Corns are one of the most common foot ailments [1]. They are the result of an increased production of keratin as your body’s protective response to prolonged or repeated friction or pressure. That’s why corns usually appear on typical pressure spots and why certain people are more prone to developing corns then others.
Who suffers from corns and why?
Some risk factors for developing corns are related to your body and might be genetic or are acquired by, for example, trauma or ageing. These include foot abnormalities (flat-footed, abnormal gait) or deformities (bunions, hammer toe) as well as low skin elasticity (e.g. due to age). Other risk factors are related to your activity. People with jobs that require a lot of time on their feet (e.g. nurses, waiters or cabin crew) are at a higher risk of developing corns. One of the most prominent risk factors, however, is the choice footwear. We too often choose our shoes by appearance and do not pay enough attention to a good fit and comfort.
How to prevent corns?
The best way to prevent corns is to avoid the above mentioned causes as much as possible. Here are some general tips on how best to prevent corns, without having to give up your favourite activities or your job:
What to avoid:
- Avoid wearing ill-fitting shoes where possible. Try not to wear shoes that are too tight, too loose, too high or have badly placed seams. Types of shoes not adapted for long time wear include high heels, pointed-toe heels, and high arched boots.
- Don’t wear badly fitting socks, no socks or no foot-wear at all.
- Try to avoid prolonged periods of standing.
Sources
-
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/corns-and-calluses/symptoms-causes/syc-20355946
-
https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/injured-skin/burns/treat-corns-calluses
-
https://www.apma.org/Patients/FootHealth.cfm?ItemNumber=1346
Dunn JE. Prevalence of Foot and Ankle Conditions in a Multiethnic Community Sample of Older Adults. American Journal of Epidemiology 2004 ; 159 : 491–498.
