Dry corn, how to treat it?

Dry corn does not pose a threat to human health or life, but it can degrade its quality, causing some discomfort and even pain. In addition, dry corn is a cosmetic defect that causes a person to experience psychological stress.

It is not difficult to get rid of dry corns; modern cosmetology medicine offers many methods to deal with such growths.

Dry corn – what is it?

Dry corn is an area of ​​​​dead and hardened skin, which appeared as a result of excessive pressure on the dermis or its friction. Such growths most often form on the sole, or on the palms. Sometimes dry corns do not bother a person, and sometimes they make him feel painful.

Dry corn has clearly defined boundaries, in its center there is a rod. Sometimes overweight, violations of the rules for caring for the lower extremities, improperly selected shoes, vitamin deficiency can provoke the appearance of such a skin growth.

People prone to hyperkeratosis often suffer from dry skin corns. To cope with this problem, you need to maintain the normal water balance of the dermis, moisturize it by applying special creams to the feet.

If dry callus starts to hurt, then the quality of life of a person worsens, he becomes unable to perform his daily duties, as the pain occurs while walking.

It is worth taking into account that dry corns can indicate serious health problems. For example, they often appear in people with diabetes. Treatment of any skin growths in such patients is long and laborious.

Other risk factors that increase the likelihood of dry callus are:

• Bursitis.

• Flat feet.

• Vitamin A or vitamin E deficiency.

• Osteoarthritis.

• Heel spur.

All these violations can become trigger factors for the formation of dry callus. Therefore, a person is not always able to accurately determine the causes of the appearance of such skin growths. If the etiological factor is not eliminated, then it will not be possible to cope with the problem. The corn will appear again and again.

Dry corn does not form in one day. It has been growing for a long time. As the pathology progresses, the skin tubercle will increase in size.

Corn can be with or without a stem. If such a root is the main callus, then you need to get rid of it first. When the rod remains inside, the removal of dry callus will not succeed. After a while, she will appear again.

Sometimes it is not possible to cope with dry corns with conservative methods. In this case, it needs to be removed.

To clarify the cause of the appearance of corns and decide on the optimal method of its treatment, you need to visit an orthopedist or dermatologist. Professional examination is the key to successful therapy.

Sometimes people confuse dry corns with warts, which complicates the healing process. Generally, plantar warts are smaller than calluses. In addition, they rise more strongly above the surface of the skin. Features of the treatment of these two types of skin growths are different.

Symptoms of dry corn

Dry corns have a number of features that make it possible to distinguish it from warts.

The symptoms of corn are as follows:

• Dry skin in the area of ​​callus formation.

• The color of the neoplasm is yellow or yellowish-white.

• The surface of the callus is most often rough, although it can be smooth.

• The shape of the corn is round or oval. They may slightly rise above the skin, or be flat. 

• The sensitivity of the skin in the area of ​​the callus is reduced. Sometimes there are signs of inflammation.

• When you press the callus, the person will experience pain.

• If the corn has a core, then it will be visible to the naked eye. The root is located in the center of the corn.

• The pain that occurs during pressure on the callus causes a person to limp and incorrectly distribute the load on the foot. This can lead to the development of arthrosis and curvature of the foot.

• Warts, unlike corns, are viral in nature. You can determine the presence of papillomavirus in the body in the laboratory by handing over tissues for examination.

If the corn does not have a core, then it may not manifest itself in any way. Pain and signs of inflammation will be absent.

A favorite place for the formation of corns are:

• Finger pads.

• The outer side of the little finger or big toe.

• Heels.

• Palms.

• Spaces between toes.

If the callus is formed against the background of chronic diseases, then the leg as a whole will suffer from a lack of blood circulation. At the same time, her skin becomes thinner, loses elasticity, acquires a bluish color.

Symptoms of corns on the leg

The corn may have a stalk. Outwardly, it will look like an ordinary corn, but a root is visible in its center. These calluses are mushroom-shaped. The top hat goes into a long leg. Such a callus hurts, sometimes it can bleed, especially with increased friction.

Symptoms of dry corn in a child

In children, dry corns are less common than in adults. This is due to the accelerated metabolism in the body. The skin of babies is characterized by increased plasticity, and the cells of the dermis in children regenerate faster. Therefore, babies are more often diagnosed with wet corns.

Dry corns in childhood develop against the background of various diseases, or in violation of metabolic processes. A frequent companion of such skin growths is beriberi. In this case, the symptoms of vitamin deficiency will come to the fore. The child will lose its former activity, the condition of the hair and nails will worsen, the skin will become pale.

How to distinguish a dry corn from a plantar wart?

Warts are an external manifestation of the human papillomavirus, although in their structure they may resemble dry corns.

You can make a correct diagnosis by the following signs:

• The sizes of warts do not exceed 0,5 cm in diameter, while dry corns are much larger.

• Dry calluses appear in places of increased friction, and warts can form anywhere.

• Warts are located in groups, and corns are almost always single neoplasms.

black dry corn

Black dry corns can scare a person. Discoloration can be caused by insufficient blood circulation in the lower extremities, or necrosis of callus tissues. In this case, the rod, which is located in its center, becomes black.

