Dry Corn - TOP-3 Methods Of Treatment

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

Dry corn, how to treat it?

Dry corn does not pose a threat to human health or life, but it can worsen its quality, causing some discomfort and even painful sensations. In addition, dry corn is a cosmetic defect that causes a person to experience psychological stress.

It is not difficult to get rid of dry calluses; modern cosmetology medicine offers many methods of dealing with such growths.

Content:

• Dry corn - what is it?
• Dry callus symptoms
• Reasons for the formation of dry corns
• Complications of dry calluses
• Diagnostics of dry calluses
• What products are used to remove corns?
• TOP-3 methods of treating dry callus
• Surgical removal of calluses
• Answers to popular questions
• Helpful Tips for Preventing Calluses
• The opinion of doctors

Dry corn - what is it?

A dry callus is a patch of dead and hardened skin that results from excessive pressure or friction on the dermis. Such growths are most often formed on the sole or on the palms. Sometimes dry calluses do not bother a person, and sometimes they make him feel painful.

Dry corn has well-defined boundaries, in its center is a core. Sometimes overweight, violations of the rules for caring for the lower extremities, improperly selected shoes, vitamin deficiency can provoke the appearance of such a skin outgrowth.

People prone to hyperkeratosis often suffer from dry calluses. To cope with this problem, you need to maintain a normal moisture balance of the dermis, moisturize it by applying special creams to the feet.

If a dry callus begins to hurt, then the quality of a person's life deteriorates, he becomes unable to perform his daily duties, as pain occurs while walking.

It is worth taking into account that dry calluses can indicate serious health problems. For example, they often appear in people with diabetes. Treatment of any skin growths in such patients is long and laborious.

Other risk factors that increase the likelihood of dry callus are:

• Bursitis.
• Flat feet.
• Vitamin A or Vitamin E deficiency.
• Osteoarthritis.
• Heel spur.

All these disorders can become triggering factors for the formation of dry callus. Therefore, a person is not always able to accurately determine the reasons for the appearance of such skin growths. If the etiological factor is not eliminated, then it will not be possible to cope with the problem. The callus will reappear over and over again.

Dry corn does not form in one day. It has been growing for a long time. As the pathology progresses, the skin tubercle will increase in size.

The corn can be with or without a core. If such a root is the main corn, then you need to get rid of it first. When the stem is left inside, removing the dry corn will not be successful. After a while, she will appear again.

Sometimes it is not possible to cope with conservative methods with dry corn. In this case, its removal is required.

To clarify the cause of the appearance of a callus and determine the optimal method of its treatment, you need to visit an orthopedist or dermatologist. A professional examination is the key to a successful therapy.

Sometimes people confuse dry calluses with warts, which complicates the healing process. Typically, plantar warts are smaller than calluses. In addition, they rise more above the skin surface. The treatment characteristics of these two types of skin growths are different.

Dry callus symptoms

Dry calluses have a number of features to distinguish them from warts.

The symptoms of corns are as follows:

• Dry skin in the area of callus formation.
• The color of the neoplasm is yellow or yellowish-white.
• The surface of the callus is usually rough, although it can be smooth.
• The shape of the corn is round or oval. They can rise slightly above the skin, or be flat.
• The sensitivity of the skin in the area of the callus is reduced. Sometimes there are signs of inflammation.
• When pressing on the corn, the person will experience pain.
• If the corn has a stem, then it will be visible with the naked eye. The root is located in the center of the corn.
• The pain that occurs during pressure on the corns makes the person limp and distribute the load on the foot incorrectly. This can cause the development of arthrosis and curvature of the foot.

• Warts, unlike corns, are viral in nature. It is possible to determine the presence of papillomavirus in the body in the laboratory by donating tissue for research.

If the corn does not have a core, then it may not manifest itself in any way. Pain and signs of inflammation will be absent.

The favorite places for the formation of corns are:

• Finger pads.
• The outside of the little toe or big toe.
• Heels.
• Palms.
• Gaps between the toes.

If the callus is formed against the background of chronic diseases, then the leg as a whole will suffer from a lack of blood circulation. At the same time, her skin becomes thinner, loses its elasticity, and acquires a bluish color.

Symptoms of a corn on the leg

The corn may have a stem. Outwardly, it will look like an ordinary corn, but the root is visible in its center. These calluses are mushroom-shaped. The top cap goes into a long stem. Such a callus hurts, sometimes it can bleed, especially with increased friction.

