Corns – a tiny but painful problem

What Are Corns?

Corns are thickened areas of skin that can develop on the feet over time, due to repeated pressure or friction. They can cause great discomfort and pain, especially when walking or wearing shoes. There are different types of corns, each with unique characteristics and causes. Recognising these differences is important to ensure successful treatment and future prevention.

Different Types of Corns

Hard Corns

Hard corns (heloma durum) are the most common type, typically found on the tops or sides of the toes or on the soles of the feet. They develop due to excessive pressure, often caused by tight shoes, structural toe deformities and an individual’s gait and biomechanics.

Symptoms: Hard, dense and circular shaped area of thickened skin with a central focal core. They can be painful when pressed.

Treatment:

• Using medicaments, applied by our experienced Melbourne podiatrists, to soften and reduce the corn
• Having the corn removed by a podiatrist at our Melbourne clinic- in many cases this process is pain free!

Prevention:

• Ensuring shoes fit well with adequate space in the toe box of shoes
• Using toe props or pads to deflect pressure
• The use of orthotics to minimise micro trauma caused by an individual’s gait and to redistribute pressure under the feet more evenly

Soft Corns

Soft corns (heloma molle) usually form between the toes, where the skin often remains moist from sweat. They result from friction between the toes, often exacerbated by tight footwear.

Symptoms: White, rubbery areas of thickened skin at the base between the toes. They are usually painful and at times can also be irritated and inflamed.

Treatment:

• Using medicaments, as advised by our Melbourne podiatrists, to dry out the corn, reduce its size and facilitate easier removal
• Having the corn reduced or removed by one of our skilled podiatrists

Prevention:

• Drying carefully between the toes
• Wearing mostly natural fibre socks when in enclosed shoes
• Wearing shoes with appropriate forefoot width
• Using toe props or pads to create splaying between the toes to deflect pressure
• Applying antifungal treatments if infection occurs, particularly between the toes

Seed Corns

Seed corns (heloma millare) are tiny, pinpoint-sized corns that develop on the soles of the feet. They are caused by high friction on the bottom of the feet as well as dry skin.

Symptoms: Small, round, uneven areas of skin, that can resemble a small seed and often appear in a cluster on the soles of the feet. They may feel tender when walking but not everyone who has seed corns experiences pain.

Treatment:

• Having the corns removed at our Melbourne clinic- often these are the easiest type of corn to remove

Prevention:

• Moisturising the feet
• Exfoliating dead skin
• Wearing cushioned insoles
• If appropriate, wearing orthotics recommended by our Melbourne podiatrists, to reduce the pressure that can contribute to seed corns forming

Durlacher Corns

Durlacher corns form at the side of the toenail, usually on the fifth toe. They develop due to pressure from tight shoes, an abnormal nail shape or a structural deformity of the toe.

Symptoms: Painful, deep-seated corns found near the edge of the nail, often mistaken for an ingrown toenail or a split nail.

Treatment:

• Visiting a podiatrist at our Melbourne clinic for corn removal

Prevention:

• Avoiding excessive pressure on the toes by wearing shoes with adequate space in the toe box
• Wearing a silicone toe protector to reduce rubbing on the toe
• Ensuring nails are cut using appropriate instruments, straight across and not too short

Subungual Corns

Subungual corns (corns under the toenail) form beneath the toenail due to pressure, often from trauma or ill-fitting shoes. They can also be caused by curved or thickened toenails and toe deformities. Less commonly, they can be caused by an underlying bony exostosis. They can be difficult to detect and may cause significant pain.

Symptoms: Pain and pressure under the toenail, thickened or discoloured nail and discomfort when wearing certain shoes.

Treatment:

• Trimming the toenail properly
• Application of certain medicaments to reduce the size of the corn and keep it at bay for longer
• Corn removal by our skilled podiatrists

Prevention:

• Wearing properly fitting footwear, particularly in the toe box of the shoes
• Use of toe props to deflect pressure from the area
• Proper nail cutting technique to avoid increasing pressure at the site of the corn

Our Melbourne Podiatrists can safely remove corns

By identifying and treating corns early, you can minimize discomfort and prevent complications. At our Melbourne clinic, our skilled podiatrists excel at diagnosing corns and identifying their underlying causes to ensure effective treatment and long-term prevention. With regular, high-quality foot care, you’ll feel the difference—like walking on air. In most cases, our expert corn removal provides instant relief!

Do you have a painful corn?

At our Melbourne foot clinic our podiatrists are experts in corn removal and general foot care.

So if you suffer from a painful corn which needs removal, book an appointment with one of our friendly podiatrists today!