Corns are very common and come in a number of shapes and forms. They are caused by prolonged pressure on a ‘callosity’ or particular point of the foot. If the pressure causes a loss of blood supply to the area the skin will die. This dead tissue and associate callus will be moulded into a nucleus by the pressure, stiffen and effectively become a ‘foreign body’ (corn) embedded in the live skin around it. Every movement of the live, mobile skin surrounding the nucleus of dead skin will cause pain – exactly as if a piece of gravel or glass were embedded in the skin. Callus then forms over the corn in an attempt to protect the site.

Treatment will include an assessment to determine the cause of the corn and careful removal (enucleation). Advice will be given to avoid future corns but follow up treatment may be required.