Corns are thick, hardened skin layers that develop once the skin attempts to protect itself against pressure or friction. This condition often affects the feet and hands. While the development of corns is not unusual, and the feet and hands are meant to withstand it, symptoms emerge once this friction or pressure becomes hugely significant. For most persons, simply eliminating the cause of pressure or friction makes the corns disappear. Unfortunately, corns Upper East Side can exist in combination with other typical foot conditions, which makes self-diagnosis and self-treatment difficult. Here are common indicators that you should see a foot doctor for your corn.
1. You Are Diabetic
If you have diabetes, the increased glucose levels in the body place you at higher risk of prolonged sores, cuts, and infections. Increased blood glucose levels could also damage nerve endings, causing discomfort or numbness. Blood circulation will also be probably affected; thus, disrupting the body’s healing. If left unaddressed, the thick corns could hide foot ulcers, eventually making you vulnerable to an amputation.
2. Your Corns Become Painful
Corns might seem like mild inconveniences, but they frequently induce pain serious enough to disrupt an active person’s lifestyle. The corns possess knobby cores that point inwards and apply pressure to the adjacent nerves. This pressure could induce shooting pain, making even simple actions like walking hard.
Corns may emerge in areas where it is hard to avoid them, for instance, the soles of your feet or between your toes. Over-the-counter pain-relieving medication often results in more serious issues. For instance, products made of salicylic acid will dissolve the keratin forming the hard skin layer. Unfortunately, for some patients, the acid causes burns and infections that are more serious than the corn itself.
3. You Have Fragile Skin
As you age, the skin loses its natural strength and progressively becomes fragile. Sadly, this fragile skin is more vulnerable to infections, particularly if you spend the most time in moist, closed environments. Common signs of infected corn include fluid or pus oozing from the affected area.
4. The Corn(s) Recur
Once corns recur, it is a surefire sign that you should see a foot doctor, as it often points to an underlying health concern. For instance, a bone spur or structural misalignment could be putting additional pressure on your skin in a particular region. While these foot concerns are hugely determined by genetics, bone spurs could also result from osteoarthritis.
5. You Smoke
Smoking is known to cause numerous health conditions and complications. For starters, the chemicals in cigarettes could cause constriction of blood vessels. Besides, nicotine causes blood to become thicker, which affects circulation. Poor blood circulation raises your risk of developing infections if you have ruptured corn, which is why you should see a specialist. Your doctor will suggest the most effective plan to discontinue your smoking habit.
From wearing shoes that are too tight or too loose, to running miles, there are numerous reasons why you might develop corn. Although healthy persons can treat corn themselves with at-home care, if you have diabetes, fragile skin, smoke, or have painful and recurring corns, you should see a podiatrist. Often, your podiatrist will trim or par down the corns using a blade. However, if your corn developed because of foot deformities like bunions or hammertoes, your doctor may suggest surgery to fix this deformity and avoid recurrence.
