Corns occur when there is constant friction and pressure on the feet, which may cause pain and discomfort.
There are different kinds of corns: soft, hard, neurovascular and seed.
Hard corns are dry and very firm, and they have a compact core that becomes visible when the corn is shaved.
This kind of corns is generally found on the edges of the little toes and at the balls of the feet often surrounded by calluses.
Corns are quite tender, preceded by a formation of calluses, and often respond to pressure and friction with sharp pain.
Soft corns, on the other hand, are found in between toes, typically in spaces between the smallest toe and the next toe.
These corns compose of soggy, soft skin that sometimes drain, erode and become highly infected.
Soft corns are often formed by continuous pressure from deformed and dislocated bones of the adjacent toes.
Neurovascular corns are called such because they contain blood vessels that lead to bleeding within its core.
These corns are usually found on the surface at the inside of the foot, typically near the biggest toe, and are very painful and recalcitrant.
The smallest kind of corns is called seed corns, which are compact, tiny and numerous and are often found on the soles of the feet.
Podiatrists perform a physical examination in order to determine if a formation is a corn, generally identified by its appearance when the outer layer is shaved or pared.
Hard, seed and neurovascular corns have a translucent, waxy and clear cut core in its center.
The fine blood vessels and dots of a wart are not existent, although, bleeding may result when neurovascular corns are shaved or pared.
In comparison to calluses, corns interrupt the normal lines and ridges of the skin.
In order to determine the right kind of corns treatment, the cause should also be determined.
In general, ill fitting shoes are the main culprit, followed by misaligned bones on the toes.
To ease the discomfort and pain caused by corns, holes can be cut in the shoes to give more room to the corns.
There are also pads and rings that have adhesive backings in different sizes and shapes.
Half-moon pads and horseshoe-shaped adhesives can be taped into the surroundings of the corns.
Shaving corns with a blade periodically should be done with extra care, so as to prevent cutting the skin and causing infection.
People with poor blood circulation, diabetes and diseases that make them prone to infection should never attempt to self-medicate or operate because gangrene can result in improper procedures.
Salicylic acid solutions can be applied to the callus or corns and covered with protective tape that can be left in place for many days.
When the adhesive is removed, the affected area should be soaked in warm water which would make scraping dead skin easier.