Corns are rough, round, hardened masses of dead skin that develop on your feet from repeated pressure and friction. They can form on different parts of the foot and cause pain when irritated or rubbed against. There are three varieties of corns: hard, soft, and seed. Hard corns are just that—hard—and typically develop on the toes, while soft corns are often found between the toes and have a rubbery texture. Seed corns are smaller than hard or soft corns and usually form on the soles of the feet. Ill-fitting footwear often causes corns to develop. However, other conditions and circumstances that precipitate gait abnormalities, or activities that concentrate pressure in a given area, may also be to blame. Some of these contributing factors include genetic foot deformities (or acquired ones like bunions), bad posture, and certain physical activities such as running and walking. 

Corns can be hard or soft and sometimes hide between the toes. If someone complains of pain between the toes, please consider that it may be a corn. Sometimes pressure is more focal and can cause a corn under a callus. A corn tunnels inward to the skin’s layers and left untreated can cause an ulcer. OTC remedies such as corn plasters do not work and sometimes can make these worse. Changing footwear, wearing corn pads, and trimming your nails may help you manage the pain, but for long term solutions and advanced treatment, consult with a Foot Health Practitioner. The corn will be removed and advice given on prevention of future corns. They will need referring to me so that I can enucleate (remove) the core with a scalpel or enucleating bur and try to find out what the cause is.