What If I have a CORN?

Ladies and Gentlemen: There is a lot going on down there, below the belt and inside the shoe. It is hard enough progressing through life and you find out something is not looking or smelling right in your shoes. So we at the fabulous Superb Footwear Couture Inc. thought that we could give you a mini series of articles that just gives you a what’s what on foot issues and what the causes may be, the symptoms, and most importantly the cure for these issues. Our first article in this “What if I have …”  is going to be on CORNS. Aren’t you excited to find out why that little bubble is not going away as quickly as it should or even at all? We are going to some quick why’s, what’s, and how to fix it.

What exactly is a corn first and foremost? A corn is a thick, hard patch of skin in a localized area that has pain or tenderness to it. The medical term is helomas or clavi. The most common area is the bottom of the feet and on the top of the pinky toe (I told you guys to remember the pinky toe!).

Now that we know what it is how did we possible get one? Thickening occurs as a natural defense mechanism. That is meant to strengthen the skin in areas of friction or excessive pressure. Footwear that is too short or too tight or exerts friction at specific points can also cause skin thickening that leads to corns.  Abnormalities in walks or movement that result in increased pressure to specific areas can also be the cause. For myself for example, I walk on the balls of my feet so I have to be more cautious of the padding at the ball of a heel more so than the heel so I don’t have any severe friction going on.  Corns are most common in those over 45.

Corns are easily medicated if the causes of the corns are fixed. If you clear or remove the corn and continue to wear the same shoes that caused it in the first place… Well that was a waste of energy. You have to change the cause to get a different effect.

The most active ingredient in most corn treatment is salicylic acid, the ingredient used in over-the-counter wart-removal products. Salicylic acid is a keratolytic, which means it dissolves the protein (keratin) that makes up most of both the corn and the thick layer of dead skin, which often tops it.

You could always treat it with a pumice stone. You can scrub off the dead skin. Superb Footwear has an excellent two-sided Foot Scrubber works to cleanse, exfoliate and smooth skin. Used regularly, it helps remove calluses, and reduces dry, cracked heels. Why it really works: The "pumicey" texture works to gently scrub away dry skin, and the "washboard" side helps polish skin.Terra-cotta, used widely in the Indian Sub-continent, is fired in a kiln, so it never wears out. The purest Ingredients: 100% Natural, Hand-Formed Terra Cotta

Just a warning for those with health issues especially diabetes It generally is recommended that salicylic acid not be used by people with diabetes or when there is frail skin or poor circulation because of concern about how the skin can heal. Safest bet for those with health concerns talk to your doctor, not WedMd and find out if you are safe to use it and if not what are the other options.

So you all know everything that I do. If you have any at home remedies for corns let us know so we can spread the word. We’re here to help and inform you all.  Be sure to be on the look out for the next article in the “What if I have…” series

This two-sided Foot Scrubber works to cleanse, exfoliate and smooth skin. Used regularly, it helps remove calluses, and reduces dry, cracked heels.

Why it really works:

◦The "pumicey" texture works to gently scrub away dry skin, and the "washboard" side helps polish skin.

◦Terra-cotta, used widely in the Indian Sub-continent, is fired in a kiln, so it never wears out.

The purest Ingredients: 100% Natural, Hand-Formed Terra Cotta