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What’s the difference between a verruca and corn Archives - Best Podiatry and Chiropody Treatment in Amersham

Verrucas

Verrucas: The unsightly persistant foe to your feet

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A Common type of infection that’s plagued about 10% of the world’s population. In this article, learn more about Verrucas on feet and Verruca treatment.

More About Verrucae

A very common question people ask is “Is a verruca a sore?”. Verrucas aren’t really sores, but they can cause a feeling of soreness on your feet due to their uncomfortable positioning. In reality, verrucae are a type of wart that are formed by the HPV virus and they tend to be very contagious.
They are difficult to treat, persistent, and unsightly. Some can persevere for years, growing deeper and impacting more and more on daily activities. But like most infections, they can be removed.
These are often confused with corns. Corns are thick skin on your feet that are painful when you walk.
Verrucae and Warts are viral infections that cause think skins, and these hurt when you walk. Since they’re an infection, they are contagious.

How Do Verrucae Spread?

Verruca/Warts can and do spread around the body and feet a lot of the time, they can be passed onto other people. This means that you can infect other people in the family, or can be infected by them. It is normal to get them when you share changing rooms or shower facilities (like swimming pools, or gyms) with other people.

TOP 10 WAYS TO PREVENT VERRUCAE

  • Always avoid direct contact with warts, this includes your own warts, always remember to wash your hands after touching the warts / verruca.
  • Keep your feet clean and dry, change your socks shoes regularly.
  • Avoid walking barefoot around swimming pools locker rooms and gym’s
  • Do not pick, scratch warts. They are viral infections and can spread easily
  • Do not use the same emery board, pumice stone, or nail clippers that you would use on healthy skin.
  • Do not share nail clippers, pumice stones or emery boards with other people. You can pass the infection to them or get it from them
  • Boil / wash your socks and bedsheets to prevent passing the virus to other people
  • Wear a pair of verrucae socks or use a use a transparent verrucae spray which can stop you getting re-infected.
  • Do not share socks or shoes with other people
  • Wear flip-flops or wet shoes in communal areas. This prevents the infection of your feet. Keep a

pair of flip-flops or wet shoes when you go to the pools or to the changing room shower.

MEANWHILE AT BUCKS FOOT CLINIC

Behold! the Unsightly Verruca’s Nemesis: The Swift Microwave Machine Swift is a proven solution that attacks verruca at its heart.

HOW DOES SWIFT WORK ITS MAGIC?

While signaling the body’s immune system with its harmless electromagnetic waves to allow it to naturally fight against the virus and heal the affected area, SWIFT also works together to help destroy the verruca. Thankfully, the treatment takes up to 10 seconds per verruca.

Who can benefit from Swift Verruca treatment?

Almost anyone who has stubborn warts and verrucas on feet can benefit this verruca treatment. There are contra-indications to Swift but outside these anyone who has warts/verrucas on their hands or feet can benefit.

Precautions
If any of the following apply to you, speak to your Podiatrist before treatment –

  • Metal pins, plates or replacement joints in the foot or ankle
  • Pacemaker
  • Neuropathy or poor peripheral circulation
  • Poor or limited healing capacity
  • Immune suppression
  • Pregnancy or breast feeding.
  • Low pain threshold
  • Young children – treatment on children under ten years old may not be appropriate.

Other Forms of Verruca Treatment

Cryosurgery is one of the other forms of treatments. Podiatrists can use chemical therapy (chemotherapy), where they use a selection of different chemicals and acids to treat the virus.
Podiatrists can use, dry needling, where they can force the blood in the body to fight the verruca naturally. This can remove the most stubborn verrucae. they also use homeopathy where we use natural algae to help the body fight the verruca.

Conclusion

Now that you’ve learned more about verrucae, hopefully you’ll be more mindful about the pointers we’ve given in brief about the prevention as well as treatment. Be sure to book an appointment with us regarding your verruca treatment and we’ll make sure you receive the best of care with our Swift treatment here in Little Chalfont and Amersham

chiropdy treatments

What are chiropody treatments?

