 
2. If you have deformity in toes, use a shoe with an extra depth to accommodate hard corns which often occur on the top of the deformed toe.
3. Use a shoe with extra width for corns that occur on 5th toe. 

HOMEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT

Homeopathy offers a painless and non-surgical cure for corns leaving behind no scars. Homeopathic treatment can relieve pain as well as its recurrence. Along with Homeopathic treatment, some simple precautions should be taken for existing corns which are given above. Painful corns that cannot be scrubbed by the pumice stones respond well to the Homeopathic medicines taken internally. 

REFERENCES 

1. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=corns&btnG=#d=gs_qabs&u=%23p%3DkkT0H0IHRIJ 
2. https://www.aafp.org/afp/2002/0601/p2277.html 
3. https://www.ijrh.org/article.asp?issn=0974-7168;year=205;volume=9;issue=3;spage=194;epage=198;aulast=Nisanth 
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470374/ 
5. https://www.foothealthfacts.org/conditions/corns 
6. https://www.homeopathyforall.org/corns-and-callosities/ 
7. https://www-icliniq-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.icliniq.com/articles/alternative-medicine/corn-homeopathic-treatment?amp_js_v=a6&amp_gsa=1&amp=1&usqp=mq331AQKKAFQArABIIACAW%3D%3D#aoh=16248547338318&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.icliniq.com%2Farticles%2Falternative-medicine%2Fcorn-homeopathic-treatment 
8. https://www.rajeevclinic.com/disease/skin-diseases-39/corns-callosities-51.html