» Foot Corns

If you have a bump on the side of your toe then you might have a foot corn. One of the leading causes of foot corns is the friction that is created when your toe rubs against your shoe. They can be a nuisance and cause some pain but there are treatments for them and removal is possible as well. Read below for some more information or see the treatments for foot corns on the right. Keep in mind that general foot care techniques should be adhered to when dealing with foot corn treatment or removal.

» Causes of Foot Corns

One of the main causes of foot corns is friction. When your toes rub against your shoe, your body responds by creating foot corns in the affected area. Foot corns can be either hard or soft. Hard foot corns are usually found on the little toe while soft corns have a tendency to show up between the fourth and fifth toes.

» Recognizing Foot Corns

Foot corns look like patches of thickened dead skin and are usually found on the knuckles of your toes. They are most often found on your fifth toe (the little one). So if you have a raised patch of skin on one of your toes, especially the pinky toe, then you most likely have a foot corn. If it causes you problems then read on for possible treatments of the affected area including removal of the corn entirely.

» Foot Corns - Getting to the Root of the Problem

Foot corns have a purpose. They are the body's response to friction. The body creates them as a protective barrier against the surface that is causing the friction. Therefore, removal of foot corns is not always a good idea. You will need to check with your doctor before attempting removal yourself. Other types of treatments may be preferable.

Foot corns don't look nice and sometimes having them causes pain but at least they are a normal bodily function that is meant to protect you. Women are more likely to get foot corns than men. This is because of the type of shoes that women normally wear.

» Prevention of Foot Corns

Prevention is always the best course of action when it comes to foot corns. The first thing that you should do is make sure that your shoes fit properly and that there is plenty of room in the toe box. If you are a woman who wears high heels then try to limit the amount of time you spend in that type of shoe and discontinue any activity that causes you more pain. You can use shoe insoles or inserts in order to help fight against friction. Once you have foot corns one of the treatments that you can use is to apply some cream to soften the area. There are also a variety of pads that can be worn in your shoe. If none of these methods work then you might want to see a podiatrist. Your doctor may or may not decide that removal is a viable option. Never decide to take it upon yourself to remove a foot corn.