Sometimes the color of the corn changes due to a failure in metabolic processes. At the same time, melanin begins to accumulate under the keratinized tissues, which gives the skin growth a dark color.

In any case, the change in the color of the corn should not be ignored. When it darkens, you need to contact a dermatologist or surgeon.

Reasons for the formation of dry corns

There are external and internal causes leading to the formation of dry calluses. External causes include:

• Wearing tight shoes that rub your feet. This also includes wearing high heels.

• Wearing hard shoes without socks or footprints.

• Wearing stockings, socks or tights that do not fit. The folds that form during this can cause the formation of corns.

• Excessive load on certain parts of the body. Corns often appear in runners, ballerinas, gymnasts, guitarists.

• Long walking on gravel and stones.

• Violation of the rules of personal hygiene. This problem is especially relevant for people suffering from hyperkeratosis. If you do not clean off the coarsened areas of the dermis, then over time this can lead to the formation of skin corns.

Internal causes that can provoke the appearance of dry corns include:

• Body aging. With age, the skin loses its ability to retain moisture, loses its former elasticity, which can cause the formation of corns.

• Flat feet and posture problems.

• Violations of the digestive system.

• Diabetes.

• Insufficient blood supply to the lower extremities.

• Rheumatoid arthritis.

• Diseases of the neurological plan.

• Deficiency of vitamins in the body. The lack of vitamin A, B2, E negatively affects the condition of the skin. The skin regenerates worse, loses its elasticity and firmness.

• Skin infections, such as foot fungus. Mycosis of the feet leads to coarsening of the skin, its stratum corneum thickens, nutrition deteriorates, and sensitivity decreases. All this can provoke the formation of dry corns.

• Hyperhidrosis stop.

• The presence of a bone spur.

• Obesity. In overweight people, the load on the lower limbs increases, which can lead to the formation of calluses. In addition, such patients are more likely to suffer from edema, it is more difficult for them to find suitable shoes.

Complications of dry corn

Most often, dry corns do not pose any serious threat to human health. They are able to create certain inconveniences while walking. So, dry callus with a rod often responds with pain during pressure on it. In addition, skin growths are a cosmetic defect.

However, if you ignore the problem for a long time and do not treat dry corn, then it can lead to a number of complications, including:

• Formation of a root with damage to soft tissues and involvement of nerve fibers in the pathological process.

• Lameness.

• Infection with the formation of inflammation and ulcerative processes.

Inflamed corns will be indicated by symptoms such as:

• Pain begins to disturb a person not only during the application of pressure on the corn, but also at rest.

• Deterioration of general well-being.

• Increase in body temperature. The skin around the callus may become hot to the touch.

• Hyperemia of the tissues surrounding the corn.

• Pus may flow from cracks and wounds of the callus.

• Improper removal of skin calluses can lead to scar formation.

• The appearance of deep cracks in the calluses. The skin that forms the callus is deprived of normal nutrition. If a significant load continues to be placed on it, then it can burst and hurt. Such cracks heal for a very long time, dirt and sweat get into them, which becomes an ideal environment for the reproduction of pathogenic flora and the attachment of a fungal infection.

It is imperative to get rid of dry calluses for people with metabolic disorders. First of all, this applies to patients with diabetes mellitus, since even minor damage to the skin in such patients can lead to gangrene and limb amputation.

It must be taken into account that skin corns tend to progress. Over time, they increase in size, capturing new areas of the skin. The longer you ignore a problem, the harder it will be to get rid of it in the future.

Diagnosis of dry corns

A person can diagnose dry corn on their own, focusing on its main symptoms. However, if there is any doubt about the nature of the neoplasm, it is necessary to contact a specialist. The dermatologist will examine the skin growth and give recommendations about its treatment.

Differential diagnosis of dry callus is carried out with warts, articular pads, keratoderma, calluses that appear against the background of psoriasis.

What tools are used to remove corns?

Self-cutting of the corn can lead to various complications, the easiest of which is the addition of an infection.

To remove corns, preparations that contain salicylic acid are most often used. It has a keratolytic effect, that is, it slowly corrodes the growth cells, leading to its disappearance.

You can also use preparations containing lactic acid to remove corns. Under the influence of such agents, the skin softens, so it is not difficult to clean off the coarsened stratum corneum.

In general, all medicines for removing corns have a single mechanism of action – they soften the skin, after which it can be easily removed. However, it is not always possible to get rid of the skin growth in this way.

If the corn is pivotal, then it will not work to get to the base of the root with the help of preparations. Therefore, after some time, the skin callus will appear again.

In addition, all drugs have contraindications and side effects, so you should consult a specialist before starting treatment.

TOP 3 methods of treating dry corn

Effective treatments for dry corns include:

• Removal of corns with a laser. This method allows you to quickly get rid of old dry corns.

• Removal of corns by cryodestruction. In this case, it is treated with liquid nitrogen.