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Chiropdy treatments

The average adult walks about 75,000 miles in their lifetime, placing a tremendous amount of stress on their feet. Although they are crucial to keeping us moving, our feet aren’t frequently discussed in terms of health and welfare. (chiropdy treatments)

Age is closely correlated with primary care visits in the UK for musculoskeletal foot and ankle issues, peaking in the 65–74 year age range. Early foot maintenance and seeking medical attention for any problems as soon as you become aware of them might help avoid more serious problems in later life.

In this blog we’ll explore what chiropody is and what chiropdy treatments are. If you’re looking for a podiatrist or chiropody treatments in Chesham, Beaconfield or Amersham, book an appointment with Bucksfoot Clinic today.

Without further ado..

What Are Chiropodists/Podiatrists?

Chiropodists, often known as podiatrists, are qualified to treat injuries to the feet and lower limbs, whether they are a result of ongoing medical conditions you have or an isolated incident.

In addition to diagnosing and treating fractures, deformities, tumours, ulcers, and skin or nail problems, they can also prescribe the proper medication. Additionally, chiropodists can offer preventative care. Regular visits to a chiropodist can help you avoid further complications and needless agony by preventing many foot disorders.

A trip to the chiropodist resembles a trip to any other doctor in many ways. The specifics of your consultation will depend on the problem, but generally speaking, an evaluation of the problem will be followed by a treatment strategy.

Where Do Footcare Issues Stem From?(chiropdy treatments)

Simple things like wearing the incorrect size shoes or getting into contact with someone who has athlete’s foot can cause certain problems. Other problems may be more complicated, such as pain in your feet when you walk, which may indicate a musculoskeletal issue that affects how your body moves.

Your risk of developing foot issues may also increase if you have certain medical conditions. Diabetes, for instance, can harm the nerves in the foot and limit blood flow there. Foot issues can also result from poor circulation brought on by other diseases like cardiovascular disease. Cuts and sores may not heal properly if your feet don’t have a healthy blood supply.

Common Foot Problems

There are a few typical foot problems that people experience, but if they are not treated, some conditions can become very severe. You can contact a chiropodist who will properly identify and treat the problem rather than suffering from it and only utilising over-the-counter medication.

Verrucas are a good illustration of this. They are widespread and, if left untreated, can grow to be exceedingly painful and huge. A chiropodist can do cryotherapy, which freezes the verruca and ensures that the virus is dead and won’t spread further. You can also receive treatment for other common conditions like athlete’s foot, rough skin, corns, thickened or infected nails, cracked heels, and thickened nails.

Musculoskeletal Issus

Your chiropodist can do exams if you have discomfort when you walk but are unsure of the cause. These assessments can help you figure out what is causing your pain. The evaluation will concentrate on how your body moves and enable the chiropodist to suggest a remedy. Foot orthotics, which you put in your shoes, are frequently used to support normal walking function and, over time, reduce pain. Your chiropodist can provide advice on additional interventions that other solutions might offer, including as care from a physiotherapist.

A Few Common Chiropody Treatments

Common Ailments

You might need to see a podiatrist for a variety of common foot ailments and infections. Anyone can experience painful, inconvenient conditions such as corns and calluses, verruca treatments, and ingrown toenails throughout their lifespan. You might require chiropody care if you notice anything wrong with the condition of your feet.

Simple nail trimming and foot soaks are just a couple of the personal foot care options that a chiropodist can provide in lieu of the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses. Podiatrists, who specialise in the foot, can pamper your feet from time to time in addition to helping to treat ailments.

Contact our fully licenced medical staff at Bucksfoot Clinic if you have a skin or nail condition on your foot that just won’t go away. Our chiropody treatments span from medical to basic foot care, and we can assess any potential issues with your feet and recommend the best course of action.

