What is a corn and what causes them
Corns are mainly found on the top of toe-joints and are raised, shiny domes of hard thickened skin with a hard nucleus or centre. Corns are caused by friction on the skin and can cause pain and get inflamed when they press on a nerve in the foot or against a hard shoe. For your foot health and comfort it is important to remove a corn as soon as it appears instead of waiting until is grows bigger and more painful. Calluses are thickened areas of skin which build up from friction on the side of the feet, under the ball of the foot or on the pads of your hands.
How to avoid corns and calluses
Corns and calluses can usually be avoided by wearing shoes that fit properly. This means shoes should be neither too loose or too tight, not pointed and do not rub and cause friction against the skin on your feet. When buying shoes consider trying on a pair at the end of the day when your feet could be warm and slightly swollen after being stood on all day. It is also good to remember to wear socks that are the right size and not too small or too large which will also cause the toes to bunch up and rub against the shoe.
Keep your toenails trimmed. Toenails that are too long can push the toes up against the hard surface of the shoe and create friction and pressure which will gradually cause a corn to form. It is also important to keep feet clean and if they are very dry to moisturise them to reduce friction.
Calluses be avoided by keeping feet moisturised to avoid friction against shoes or by wearing gloves to avoid friction when working with hands.
At-home rememedies you can use for corns and calluses
To ease the pain of a corn, you can use a corn pad to remove the excess pressure. Corn pads are donut shaped cushioned plasters with a hole in the center for the corn sit in and to protect it from chaffing. Something like the Kroko Corn Protector.
Corns are easily removed using an ointment like Kroko Corn and Callus remover which has been a tried and trusted remedy since the 1930s.
To remove a corn:
- Soften the corn by bathing in hot water.
- Dry thoroughly.
- Please note: It is important to mask the area surrounding the corn to protect the healthy skin. Do this either by covering the area with a piece of adhesive plaster in which a hole the size of the corn has been cut or use a suitably sized adhesive corn ring. You can also protect the healthy skin around the corn with a layer of Vaseline. The corn will then be exposed in the open hole in the centre of the plaster or Vaseline.
- Apply the ointment so that it covers the exposed corn.
- Cover the corn with a second piece of plaster.
- Change the dressing every second day until the corn peels off in layers. It can also be changed every day if the plaster or dressing gets wet. It usually takes about 8 days for the corn to be removed but resistant cases may take longer. Do not administer the ointment for longer than 14 days.
***WARNING: Do not apply to healthy skin or near the face and eyes.
- Regular use with Kroko Corn and Callus Remover softens and helps remove corns and calluses.
- Kroko Corn Fix is a liquid application for corns which comes packaged with 6 Kroko Corn Plasters.
- Kroko Corn Plasters contain a dose of salicylic-based ointment for an all-in-one method to remove painful corns.
- Kroko Corn Protectors are foam cushions or donut shaped pads which help reduce painful pressure from shoes on corns.
Kroko Corn and Callus Remover, Kroko CornFix, Kroko Corn Plasters and Kroko Corn Protectors are available at all good pharmacies and selected Clicks, Dischem in South Africa. Kroko is also available in Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Ask your local pharmacist to order it in if you can’t find it.