Introduction

Corns, also known as helomas and clavi, are thick, hard, rough, dead regions of skin brought on by excess pressure or friction. Feet, toes, hands, and fingers are the common sites where corn is found. Corns appear as thick, ragged, and elevated patches on the skin.

Mainly there are two types of corn, one is hard and another one is soft. While soft corns form in between the toes, hard corns typically develop on the top of the toes or the sides of the foot. These hurt while standing or walking.

Cutting corn surgically or at home can increase the risk of infection. However, homeopathy, being a gentle science, has excellent medicines for corn. Homeopathic medicines for corn act on its root cause and dissolve it from within. 

  

Role of homeopathic medicines in corns

Removing corn surgically is a temporary option, and often, corn tends to regrow after surgery. However, homeopathic medicines can successfully treat corn with a gentle approach. 

Unlike other therapies, homeopathic medicines act from within. These gentle medicines relieve pain and prevent the future recurrence of corn. Thus, homeopathic medicines provide a permanent solution to corn.

Top five homeopathic medicines for corns

Antimonium crudum (Ant-c.)

Common name: Black sulfide of antimony

Antimonium crudum is one of the best homeopathic medicines for hard, horny and sensitive corns that are extremely painful. This remedy is indicated for corn on the sole of the foot, with intense pain, making it difficult to walk. 

This medicine is suited for people who experience soreness with the slightest pressure. Their skin has an unusual tendency to get thickened. Often, the skin begins to chap, and get  cracked.  

Silicea terra ( Sil.)

Common name: Silica, Pure Flint

Soft corn is effectively treated by the homeopathic medicine Silicea. This remedy cures corns that appear between toes.

Silicea is a top-grade medicine for corns that are sore and painful. There is often a burning, tearing, and stitching type of pain in these corns. This medicine works wonders for corns that tend to suppurate with pus discharge. Excessive sweat with an offensive odor on the foot where the corn is located is the keynote symptom of Silicea.

Hepar sulphuris calcareum (Hep.)

Common name: Hahnemann’s calcium sulfide

Hepar sulphuris calcareum is a very good homeopathic medicine for infected corn. This remedy cures corns filled with pus with pricking, burning and stinging pains. 

Hepar sulph. calc. corns are highly sensitive to touch. Other symptoms indicating this remedy are unhealthy, chapped skin with deep cracks on feet. Hepar sulph. calc. skin lesions get worse by uncovering, and warm wrapping makes it better.

Nitricum acidum ( Nit-ac.)

Common name: Nitric acid

Nitricum acidum is a homeopathic medicine that treats thick, hard corns on feet with severe pain. This medicine is indicated for hard corns with cracks. These corns are sensitive, painful, and bleed at the slightest touch or movement. Nitric. acid. is best suited for people who tend to develop hyperkeratosis. 

Ranunculus sceleratus (Ran-s.)

Common name: Marsh buttercup

Ranunculus sceleratus is the best homeopathic medicine for painful corns on the ball of the toes, especially the first and second toe. This remedy is indicated for painful corns, where pain gets worse on bending the toe and better by straightening the toe. These corns are very sensitive to touch and pressure. Corn pains worsen when the person hangs down the legs, which is the keynote symptom of Ranunculus.

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Causes of corns

The human body has its own defense mechanism. Sometimes, when it tries to protect itself from harm, it becomes the cause of trouble, like corn. When your skin experiences excess pressure or friction, it tries to protect internal tissues from injury. As a response, superficial tissues become hard and rough by forming a protective layer. 

However, this layer itself becomes troublesome when a pointed hard structure develops in its core. This pointed structure begins to press over the internal soft tissues when you walk, causing pain. 

Here are some conditions that lead to repeated pressure and friction on the skin, causing corns.

  • Tight-fitting,ill-fitting footwear, high-heeled, cramped, or hard footwear.
  • Wearing shoes without socks.
  • Standing, walking, running, or dancing barefoot on a hard surface for a long time.
  • Hammertoes, a condition where the toes are bent downwards due to pressure from shoes. 
  • Bunion, a condition where the big toe pushes against the next toe. Due to this, corn is formed on the joint at the base of the big toe. 
  • Abnormal gait due to a fracture, deformity, or bony disease.
  • Occupations where feet are exposed to repeated frictions and pressures like carpenters, hairdressers, beauticians, makeup artists, boxers, dancers, musicians, and jewelry makers. 