Assessments

If your foot problems are more joint, muscular, or bone-related, a biomechanical analysis may be necessary. When something goes wrong with your biomechanics, it can have an impact on your complete range of motion. Biomechanics refers to all the parts of your body that enable it to move and operate. Your podiatrist will examine your lower leg, foot, ankle, or any other portion of your lower leg that is bothering you during a biomechanical examination and will provide advice on the best course of therapy.

You can request a general consultation from a fully licenced podiatrist if you merely want their professional advice on your foot health and what you can do to treat or alleviate your concerns. Whether you are experiencing foot discomfort, ankle troubles, or lower limb problems like shin splints, our HCPC registered podiatrists can expertly assess your condition and can set you up with the appropriate course of action.

Our podiatrists can help with any problem, no matter how big or minor. We offer first-rate chiropody services tailored to your requirements and condition, and our expert advice can help you choose the best course of action for your care.

Custom Orthotics & Insoles

Custom-made inserts called foot orthotics can be put inside your shoes to help with biomechanical issues all over your body. Hammertoes, bunions, and heel and arch pain are all common problems. Medically crafted orthotics can significantly alleviate whatever condition is troubling you and realign your foot to increase your mobility and comfort.

At Bucksfoot Clinic, we can give you custom-made insoles and orthotics to enhance the health of your feet and lower legs as a whole, giving you comfort and ease of mobility. Contact us to learn more about how our chiropody treatments in Chesham, Beaconsfield, an Amersham can benefit you.

Redness Around Toenail

Got Redness Around Toenail? Nail Surgery Could Help!

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Redness Around Toenail

Got a fungal nail infection/ingrown toenail infection that you just can’t seem to get rid of? Then nail surgery may just be right for you. The pain can be annoyingly unbearable, so why make it a recurring feeling when you can just get rid of it entirely? Nail surgery is the perfect fix to all your infection problems. You’ll never have to deal with redness around toenail again.

There are lots of questions surrounding nail surgery, however, and we’re here to clear them up for you. So, if you want to know more about what nail surgery is, who does nail surgery, how effective it is, and more, read on!

First, here are the most common reasons behind redness around toenail:

1. Injury:

If you stub your toe or drop something on your toe, this could lead to redness around the toenail.. A red toe can also be caused by other injuries, such as persistent pressure or abrasion from an improperly fitting shoe. In this case, you’ll also feel pain in toenail in shoes.

2. Skin Infection:

Cellulitis, a common skin infection, can occur when bacteria that lives on your skin enters your skin itself.

3. Irritant Contact Dermatitis:

Your skin may get inflamed when exposed to certain pollutants, like gasoline or detergents like soap and bleach.

4. Allergic Contact Dermatits:

Your skin can become inflamed when it comes into contact with an allergen, such as nickel or plants like poison ivy.

5. Athlete’s Foot:

Athlete’s foot, sometimes called tinea pedis, is a fungal infection of the toes or feet.

6. Nail Infections & Ingrown Toenails:

A condition known as paronychia, an infection of the folds of your nails usually brought on by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria or a fungus, can result in toe pain and swelling. Nail infections like this can also be caused due to ingrown toenail that haven’t been treated correctly.

Now we can move on to more information about nail surgery..

What Is Nail Surgery?

Lots of people ask the question, “What is nail surgery?”. Nail surgery is considered a minor procedure. It is usually conducted under local anesthetic, to help alleviate pain and infection in toenails.

During nail surgery, a podiatrist might remove one or two sections from your nail, on each side. In some forms of nail surgery, your podiatrist may have to remove your whole nail, depending on the extent of infection / injury.

Once the nail surgery is over, the podiatrist will use a form of treatment to prevent the affected nail from growing again.

Who Does Nail Surgery?

Now that you know what nail surgery is, you’re probably wondering who does nail surgery.

Nail surgery is done by certified professional Podiatrists. Never get nail surgery from anyone who is not professionally equipped to handle it.

