What should I do if I always get corns? Corns symptoms and treatment

Corns are a common phenomenon on the feet, also called corns, which are generally a type of hyperplasia caused by long-term wear and tear of the foot skin due to improper wearing of shoes. Corns are mainly divided into three types: plantar warts, calluses, and palmoplantar punctate keratosis. Treatment methods include topical corrosive treatment, physical therapy, and surgical treatment. Different conditions require different treatments. Here we will introduce the symptoms and treatment of corns.

1. Overview

Corns are localized, cone-shaped keratin hyperplasia caused by long-term pressure and friction on the skin of the foot. Commonly known as "meat thorn". It is more likely to occur in people who stand or walk for long periods of time, and friction and pressure are the main causes. Tight shoes or deformed foot bones can cause the stratum corneum in areas of the foot that are subject to friction or pressure to thicken and push inward, forming a cone-shaped keratinous substance with the top facing inward.

2. Clinical manifestations

The skin lesions are round or oval localized keratin hyperplasia, ranging in size from a needle tip to a broad bean, light yellow or dark yellow in color, with a smooth surface that is flush with the skin surface or slightly raised, with clear boundaries, and an inverted cone-shaped keratin plug in the center embedded in the dermis. The tip of the keratin plug stimulates the nerve endings in the dermal papilla, causing pain when standing or walking. Corns often occur at the third metatarsal head in the front and middle part of the plantar, on the tibial edge of the big toe, and also on the dorsum of the little toe and the second toe, or between the toes, and other protruding and friction-prone areas.

3. Differential Diagnosis

This disease is generally not difficult to diagnose based on the characteristics of the lesions and the predilection sites. The following should be identified.

1. Plantar warts: not limited to the pressure-bearing areas on the soles of the feet, the surface shows papillary keratin hyperplasia, black bleeding spots are often found where skin lines are interrupted, and there is obvious pain from squeezing.

2. Callus: It is found at the pressure point of the plantar part. It is an irregular keratinized patch or strip with a smooth surface and unclear edges. It does not cause pain when walking or rubbing.

3. Palmoplantar punctate keratosis: multiple isolated and cone-shaped keratinous masses on the palms and soles, which are not wedged into the skin and are not limited to the areas of friction.

IV. Treatment Methods

1. External corrosive agents: Apply corn plaster or corn ointment externally. You can also use 10% salicylic acid glacial acetic acid, 30% salicylic acid collodion and crystal cream. Topical corrosive agents must protect the surrounding skin. You can cut a small hole in the center of the zinc oxide tape, the same size as the skin lesion, and stick it on the skin lesion to expose the lesion. Use thin strips of tape to roll into a rope to surround the hole to form a dam. Then apply the medicine and cover it with a large piece of tape. Seal it and change the dressing once every 3 to 7 days until it falls off.

2. Physical therapy: electrocautery, carbon dioxide laser burning, contact X-ray irradiation.

3. Surgical resection.