Are Corns Dangerous?

You have a hard, thickened area of skin on the side of your foot. It's not super painful, but your sneakers definitely irritate it. Your cornsCrawfordsville and Indianapolis, IN podiatrist, Dr. Yong Chae, says it's a corn, and you wonder if this presents a danger to your podiatric and overall health.

Dr. Chae of Active Podiatry values patient education and wants you to know all about your condition and how to safely alleviate it. So, here are the facts about corns, what they really are and what can be done about them.

Are Corns Dangerous?

The short answer is no, they are not, but with this caveat: any inflammation of the foot can develop complications if you are diabetic. Diabetics struggle with increased risk of infection and with compromised circulation. So, Dr. Chae recommends diabetics inspect their feet daily and to call Active Podiatry if you see any changes in foot structure or skin, such as a corn.

For the rest of us, corns aren't overly worrisome, but it's important to keep an eye on them so they don't get bigger, more irritated or develop an infection. Corns are prone to inflammation. Their near cousins, calluses, typically do not become reddened and sore.

The big problem with corns is continued irritation. Irritation usually starts these thick, rough, flaky skin bumps. Corns develop from shoes continually rubbing in one spot and from other factors such as:

  • wearing socks without shoes
  • wearing loose, ill-fitting shoes
  • bunions
  • hammertoes
  • bone spurs

Treatment of Corns

At Active Podiatry in Crawfordsville and Indianapolis, your podiatrist sees corns all the time. They affect people of all ages and are easily treated. He may choose to gently shave the corn down, or he often recommends medication containing salicylic acid to soften, reduce the size of the corn or totally eliminate it. As needed, Dr. Chae prescribes antibiotics.

To prevent corns, the foot doctor asks patients to wear properly fitting, well-ventilated shoes. Moisturizers alleviate dry skin on the foot, and customized orthotics, or shoe inserts, reduce the wear and tear that are so often the genesis of corns and other podiatric health issues.

Struggling with Corns?

Please don't hesitate to contact Active Podiatry for a consultation. Corns and more complex foot problems get compassionate and highly skilled treatment with Dr. Chae. Please call (317) 328-6622 in Indianapolis. In Crawfordsville, phone (765) 362-7200.

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