How Effective Is It?

Nail surgery generally is a permanent solution to your problem. Regrowth can occur occasionally, but this is in much less than 5% cases out of thousands.

Are There Alternatives to Nail Surgery?

There are a few common routine treatments that act as alternatives to nail surgery. They aren’t permanent solutions, however, and only help for immediate and short-term relief. A common treatment used is cutting the nail back, but the nail often regrows with the same issue.

Every patient is different and has a different pain-tolerance. This is why we aim to alleviate their pain as fast as possible, according to the treatment that suits them best. Though, when a patient comes in with a chronic infected nail, nail surgery is the only safe and viable option.

Conclusion

If you’re suffering from fungal nail infection or recurring ingrown toenails and redness around toenail, and are looking for a permanent solution, nail surgery may just be your best bet! Book an appointment with Bucksfoot Clinic for a consultation to see if nail surgery is the right option for you, and we’ll give you the best podiatric treatment in town!

Please call us on  0800 107 3290 / 077 99 122 099 Or contact us now

Verruca Infection

Everything You Need To Know About Verruca Infection & Treatments .

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Verruca Infection & Treatments are very common, and we see them in our patients almost on a daily basis. They’re a pretty simple issue to deal with, but they can often become painful and hard to manage if not properly cared for.
There are lots of questions surrounding verrucas on feet, one of the most common being “Do I have a verruca or a corn?”. We’re here to give you the answers you need. So, if you want to know more about verruca infection and verruca treatment, read on!

What Are Verrcas ?

Verruca or verruca infections are a virus. It is caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and is highly contagious. Verrucas on feet are commonly spotted on the soles of the areas around one’s toes. These viruses thrive in moist environments and tend to cyclically be outbreak in children at the park (like hand, foot, and mouth disease). Verrucas tend to look kind of like cauliflowers, but then they flatten up because of pressure when they are on the soles of your feet.

Sometimes verrucas can be painless, but more often than not they are very uncomfortable and even painful to deal with. They can disappear overnightan or can be persistent for years on end.

Verruca Symptoms

It’s very easy to confuse verrucas on feet for other types of warts and corns. That’s why it’s important to know the distinct symptoms of verrucae (yes, that’s the plural of verruca!). This way you can identify them and give them the correct form of verruca treatment.

There are some key identifying factors when it comes to Verrucas which can help you single them out from all these other ailments:

  • There’s a black dot in the center of the raised skin (in most cases)
  • The “wart” is oddly cauliflower-shaped
  • You feel a stinging “stepping-on-a-needle” type of pain when you apply pressure
  • The lump is small and rough
  • You may have multiple on your hands and around your mouth as well (in the case of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease, or HFM for short, which is common in most children)

What Causes Verrucas on Feet?

Now that you know more about the Verruca infection, it’d do you good to understand where it comes from so you can prevent it from happening to you. Especially if you have children or young adults at home since they’re the most prone and the virus is extremely contagious.

Verrucas are caused by HPV. Verruca infections can spread from person to person via direct skin contact or even just contact with surfaces contaminated with the virus. You’re also more likely to get infected if your skin is damaged or wet, so swimming pools and communal showers tend to be a breeding ground for verruca infections. Apart from infecting (or being infected by) others, you can even further infect yourself by touching unaffected areas of your body. The viral particles tend to spread when you scratch a verruca. As with most viruses, your chances of developing verruca infections runs high if you have a weak immune system.

Do I Have A Verruca or A Corn?

Most people tend to confuse Verrucas for Corns. It’s a very common problem seen by Podiatrists everywhere. A lot of times, patients come in after “mistreatment” caused by the confusion. When you can’t tell if it’s a verruca or a corn, it’s probably best to see a medical professional (why not book an appointment with Bucks Foot Clinic?) before you treat it at home. The wrong treatment for the wrong lesion can sometimes even lead to more serious problems. So it’s best to know how to SPOT the difference between these spots.

