Corns and pressure sores

If people complain about corns and other pressure sores on their feet, the cause in most cases may be the wrong type of foot wear. But it may also be caused by a foot malposition or chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes. Foot wear is the easiest one to change. According to the German shoe institute’s opinion, this is absolutely necessary as 80 percent of the German Federal population is wearing shoes that are not fitting properly. It is important to tackle the resulting problems in a professional manner.

Especially corns cause much pain, as the tip of the funnel-shaped hard corn bores into the tissue with each step. Corns mostly occur on the outer side of the foot or on the sole. A starting corn often looks perfectly harmless: a callus occurs due to friction and pressure. Only at a later stage does the callus bore further.

Soft corns have a flat, soft core and mostly appear on the toes. Sometimes these can be mista­ken for warts. Those concerned must never interfere with the affected ­areas themselves. There is a high risk of infection. In pedicure, instruments that have an injury potential should never be used.

Questions

• Which type of shoes do you prefer to wear?
• Do you have any orthopaedic problems?
• Do you wear inlays/insoles?
• Have you ever asked a doctor to determine if you have a corn or a wart?
• Are you in pain?
• Do you suffer from diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis?

Information

• This corn plaster takes away the pressure thus quickly reducing your pains.
• This corn plaster contains salicylic acid/lactic acid. It softens the corn so that after a few days you can remove it with warm water.
• If you are a diabetic or a rheumatic you must not use any plasters with salicylic acid. In your case it is especially important that a doctor or podiatrist has a look at your foot.
• A corn plaster is not suitable for children.
• You must not use the plaster on your foot bottom. It can slide onto the healthy skin and damage it.

Additional information

• Wear high-heeled shoes and rather uncomfortable/tight shoes only in exceptional cases, as it is important to release the pressure from the spot where the corn is situated.
• If your toes are deformed you best visit an orthopaedist.
• If you have claw toes, you need to pad the pressured areas by toe-protection.
• You should not try and remove a callus or a corn with a pointed item yourself.
• If you have a blister on your foot, do not pierce it and do not cut off the skin of a ruptured blister, otherwise the area could become infected.