Corn On Toe

Tips for Dealing with Corn on Toe

If you have a corn on your toe then you know first-hand how uncomfortable and unsightly this type of “callus” can be. Corns are small but usually gray or yellowish in color and they look very much like a wart. Corns develop from wearing ill-fitting shoes that rub against the skin. Over time, the skin becomes thick and hard, which eventually leads to the skin turning into a mound known as a corn.

Now, if you have just one corn on your toe, the problem could be nothing more than shoes that are not fitting properly. However, if you have multiple corns, you might actually have a condition known as hammer toe. In this case, toes are pulled upward and flexed, often to walk in ill-fitting shoes. With this, the bony area of the toe joint rubs against the shoes, which causes corns.

You might even develop a corn on your toe known as a “soft corn”, which is the result of small bone spurs causing the toes to rub together. Again, the cause is shoes that are not long or wide enough. As mentioned, in addition to being unsightly, having a corn on your toe is also uncomfortable and even painful. To prevent the development or corns or even to make an existing corn on your toe less painful, you can do several things such as:

Shoes – The first and most important change is buying quality shoes that fit. Get rid of the shoes that caused the problem or any shoes that are ill-fitting. You need shoes that have ample room in the toe box, so the toes are not crunched together and being applied with pressure.

Corn Protection – If you already have a corn on your toe, you can visit your local pharmacy and for a few dollars, purchase corn rings. These small pads have an adhesive back that is placed directly over the corn. This way, too tight shoes cannot rub against the skin, giving the corn time to heal. However, these corn pads would also prevent corns if you insist on wearing a pair of shoes you love but shoes that do not provide needed toe box space.

Pumice – For an existing corn on your toe, you can also use a pumice stone to help rub it off. For this, you want to soak your foot in warm water for about 30 minutes. Then, gently use the pumice stone to rub off the layers, eliminating the corn altogether over time.

Acid Wash – Another possibility for getting rid of corns is to use a type of acid wash. These topical treatments can be purchased at the local pharmacy and most are safe. However, there are some considerations before using an acid wash on the corn on your toe. For instance, if you have diabetes, circulatory problems, or have any other risk of infection, they an acid wash should be avoided.

If corns are a serious problem, you want to visit with your doctor to see if there are other treatments to consider. With this, the highly concentrated callus that has formed at a pressure point could be eliminated and controlled. In some instances, the corn on your toe might end up as bursitis, which means the fluid filled sac around the bones becomes irritated. Remember, products used to eliminate corns purchased over the counter may work but they are also not as effective as those prescribed by the doctor so if you do not get relief with products purchased, again, see your doctor.