Symptoms of Corns

Depending on the type of corn, symptoms might vary. The common types of corn include: 

  • Hard corns: These appear on top of the toes as small hard areas with thick skin. 
  • Soft corns: These appear between the toes as soft and whitish or gray-coloured elevations.
  • Seed corns: Tiny painful corns that appear on the bottom of the feet.
  • Heloma neurovascular: These corns contain nerves or blood vessels on them.
  • Subungual heloma: This kind of corn often forms under the nails.

Other common symptoms of corn include: 

  • Thick, rough, round areas on the skin surface at a spot exposed to excessive pressure or friction.
  • Thick skin with a pointy part that digs pretty deep inside the feet.
  • Elevations on the soles of the feet or the side or top of the toes.
  • Pain and tenderness on raised hard bumps on the sole of the feet or below toes.
  • Pain gets worse on touch, and pressure.
  • While walking, pain is felt as if one is walking on stones.

Treatment for Corns

Corn can be treated in different ways. It entails refraining from the frequent activities that cause them. Medical procedures can relieve pain if a corn worsens despite your self-care efforts. Some medical procedures are:

Removing extra skin by trimming  

The doctor can clip a huge corn or thin out thicker skin with a scalpel. This is done during a hospital visit. 

Medicated patches  

Your doctor may advise you to apply a salicylic acid patch. These patches are available for purchase over the counter. Your doctor will inform you when to change this patch again. Before placing a fresh patch, try thinning the thicker skin with a pumice stone, nail file, or emery board. Salicylic acid in gel or liquid form is also used to treat a larger area of the corn.

Sock liners

Padded, custom-made shoe inserts are advised for recurring corns.

Surgery 

Surgery is recommended to realign a bone-generating friction.

Diet and lifestyle modification for corn

  • Wear shoes that have plenty of breathing space for your toes. Too tight shoes can irritate or pinch your feet.
  • Wear any orthotics while trying your shoes fitting at the store.
  • Use covers as protection. Put bandages, felt pads, or non-medicated corn pads over regions that rub against your shoes. 
  • Use toe separators or some lamb’s wool between your toes for comfort.
  • Follow a healthy diet. Include lemon, honey, and turmeric that are beneficial for corn.
  • Apply coconut oil to heal corn quickly.

Conclusion 

Corn are non-fatal skin lesions that can be treated easily. However, surgery or chopping it off can cause some complications. In addition, corn may reoccur as the area affected continues to be irritated by pressure and friction.

Homeopathy has several remedies indicated for corn. When prescribed by a qualified homeopathic doctor, these medicines can give you long-lasting relief from corns.

 References

  1. Al Aboud AM, Yarrarapu SNS. Corns. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470374/
  2. Goransson M, Constant D. Hammertoe. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559268/
  3. Farndon L, Concannon M, Stephenson J. A survey to investigate the association of pain, foot disability and quality of life with corns. J Foot Ankle Res [Internet]. 2015 [cited 2023 Aug 26];8(1). Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13047-015-0131-4
  4. Farndon LJ, Vernon W, Walters SJ, Dixon S, Bradburn M, Concannon M, et al. The effectiveness of salicylic acid plasters compared with ‘usual’ scalpel debridement of corns: a randomised controlled trial. J Foot Ankle Res [Internet]. 2013 [cited 2023 Aug 26];6(1):40. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1757-1146-6-40
  5. Lamba. PD, Kumar A. Homoeopathic treatment of multiple corn: A case report [Internet]. Ijcrt.org. [cited 2023 Aug 30]. Available from: https://ijcrt.org/papers/IJCRT1812356.pdf
  6. Gogoi MR. A clinical study of corn and its treatment by homeopathic medicine [Internet]. Available from: https://www.ijsr.net/archive/v9i5/SR20525120849.pdf
  7. Gautam P, Goel M, Sahoo AR, Debbarma P. Corns of feet: Can homoeopathy be a better alternative? A narrative review. Journal of Integrated Standardized Homoeopathy [Internet]. 2023 [cited 2023 Aug 30];6(9):9–12. Available from: https://jish-mldtrust.com/corns-of-feet-can-homoeopathy-be-a-better-alternative-a-narrative-review/