Symptoms of dry corn in a child

Dry calluses are less common in children than in adults. This is due to the accelerated metabolism in the body. The skin of babies is characterized by increased plasticity, and the cells of the dermis in children regenerate faster. Therefore, babies are more often diagnosed with wet calluses.

Dry calluses in childhood develop against the background of various diseases, or in violation of metabolic processes. A frequent companion of such skin growths is vitamin deficiency. In this case, the symptoms of vitamin deficiency will come to the fore. The child will lose its former activity, his hair and nails will worsen, his skin will become pale.

How to distinguish dry callus from plantar wart?

Warts are an external manifestation of the human papillomavirus, although in their structure they can resemble dry calluses.

The correct diagnosis can be made according to the following criteria:

• The size of warts does not exceed 0.5 cm in diameter, while dry calluses are much larger.
• Dry calluses appear in areas of increased friction, and warts can form anywhere.
• Warts are located in groups, and calluses are almost always isolated neoplasms.

Black dry corn

Black dry calluses can scare a person. Discoloration can be caused by insufficient blood circulation in the lower extremities, or necrosis of the corns. In this case, the rod, which is located in its center, turns black.

Sometimes the color of the corn changes due to a malfunction in metabolic processes. At the same time, melanin begins to accumulate under the keratinized tissues, which gives the skin growth a dark color.

In any case, the discoloration of the corn should not be ignored. If it darkens, you need to contact a dermatologist or surgeon.

Reasons for the formation of dry corns

There are external and internal causes leading to the formation of dry corns. External reasons include:

• Wearing tight shoes that chafe your feet. This also includes wearing high-heeled shoes.
• Wearing stiff shoes without socks or footprints.
• Wearing stockings, socks, or tights that don't fit. The folds that form during this can cause calluses to form.
• Excessive stress on certain parts of the body. Calluses often appear in runners, ballerinas, gymnasts, guitarists.
• Long walking on gravel and stones.
• Violation of the rules of personal hygiene. This problem is especially relevant for people suffering from hyperkeratosis. If you do not peel off the hardened areas of the dermis, then over time this can lead to the formation of calluses.

Internal reasons that can provoke the appearance of dry calluses include:

• Aging of the body. With age, the skin loses its ability to retain moisture, loses its former elasticity, which can cause the formation of corns.
• Flat feet and problems with posture.
• Disorders in the work of the digestive system.
• Diabetes.
• Insufficient blood supply to the lower extremities.
• Rheumatoid arthritis.
• Neurological diseases.
• Deficiency of vitamins in the body. Lack of vitamin A, B2, E negatively affects the condition of the skin. The skin regenerates worse, loses its elasticity and firmness.
• Skin infections, such as fungal infections of the feet. Mycosis of the feet leads to coarsening of the skin, its stratum corneum thickens, nutrition worsens, and sensitivity decreases. All this can provoke the formation of dry corns.
• Hyperhidrosis of the feet.
• The presence of a bone spur.
• Obesity. In overweight people, the load on the lower extremities increases, which can lead to the formation of calluses. In addition, these patients are more likely to suffer from edema and find it more difficult to find the right footwear.

Complications of dry calluses

Most often, dry calluses do not pose any serious threat to human health. They are capable of creating certain inconveniences while walking. So, dry corn with a rod often responds with pain when pressing on it. In addition, skin growths are a cosmetic defect.

However, if you ignore the problem for a long time and do not treat dry corn, then it can lead to a number of complications, including:

• Root formation with damage to soft tissues and the involvement of nerve fibers in the pathological process.
• Lameness.
• Infection with the formation of inflammation and ulcerative processes.

Corn inflammation will be indicated by symptoms such as:

• The pain begins to bother a person not only during the application of pressure on the corn, but also at rest.
• Deterioration of general well-being.
• Increased body temperature. The callus may feel hot to the touch.
• Hyperemia of the tissues surrounding the corn.
• Pus may leak from cracks and wounds in the corn.
• Incorrect removal of calluses can lead to scar formation.
• The appearance of deep cracks in the calluses. The skin that forms the callus is deprived of normal nutrition. If a significant load continues to be on it, then it can burst and hurt. Such cracks heal for a very long time, dirt and sweat gets into them, which becomes an ideal environment for the reproduction of pathogenic flora and the attachment of a fungal infection.