Since you already know how you can tell if it’s a verruca on your feet, we won’t get into too much detail. In fact, we have an article specifically for this question alone. So, if you want to know if you’re dealing with a verruca or a corn, read this article of ours. It’ll give you better insight into properly identifying the differences between the two so you can tell if you’re dealing with a verruca or a corn with ease.

Verruca Treatment

Now that you know a lot more about verrucas on feet and what causes them, you’d probably want to know how to go about verruca treatment.
There are many ways you can go about treating verrucas on your feet. Though they normally go away with time, if you find yourself plagued with verrucas on your feet and they’re either painful or just an eyesore, here’s a few treatments:

1.Home Remedies:

  • A great home remedy is taking a piece of banana skin and cutting it to be the same size as the verruca on your feet. Then, go ahead and place the piece of banana skin on the verruca and secure it with a plaster. Do this for about two weeks, every night before bed.
  • Garlic is an all-round cure-all and is generally just really good for your health. You can use garlic to treat your verruca as well. Take a piece of garlic and put it over your verruca infection and secure it with a plaster. If you do this daily for a month, your verruca should go away.
  • A study was done in which it was proven that duct tape surprisingly helps get rid of verrucas. Take a piece of duct tape and cover your verruca with it, and it should go away in a few weeks.

2.Medication:

  • There are many creams, medicated plasters, and gels that you can use to aid the treatment of your verruca. Most of these are readily available as over the counter products, so you can get them at your local pharmacy.
  • Salicylic acid is the key ingredient in all of these products and this is what actually treats your verruca. It helps soften the verruca significantly.
  • Never use salicylic acid products on your face because that can lead to some really bad scarring. Also, if you have pre-existing medical conditions like diabetes, consult your doctor before using these products.

3.Cryotherapy:

Cryotherapy is a very effective way to remove your verruca. It is the process in which your verruca is frozen with liquid nitrogen, which makes it fall off. If you’re interested in cryotherapy, please visit a podiatrist and never try to do this on your own. It can lead to scarring and is typically also mildly painful, so it’s not a great option for children and people who are sensitive to pain.

4.Check In With Your Podiatrist:

The best way to treat anything related to your feet is by visiting a podiatrist. They are experts at all things foot-related and will be able to treat your verruca with ease and painlessly. When you visit a podiatrist, they will most likely use SWIFT Machine Treatment to get rid of your verruca. SWIFT is a very quick and efficient way to treat verrucas, it’s in the name itself! SWIFT uses microwave energy for verruca removal. To learn more about what you can expect from SWIFT treatment, read our article on this topic!

Conclusion

If you think you’re dealing with verrucas on your feet, don’t hesitate to seek help. Instead of suffering the soreness and the possibility of recurrence, visit a Podiatrist to help you deal with it permanently.

At Bucksfoot Clinic, we offer the best podiatric services. Contact us to book an appointment!

Please call us on  0800 107 3290 / 077 99 122 099 Or contact us now

toenail fungus

What Does Toenail Fungus Look Like & How To Treat Verrucas on Feet

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Toenail Fungus & Treat Verrucas

There are many questions surrounding toenail fungus and verrucas on feet. In this blog, we’ll answer the main ones. Keep reading to learn more.

First Off, What Is Toenail Fungus?

If you’re showing signs of discoloured toenails and other unpleasant symptoms, you may just be dealing with toenail fungus.

A fungal nail infection develops from the overgrowth of fungi in, under, or on the nail. It’s common knowledge that fungi thrive in warm and moist environments, so the nails on your feet have ideal conditions for fungi to naturally overpopulate. Most fungal nail infections are caused by the very same fungi that cause “athlete’s foot”, ringworm, and “jock itch”.

The rapid overpopulation of fungi that are already present in your body can cause nail infections. Fungal nail infections are quite communicable, so if you’ve come in contact with someone who had a fungal infection, you may have contracted it too. Toenails tend to be affected more than fingernails, since they’re usually confined to shoes, which are the ideal breeding grounds for these fungi.

