Corns and corns
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Corns (Tylomas; Helomas; Clavi) are the limited areas of hyperkeratosis that arise due to pressure or friction. Corns are superficial lesions and are asymptomatic; napotypes - deeper lesions that can be very painful. In the diagnosis, the appearance of the lesions is important. For the treatment, keratolytic agents and manual cleaning are sometimes used. For the prevention of disease requires the replacement of shoes.
Corns and corns appear as a result of constant pressure or friction, usually in the places of protruding bones (for example, on the heels and metatarsal heads). The corns are a strongly pronounced keratinous surface about the size of a pea or slightly larger, which forms a cork in all layers of the dermis. An adventitious bursitis may develop. Solid honeycombs are formed on the bony protrusions, especially on the fingers and soles, soft - between the fingers. Most often, the disorder occurs due to incorrectly selected shoes, but the formation on the surfaces of the sole, not subjected to pressure, or on the palms, may be a consequence of congenital genodermatosis.
With calluses, there is no central plug and accompanying changes in the dermis. Corns are usually formed on the palms and feet, but can also occur in other parts of the body, especially in people whose occupations cause permanent trauma to certain areas (for example: the lower jaw and collarbone of violinists).
[How do corns and corns appear?
Corns are usually asymptomatic, but with severe friction, a burning sensation occurs, which may be similar to burning with interdigital neuralgia.
Treads are sensitive and painful when pressed, sometimes under them pockets filled with liquid can form.
The nails should be differentiated from the plantar wart and calluses by removing the cornified skin. After cleansing, the marks remain in place of the calluses, while the warts have clearly defined boundaries and sometimes maceration of the tissue occurs or black (bleeding) points are formed in the center due to capillary blockage. The corns after cleansing leave pronounced yellowish or brown lesions, which hinders the formation of the dermis. Interdigital neuralgia can be ruled out if there is no pain during palpation.
Treatment of corn and corns
With all the inevitability of the most mechanical pressure in the foot area, the intensity of its vsetka should be tried to reduce. For foci on the feet, it is important to choose the right footwear: the fingers should move freely, which is often impossible when wearing fashionable shoes, which should be discarded. For redistribution of pressure, soft pads and rings of the necessary size, protective dressings, arched inserts, metatarsal plates can be used. With calluses and corns on the rise of the foot, orthopedic devices are necessary. Surgical intervention is rarely required.
The use of nail files or pumice stones immediately after bathing is one of the ways to remove hyperkeratosis of tissues. It is also possible to use keratolytic substances (for example: 17% salicylic acid in a solution of collodion or 40% patch of salicylic acid), healthy areas of the skin should be lubricated with petroleum jelly and avoiding keratolytic drugs.
How to prevent calluses and corns?
Patients who are prone to foot diseases, especially those with peripheral circulation disorders with concomitant diabetes, should visit the physician regularly.