It is imperative to get rid of dry corns for people with metabolic disorders. This primarily concerns patients with diabetes mellitus, since even minor skin damage in such patients can lead to gangrene and limb amputation.

It should be borne in mind that calluses tend to progress. Over time, they increase in size, capturing new areas of the skin. The longer you ignore the problem, the more difficult it will be to get rid of it in the future.

Diagnostics of dry calluses

A person can diagnose dry corn on their own, focusing on its main symptoms. However, if there are any doubts about the nature of the neoplasm, it is necessary to consult a specialist. A dermatologist will examine the skin growth and give recommendations for its treatment.

Differential diagnosis of dry calluses is carried out with warts, articular pads, keratoderma, calluses that appear against the background of psoriasis.

What products are used to remove corns?

Self-cutting of the corn can lead to various complications, the easiest of which is the addition of an infection.

To remove corns, drugs are most often used that contain salicylic acid. It has a keratolytic effect, that is, it slowly corrodes the cells of the growth, leading to its disappearance.

You can also use preparations containing lactic acid to remove corns. Under the influence of such funds, the skin softens, so it is not difficult to clean off the hardened stratum corneum.

In general, all medicines for the removal of calluses have a single mechanism of action - they soften the skin, after which it can be easily removed. However, it is not always possible to get rid of the skin growth in this way.

If the corn is pivotal, then it will not work to get to the base of the root with the help of drugs. Therefore, after a while, the callus will reappear.

In addition, all medicines have contraindications and side effects, so you should consult a specialist before starting treatment.

TOP-3 methods of treating dry callus

Effective methods for treating dry calluses include:

• Removal of corns with a laser. This method allows you to quickly get rid of old dry calluses.
• Removal of corn by cryodestruction method. In this case, it is treated with liquid nitrogen.
• In addition, you can get rid of dry calluses in the office of a hardware pedicure master.

In rare cases, excision of the callus with a scalpel and scissors is indicated. Each of these methods needs to be considered in more detail.

Dry callus cryodestruction

Cryodestruction allows you to quickly and safely get rid of calluses, therefore this method is one of the most popular. It has practically no contraindications and no side effects.

The essence of the method is reduced to the processing of corn using liquid nitrogen. The doctor applies the applicator of the device to the skin defect for several seconds, freezing its cells.

After the procedure, a bladder is formed on the skin, filled with serous contents. After a few days, the blister bursts on its own, forming a thin film on the surface of the dermis. When it comes off, young and healthy skin will already be formed under it. The duration of the procedure does not exceed a few minutes.

If the corn is large, several cryodestruction sessions may be required.

Removal of dry calluses with a laser

Removal of calluses using a laser allows you to get rid of skin growth without pain. Small vessels are instantly cauterized, so there is no chance of bleeding. The procedure must be performed by a professional.

The method has a number of contraindications, including:

• The period of bearing a child.
• Breast-feeding.
• Diabetes.
• Age under 14.
• Diseases of the cardiovascular system.

During the procedure, the doctor treats the corn with a laser beam. Under its influence, the cells of the corn are simply evaporated. The processing site is covered with a thin crust. After 10-14 days, it disappears, and new skin forms under it.

Removal of calluses using the hardware pedicure method

If the corn is not too large and not old, then you can remove it using the hardware pedicure method. The procedure is painless and therefore does not require anesthesia. It can be performed by a cosmetologist who has a medical education, or a podiatrist.

In the process of removing calluses, the doctor uses a drill with various attachments. He removes the hardened skin layer by layer, after which he drills out the core of the corn, if any. The procedure does not involve the risk of injury, so it can be performed even for people with diabetes.

To avoid infection, the doctor must strictly follow the rules of antiseptics. It is good when a specialist uses disposable nozzles.

If a person has a high threshold for pain sensitivity, then local anesthesia will be required before removing the callus.

Surgical removal of calluses

Sometimes a person has a number of contraindications for cryotherapy or laser removal of corns. In this case, the doctor may recommend excision of the skin growth with a scalpel.

Indications for surgery may be as follows:

• The corn hurts a lot, it is not possible to get rid of it with conservative methods.
• The skin in the area of the callus becomes inflamed, swollen, festering. The patient has difficulty wearing shoes.
• The skin changes its normal color, becoming crimson or purple.