• In addition, you can get rid of dry calluses in the office of a hardware pedicure master.

In rare cases, excision of the corn is indicated with a scalpel and scissors. Each of these methods needs to be considered in more detail.

Dry callus cryodestruction

Cryodestruction allows you to quickly and safely get rid of skin corns, so this method is one of the most popular. It has practically no contraindications and does not give side effects.

The essence of the method is reduced to the treatment of corns with liquid nitrogen. The doctor applies the applicator of the device to the skin defect for a few seconds, freezing its cells.

After the procedure, a bubble is formed on the skin, filled with serous contents. After a few days, the blister bursts on its own, forming a thin film on the surface of the dermis. When it comes off, young and healthy skin will already be formed under it. The duration of the procedure does not exceed a few minutes.

If the corn is large, then several sessions of cryodestruction may be required.

Removal of dry corns with a laser

Removal of corns using a laser allows you to get rid of the skin growth without pain. Small vessels are instantly cauterized, so there is no chance of bleeding. The procedure must be carried out by a professional.

The method has a number of contraindications, including:

• Childbearing period.

• Breast-feeding.

• Diabetes.

• Age under 14 years old.

• Diseases of the cardiovascular system.

During the procedure, the doctor treats the corn with a laser beam. Under its influence, callus cells are simply evaporated. The place of treatment is covered with a thin crust. After 10-14 days, it disappears, and new skin forms under it.

Callus removal by hardware pedicure

If the corn is not too large and not old, then you can remove it using the hardware pedicure method. The procedure is painless and does not require anesthesia. It can be performed by a cosmetologist who has a medical education, or a podiatrist.

In the process of removing corns, the doctor uses a drill with various nozzles. He removes the rough skin layer by layer, after which he drills out the callus core, if any. The procedure is not associated with the risk of injury, so it can be performed even for people with diabetes.

To avoid infection, the doctor must strictly follow the rules of antiseptics. It is good when a specialist uses disposable nozzles.

If a person has a high threshold of pain sensitivity, then local anesthesia will be required before removing the corn.

Surgical removal of a corn

Sometimes a person has a number of contraindications to cryotherapy or laser removal of corns. In this case, the doctor may recommend excision of the skin growth with a scalpel.

Indications for surgical intervention may be the following:

• The corn hurts a lot, it is not possible to get rid of it with conservative methods.

• The skin in the area of ​​the callus becomes inflamed, swollen, festering. The patient has difficulty wearing shoes.

• The skin changes its normal color, becoming crimson or purple.

The doctor excised the corn with a scalpel and surgical scissors. The wound is fixed with adhesive tape. The procedure requires local anesthesia. After some time, the edges of the wound shrink, but a scar may remain at the treatment site.

It should be remembered that no treatment method gives a 100% guarantee that the corn will not reappear. If a person does not eliminate the cause that leads to the formation of corns, then a relapse will definitely happen. Therefore, with the reappearance of corns, you need to consult a doctor.

Answers to popular questions

• What drugs can be used to treat dry corns? To combat corns, you can use the drug Antimozolin. It is available in the form of an ointment, which is applied to the corn after preliminary steaming of the skin of the legs. In addition, you can use Bensalitin or Namozol 911. In order for the treatment to be as effective as possible, it is necessary to study in detail the instructions for use for these drugs.

• Do dry corns always need to be removed? Radical treatment is not always required. If the skin growth has just begun to form, then you can get rid of it with the help of high-quality foot hygiene. Be sure to abandon impractical shoes. For a speedy recovery, you can use moisturizing ointments. If you follow all the recommendations, then after a while the corn will pass on its own. It is necessary to remove dry corn in the case when it causes pain and discomfort, makes a person limp. Dry corns that have a root, as well as growths that have undergone inflammation, are subject to mandatory removal.

• If cracks appear on the corns, what to do? To prevent infection from getting into the crack, it must be treated with antiseptic solutions. For this purpose, iodine or hydrogen peroxide can be used. After disinfection of the crack, it is covered with a sterile bandage and fixed with adhesive tape. For the speedy regeneration of tissues, Lekkos ointment, Ambulance, Radevit can be used.

Useful tips for the prevention of corns

To prevent the formation of corns, it is necessary to remember about preventive measures, including:

• The skin on your feet needs to be taken care of properly. You need to wash your feet daily. If the dermis is prone to engorgement, it is necessary to make baths and treat the skin with a pumice stone.

• Shoes must be properly fitted. First of all, this concerns the size of shoes, boots or boots. Uncomfortable shoes will definitely lead to the formation of corns.

• If the corn has just appeared, you should immediately begin to treat it. Such skin growths rarely go away on their own.

• Remove calluses with a pumice stone. Do not use razors or knives for this purpose, as well as a nail file.

• All hygiene products must belong to one person.

• Do not use celandine juice to remove corns, as it can provoke a severe chemical burn.

Corns are not contagious, they are not transmitted from person to person. While warts are a manifestation of infection. To minimize the likelihood of infection, you need to use rubber slippers in saunas, pools and baths.

Opinion of doctors