Pedicures at nail salons can also lead to fungal nail infections, which is why you need to make sure the tools are cleaned and disinfected regularly and well. Tools like nail cutters and files can very easily spread fungal nail infections from person to person if they’re not sanitised properly.

Toenail fungus is a form of infection that basically travels through the cracks in your nail / the cuts on your skin. It can change the colour of your toenail and make it much thicker than normal. It can also be very painful to deal with. Since toes are usually kept warm and may be damp due to sweat, they act as the perfect breeding ground for fungus, allowing it to thrive in these conditions. There are different types of fungi and even yeast that can affect the different parts of your nail. When left without treatment, the fungus can spread to your skin, the other toenails, and sometimes even your fingernails!

What Does Toenail Fungus Look Like?

A very common question that gets asked is “what does toenail fungus look like?”. It’s good to know the symptoms so you can know how to treat your fungal toenail.

What does toenail fungus look like, you ask? Here’s your answer:

A change in colour of your toenail, to either yellow, brown, and even white
Thickened and often misshapen looking toenail
Chalkiness / cloudiness in spots on your toenail
Your toenail is separated from your nail bed
Lots of breaks and cracks in one or multiple spots on your toenail

There are many ways toenail fungus can alter the visual appearance of your toenails. That’s why it’s important to know what it looks like, so you can treat it before it gets more serious.

If you find yourself noticing any of the above symptoms, you may just be dealing with toenail fungus and you should seek treatment with a podiatrist accordingly.

What Is A Verruca?

Verrucas are a type of wart that develop on your feet. This type of wart is specific to the feet and is surprisingly common. Verruca infections are usually harmless, and so many people aren’t even aware of their existence. You can either have a single verruca that develops on your foot, or you can also have a cluster of verrucae that covers a greater area on your foot.

Verruca infections are a result of a viral infection called the Human Papilloma Virus, or HPV for short. There are so many types of HPV, but in particular HPV 1, 2, and 4 are the subtypes that are most likely to lead to verrucae development.

How Can You Tell If You Have A Verruca Infection?

Chances are you’ve had a Verruca before and just confused it for a corn or a wart. But there are some key identifying factors when it comes to Verrucas which can help you single them out from all these other ailments. Verrucas are actually an infection caused by HPV and can be painful in comparison to normal warts or corns. They tend to form on the soles of your feet and may have tiny black dots in the centre, where blood has clotted in tiny vessels on the surface of your skin.

They can be painful when you put weight on them, kind of like stepping on a needle. They also tend to look flat because of the constant pressure put on them. They even develop in clusters in some cases and can fuse together, forming “mosaic warts”.
Which, again, sound super fancy, but definitely aren’t a piece you’d put up in an art exhibit. They’re actually kind of grotesque, but are totally normal.

To sum it up, you know it’s Verrucas on your feet when:
There’s a black dot in the centre (in most cases)
The “wart” is oddly cauliflower-shaped
You feel a stinging “stepping-on-a-needle” type of pain when you apply pressure
The lump is small and rough
You may have multiple on your hands and around your mouth as well (in the case of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease, or HFM for short, which is common in most children)

How to Treat Verrucas on Feet

There are different ways you can go about verruca treatment. The most common ones are Salicylic acid, Cryotherapy, and SWIFT verruca treatment. Your podiatrist will be able to tell you which verruca treatment is best for you.
Here’s some information on each verruca treatment:

1. Salicylic Acid:

There are many creams, gels and medicated plasters for treating warts and verrucas. You can buy these over-the-counter, but only do so if you’re sure it’s a verruca infection. Most of these contain salicylic acid which is a key ingredient in treating verruca infections. Be careful when applying these medications, and try to use as little as possible in surrounding areas because it can cause irritation to healthy skin.