The doctor excises the callus with a scalpel and surgical scissors. The wound is fixed with an adhesive plaster. The procedure requires local anesthesia. After some time, the edges of the wound tighten, but a scar may remain at the treatment site.

It should be remembered that no method of treatment gives a 100% guarantee that the callus will not reappear. If a person does not eliminate the cause that leads to the formation of a callus, then a relapse will surely happen. Therefore, if the callus reappears, you need to consult a doctor.

Answers to popular questions

• What drugs can be used to treat dry calluses? To combat corns, you can use the drug Antimozolin. It comes in the form of an ointment, which is applied to the corn after preliminary steaming of the skin of the legs. In addition, you can use the funds Bensalitin or Namosol 911. For the treatment to be as effective as possible, it is necessary to study in detail the instructions for use for these funds.
• Is it always necessary to remove dry corn? Radical treatment is not always required. If the skin growth has just begun to form, then you can get rid of it with the help of high-quality foot hygiene. You should definitely give up impractical shoes. For a speedy recovery, you can use moisturizing ointments. If you follow all the recommendations, then after a while the corn will pass on its own. It is necessary to remove dry corn when it causes pain and discomfort, makes a person limp. Dry calluses with a root, as well as growths that have undergone inflammation, are subject to mandatory removal.
• If there are cracks on the corns, what should I do? To prevent infection from getting into the crack, it must be treated with antiseptic solutions. For this purpose, iodine or hydrogen peroxide can be used. After disinfection of the crack, it is covered with a sterile bandage and fixed with an adhesive plaster. For the speedy tissue regeneration, Lekkos ointment, Ambulance, Radevit can be used.

Treatment of calluses at home

If the corn is young and small in size, then you can try to get rid of it at home. However, before starting therapy, you need to consult a doctor.

Effective ways to fight calluses include:

• Steaming corns in warm water trays. Herbs and oils with a disinfecting effect can be added to it. The duration of the procedure should be 15 minutes. After the skin has softened, it must be treated with a pumice stone. You should not try to peel off all the corn at one time. Movements should be light, during the procedure, the person should not experience pain. Baths need to be done once a day until the hardened skin area is completely regenerated.
• Aloe can be applied to the corn. The cut leaves of the plant must be placed in the refrigerator for 2 hours, which will enhance the healing properties of aloe. Then the leaf is cut and applied with pulp to the corn, fixed on top with a bandage and left overnight.
• You can try to get rid of the corn with grated potatoes. It is put on the corn in the form of a compress and left for several hours.
• Aspirin can be used to soften skin growths. To do this, the tablets are ground into powder, mixed with lemon juice or aloe juice. The resulting composition is applied to the skin of the legs and left for 30 minutes. The procedure should be carried out 1 time in 3 days until the callus disappears completely.

Helpful Tips for Preventing Calluses

In order to prevent the formation of corns, you must remember about preventive measures, including:

• The skin of the feet must be properly looked after. You need to wash your feet daily. If the dermis is prone to engorgement, it is necessary to make baths and treat the skin with a pumice stone.
• Shoes must be fitted correctly. This primarily concerns the size of shoes, boots or boots. Uncomfortable shoes will definitely lead to the formation of blisters.
• If the callus has just appeared, you need to immediately start treating it. Such skin growths rarely go away on their own.
• You need to remove calluses with a pumice stone. Do not use razors or knives for this purpose, as well as a nail file.
• All hygiene products must belong to one person.
• Do not use celandine juice to remove corns, as it can provoke a severe chemical burn.

Corns are not contagious; they are not spread from person to person. While warts are a manifestation of an infection. To minimize the likelihood of infection, you need to use rubber slippers in saunas, swimming pools and baths.

The opinion of doctors

Elena Maksimova, cosmetologist: “In my opinion, it is best to get rid of dry calluses with a laser. This procedure is atraumatic, healthy skin does not suffer during it. You can get rid of calluses in one session. If the growth is very large and old, then another procedure may be required. The rehabilitation period does not stretch in time and is easy for the patient."

Veronika Stepanova, surgeon: “I advise my patients to treat corns with a laser beam. In just a few minutes, the skin growth will be completely evaporated. The procedure is painless and bloodless. Although cryodestruction can be used to remove small calluses, the recovery process will take longer.”

Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist

Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".