The average person spends several hours on their feet and takes several thousand steps in a day. Walking put pressure on your feet that's equivalent to 2-3 times your body weight. Most foot problems can be blamed not on walking, but the shoes worn. Corns formed on the toes when the foot rubs against a shoe. The bone structure of the foot in certain shoes can cause the surface layer of the skin to rub against the shoe's material causing the skin to thicken and build up. This rubbing can also affect the tissue underneath the skin. Hard corns are generally on the top of the toe or on the side of the small toe while soft corns look like open sores and are found between the toes as they rub against each other.
The underlying cause of corns is shoes that do not fit properly and cause rubbing. If shoes are too tight they will squeeze the foot increasing pressure. If they are too lose, the foot may slide and rub against the shoe. High heeled shoes are especially troublesome as they increase the pressure on the forefoot. The construction of the shoe can lead to corns if the foot rubs against a seam or stitch inside the shoe. Consistently wearing socks that do not fit properly can cause enough friction to cause corns. Toe deformities such as hammer toe or claw toe can also lead to corns.
Corns can usually be noticed easily, with a typical tender spot in the middle surrounded by yellowish dead skin. Your podiatrist may trim the corn by shaving the dead layers of the skin to restore the normal shape of the skin and relieve pain. Home treatments can help with pain and reduce the size of the corn. Soaking the feet and using a pumice stone or callus file can soften and reduce the size of corn. While wearing shoes, placing a donut-shaped foam pad around the corn (with the corn in the hole of the pad) can help to relieve the pressure on the corn causing less pain. Be sure to use non-medicated corn pads as medicated pads may increase irritation and result in infection. Placing lamb's wool between the toes will help cushion soft corns. Since corns are due to irritation caused by shoes, wearing a shoe that fits properly and has a roomy toe area will help reduce rubbing.