A corn, medicinally clavus, is a round callus that usually occurs on the foot. It is usually round, yellowish and tapered towards the top. Their diameter is usually between five and ten millimeters. In the center of the knob sits a hard corneal stick that usually hurts when you apply pressure. The skin around the cornification is sometimes a little reddened.
The corn owes its name to
its shape, which is reminiscent of the visual organ of poultry. Clavus,
Latin for “nail”, is also based on the appearance of the thickening.
Doctors differentiate
between different types of corns. For example, there are variants with a
hard, dense core (Clavus durus) and those with a soft core (Clavus
mollis). There are also clavi with small veins that bleed easily (clavus
vasculare) and those that have nerves running through them and are therefore
very painful (clavus neurovasulare). Depending on the type, the
therapeutic approach can be different. The different forms cannot always
be clearly delineated.
The demarcation from the
wart is also not that easy - at least at first glance. Whether it is a
corn or a wart is medically clearly defined: Warts are skin
infections caused by viruses; corns are keratinizations that are caused by
mechanical friction. If you look close, your will also see that plantar
warts, with which a corn is often confused, have a dark point or stripe in the
middle that is missing from the corn.
This is where a corn develops most often
Corns are cause by pressure
or friction on a specific area of skin. Because the toes or other parts
of the foot are exposed to particular stress - for example due to shoes that
are too small - the corneal hillocks are particularly likely to be found there. So,
for example, develops very often
- a corn on the sole
of the foot or the side of the foot
- a corn on the
(little) toe
- a corn between the
toes, more rarely on the joints or under the nail
- a corn on the heel
In very few cases, a corn
also appears on the hand or finger.
This is how a corn can be treated and removed
In most cases, those
affected can remove the corn themselves. Only in stubborn cases do a
doctor or podiatrist intervene, for example if the cornification is very deep.
Remove corns yourself
Fix the cause: Since corns are caused
by pressure or friction, it is important to first relieve the affected
area. That means: no tight, high-heeled shoes and possibly orthopedic
insoles that reduce the pressure with gel cushions or ring-shaped pads. Sometimes
a padded plaster that you stick over the corn is enough.
Softening and rubbing off: You can remove a corn at home by bathing
the affected foot in lukewarm water for a while. This softens the
skin. Then carefully scrub the corneal nodule with a special file or a
pumice stone and then apply a moisturizing cream to the area to make the skin
supple. This procedure usually proves to be effective, but has to be
repeated over several weeks. Only then is the cornea removed.
Plaster or cream: A little faster than with water and a rasp is with special corn plasters from the drugstore or pharmacy. The products contain horn-loosening agents, so-called keratolytics, often salicylic acid. Glue the strip over the corn and leave it there for a few days. Alternatively, you can also apply a cream with the appropriate active ingredient. Experts point out that these substances should, if possible, not come into contact with healthy skin, otherwise it could become inflamed.
When to see a doctor
If the corn is particularly
stubborn, you should take it to the doctor or podiatrist. He can carefully
remove the lump with a scalpel, scissors or a spoon with sharp edges. You
shouldn't cut your corn yourself. The risk of injury and inflammation is
too high.
You should also go to a
specialist with a corn if you are diabetic (type 1 or type 2). The immune
system is often weakened in these diseases, the risk of infection and thus the
risk of complications are higher. In addition, diabetics can experience pain
impairment because of the nerve damage that is typically associated with this
disease. Often a corn is noticed too late in these cases.