Corn??

[Pine Marten]

...not the veggie but on your feet! I have what looks like a corn on the ball of my foot, and wondered whether to see my GP or just get some stuff over the counter. I haven't really had corns before, so any advice before I try ringing the surgery?

The D nurse thought it looked like a verruca but having googled photos (it's a l-o-n-g time since my kids had them) it doesn't look like that.

 

[Northerner]

I seem to remember being told that corns and verrucas are basically the same, but verrucas, since they grow on the underside of the foot, grow inwards, whereas corns don't. They can disappear of their own accord - I used to have one for years on my little toe, but then it just disappeared. I think the stuff you buy over the counter usually specifies 'not for diabetics' - the standard get out clause in these types of medication - but as long as your feet are in good condition then I wouldn't have thought there would be a problem. Your GP might be able to prescribe something though, and it might be better to get his/her blessing for a treatment method.

 

[Robin]

I seem to remember being told that corns and verrucas are basically the same, but verrucas, since they grow on the underside of the foot, grow inwards, whereas corns don't. They can disappear of their own accord - I used to have one for years on my little toe, but then it just disappeared. I think the stuff you buy over the counter usually specifies 'not for diabetics' - the standard get out clause in these types of medication - but as long as your feet are in good condition then I wouldn't have thought there would be a problem. Your GP might be able to prescribe something though, and it might be better to get his/her blessing for a treatment method.

I think that's warts and verrucas, not corns and verrucas ( verrucae?), I don't think corns are a virus, they're just caused by pressure or rubbing. I've got one on the underneath of my foot, which gets worse in winter because I think its caused by my boots. Nothing seems to get rid of it, but filing the hard skin down with an emery board occasionally keeps it flat and painless.

 

[Pine Marten]

Thanks, Northerner and Robin. I think that's correct, that they're not caused by a virus. I do file it down and put cream on, but because it's on the ball of my foot it is where I tread...It's irritating more than anything, but when I get a chance (whoever said retirement meant you had bags of time?!) I'll try ringing the surgery.

 

[SB2015]

Hi Pine Marten

I too have corns on the ball of my foot, following surgery. Filing generally works well but like Robin I find it gets worse in winter. I have found getting some cushioning and cutting holes where the corn(s) are works well and stays stuck on even through regular showers.

 

[Matt Cycle]

Yes I had seed corns on the ball of my foot, in fact they were on both feet. They are caused by pressure and in my case were quite painful. The seed corns as the name suggests are very small corns - bits of compacted hard skin. During my diabetic foot check up at the surgery the nurse said she would refer me to the foot clinic. The appointment came through very quickly and the podiatrist then gouged then out with a scalpel (there must be a correct technical term for this ). I was also measured for some insoles where they are shaped and the pressure points are reduced on the insoles. These were made up and ready in about 3 weeks. Excellent service in this case by my local health authority.

As it's feet it's definitely worth getting it checked out rather than risking any sort of damage.

 

[AndBreathe]

...not the veggie but on your feet! I have what looks like a corn on the ball of my foot, and wondered whether to see my GP or just get some stuff over the counter. I haven't really had corns before, so any advice before I try ringing the surgery?

The D nurse thought it looked like a verruca but having googled photos (it's a l-o-n-g time since my kids had them) it doesn't look like that.

Before ringing for podiatry, I would do the following.

Acquire a roll of the old style Elastoplast. You know; the REALLY adhesive stuff? Snip off a small patch around 1" square would usually be perfect. Stick it directly to your foot, covering the offending corn/verruca and give it your best concentrated ignoring for several days. Personally, I'd try to leave it a week, initially.

After said ignoring, remove plaster and admire. Ideally the offending corn or verruca will have raised a bit, and look proud of the skin. Smile inwardly, and repeat the process. The offending thing will eventually be attached to the Elastoplast when removed.

In essence, it dies when starved of ready oxygen.

These were the instructions of a podiatrist, albeit before I was diagnosed. But, it is, to my mind, the least traumatic and invasive way I know of to be rid of the blighters. I was swimming a lot at the time.

 

[Pine Marten]

Thanks, AndBreathe, I'll see if I can get some old style stuff, though most plasters now are hopeless at sticking 🙄 . I'm sure it's a corn not a verruca - I do remember when I was at school I had to have a planters wart (I think) gouged out of my foot. It was painful, but it kept me off sports for the rest of the term so I was more than happy with that !

 

[Caroline]

having had problems with my feet, I think I'd err on the side of caution and see the doctor or a podiatrist.