Corns are hard , thickened areas of skin formed due to friction, rubbing or pressure on the skin. They mainly form on the toes feet, thick skin of palm, fingers and are painful.
A soft corn has a thinner surface, appears rubbery and occurs between the toes.
Cluster of tiny corns (seed corns) tend to occur on the bottom of the feet are very much tender.

WHAT CAN CAUSE CORNS?

• Poor gait
• Ill fitted shoes
• High heels
• Foot deformities
• Conditions like diabetes, heart diseases or circulatory problems.

DIAGNOSIS

Excluding other differential diagnosis and skin biopsy if required. Also imaging studies are done to detect underlying bone abnormalities which can be the underlying cause.

DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS

• CALLUSES: These are hard and rough feeling areas of skin anywhere on the body that is subject to friction.
• WARTS:These are viral and have black dots present in the affected skin.

TREATMENT

Most corns disappear gradually when friction or pressure stops. In conventional mode of treatment corn removal liquid and plasters containing  salicylic acid are used.
Oral antibiotics are used for infected corns. Sometimes surgeries are also suggested with no guarantee that it will not reappear.

HOMOEOPATHIC  APPROACH

Homoeopathy is a good alternative for people who don’t want to take allopathic medicines. There are medicines which on oral intake can remove the corns. There might be cases where auxillary line of treatment is needed to remove corn if it is extremely big and affecting mobility. In addition homoeopathy has role in cases where recurrent tendency of corns is there. Here homoeopathic  medicine given for removal of corn should be followed by remedies which  remove tendency to occurrence of corn.
Few remedies which help in such cases are:
The principal remedies, which help in treating corns are: Antimony, Calcarea, Silicea,Petroleum, Nitric acid , Thuja.
Remedies which suits for pain are: causticum , Bryonia, Graphites, Phosphorus.
Remedies for inflammation : Ranunculus , Rhus Toxicodendron, Ledum, Sulphur .
Remedies for soreness: Ambra Grisea, Nux vomica,Sepia.
These remedies will be useful only if they are taken after  consultation with a registered homoeopathic practitioner according to the symptoms patient has after complete case taking.

PREVENTION

• Avoid uneven pressure on your heel bone, soles.
• Always wear correctly fitting shoes.
• Avoid high heel shoes as they increase pressure on feet.
• Correcting gait abnormalities.