You can even protect the skin around the verruca infection with non-fragranced and natural petroleum jelly. Try not to get any of the treatment on broken skin. You can soften the area before-hand by soaking it in water and rubbing it to remove excess hard skin. Once dried, make sure to cover the affected area with a plaster. Apply the treatment according to your Podiatrist / Pharmacist’s advice.

2. Cryotherapy:

This is the process of freezing your wart or verruca using liquid nitrogen so it falls off. Most pharmacists have OTC cryotherapy preparations that contain other gases, but these don’t normally work too well because they can’t freeze at temperatures as low as liquid nitrogen, which is why it’s better if you visit a Podiatrist to get this done (book an appointment with Bucks Foot Clinic today!). During cryotherapy, your doctor will apply the liquid nitrogen to your verruca using either a spray or a cotton bud. It usually takes between 5-30 seconds to freeze depending on the size and location and also the method used.

You may have to repeat the treatment multiple times till the verruca or wart eventually falls off. Cryotherapy, however, hasn’t been shown to work any better than salicylic acid and can often lead to blisters and scarring that can be painful, which is why it’s not recommended for younger children.

3. SWIFT Verruca Treatment:

SWIFT is a relatively new technology that’s been developed in the UK, and has been licensed for treating verrucas by podiatrists all over. SWIFT uses microwave energy, delivered through a probe which is put on the skin to treat the affected area. With SWIFT Machine Treatment, you can get rid of multiple verrucas and warts in just one sitting, and it’s quick and efficient in doing so. The cherry on top is that you don’t require anaesthetics of dressings afterwards!

If you want to efficiently and permanently remove your verruca, we suggest SWIFT treatment. Most Podiatrists would opt for this treatment as it is a very efficient and good solution to the problem of verrucas on feet.

Conclusion

It’s always best to see a Podiatrist when facing any issues related to the feet. Especially if you have a condition like diabetes or other circulation-related illnesses. Ignoring a simple issue on your foot can lead to something much bigger and way worse in the long run. In some cases, a simple infection could lead to amputation (especially in the case of daibetic patients).

If you think you may have an issue like fungal toenail or verrucas on your feet, don’t hesitate and wait till it’s too late. Book an appointment with Bucksfoot Clinic for the best treatment you can get!

Please call us on  0800 107 3290 / 077 99 122 099 Or contact us now

podiatrists

How To Treat A Corn & Other Answers From Our Podiatrists

By Blog

As Podiatrists, we get asked a lot of questions regarding foot care. A lot of our clients ask us about how to treat a corn and other issues at home. We also get asked questions like, “what’s the difference between a verruca and a corn?” and “is a corn serious?”.
So, we decided to put together a blog answering a few frequently asked questions about corns. If you want to learn more about corns and how to treat a corn, keep reading.

What Are Corns?

Corns are buildups of hardened areas of skin. They can form anywhere but tend to show up on feet, hands, and fingers the most. They are usually round and relatively small, and you’ll most likely see them develop on the sides and tops of your toes. There are three distinct types of corns:

  • Hard Corns: These are hard and dense, and usually form on the top of your toes, where your bones exert pressure on your skin. They usually reside within a bigger part of thickened skin.
  • Soft Corns: Usually whitish-grey in colour, with a slightly softer and rubbery texture, soft corns show up between your toes.
  • Seed Corns: As the name suggests, seed corns are quite small. They normally form at the bottom of your feet.

Corns usually develop due to constant rubbing, friction, pressure, and irritation against the skin. This is why you will most likely see them appear on the bony part of your feet. This hardening layer is actually your body’s defence to protect the softer skin underneath from the pressure.

How Do I Know If I Have A Corn?

Now that you know what a corn is, you’ll be easily able to identify it. You can identify a corn on your foot if:

  1. You have a hard bump on your skin, which is surrounded by a dry patch of skin.
  2. You have a tender and raised lump on your skin, that is painful to pressure.

Corns are often confused with calluses and verrucas (more on that later!). The main difference between corns and calluses is that corns are painful, while calluses are normally not painful. Corns have a central core that acts as a pressure point, which is the sensitive part the corn is protecting. So, when pressure is applied, corns tend to hurt.

Is A Corn Serious?

Corns are generally not a serious issue. They can be easy to deal with, but if you don’t treat them properly from the get-go, you could potentially develop an infection. That would make the issue a serious one. Especially if you have diabetes or any other circulation-related issues. You should never try to treat your corn (or any other issue, for that matter) on your own when you have diabetes.

What’s The Difference Between A Verruca And A Corn?

Oftentimes, people confuse corns for verrucas and vice-versa. Verrucas are a completely different issue altogether. There are a few key identifying factors when differentiating whether you have a verruca or corn. These are just a few of many:

  1. Verrucas are viruses (often called the Verruca Infection) caused by HPV. They are highly contagious (commonly seen when children with HFM Disease interact with other children on playgrounds). Corns, on the other hand (or foot!), are cone-shaped pieces of hard skin that form on areas of pressure. They are formed by friction and are not contagious.
  2. Verrucas aren’t picky. They see all feet as fit for infection. Corns, however, tend to form on dryer skin.
  3. Verrucas have a long incubation period that can range from a couple of months to a year. Corns tend to form over a long period of time from constant pressure and friction, while Verrucas seem to kind of just “show up” out of the blue.

If you want to know more about how to differentiate between verrucas and corns, we have a couple of blogs that might help:

    1. Verruca Or Corn?: Spot the Difference and Treat Your Verruca Infection with Care
    2. What’s The Difference Between A Verruca And A Corn?

How To Treat A Corn 

One of the most frequently asked questions about corns, is how to treat a corn. You’ll be happy to know that there are a few considerably painless methods a podiatrist will use to treat your corn. Here they are:

  • Trimming: Your podiatrist will most likely remove your corn by trimming it down using a tool. You can try doing this at home by soaking your feet for around 20 minutes in order to make the skin soft. Then, go ahead and gently scrape away at the rough skin using a pumice stone.
  • Chemical: This type of corn treatment for the foot is similar to trimming, but uses chemical products instead to slowly dissolve the affected skin. A common product used is salicylic acid, which dissolves keratin (what dead skin is made of).
  • Toe Protection /Footpads: Though not really a form of treatment, it’s worth mentioning. Using footpads can help ease the discomfort significantly. You can also use toe splints to prevent your toes from creating friction with each other.

A recommended at-home treatment is as follows:

  • Soak the corn in warm water, for 5-10 minutes till the skin softens
  • File the corn with a pumice stone. First, dip the stone in warm water then use it very gently against your corn. Make sure to use it in circular motions or sideways motions. This will remove the dead skin.
  • Don’t file it too much and take off too much skin, this can lead to bleeding and infections
  • Use moisturizer/lotion on the area daily. Preferably one with salicylic acid, urea, or ammonium lactate.
  • Use a piece of moleskin as padding. Cut the moleskin into two half-moon shapes and place it around the corn. To prevent your corn from constant shoe contact, use a doughnut-shaped adhesive pad to protect it.
  • Always wear shoes that fit you right.
  • Keep your toenails trimmed.

When Should I See A Podiatrist?

Corns can impact your day-to-day life due to pain while walking. Most corns are unproblematic, while some can become extremely painful or even infected. That’s why it’s always best to see a podiatrist when dealing with anything related to your feet.

Always see a podiatrist in case:

  • Your corn is painful.
  • If you suffer from diabetes, untreated corns can develop into worse illnesses.
  • If you cut your corn and it bleeds, the skin break allows infections to pour in.
  • Your corn is discharging pus or clear fluids. This means it’s either infected or has ulcers forming. Both of these require immediate medical care.
  • If you suffer from heart disease, or other circulatory problems (like diabetes).

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