Corns Treatment in Kenya

Corns occur on parts of the feet and sometimes the fingers and are often painful, even when they are small.

Orthobdridge Institute, an orthopedic center in Nairobi Kenya offers expert diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation to manage corns.

The top-rated foot surgeon in Kenya, Col (Dr) Adari at Orthobridge orthopedic centre, offers the most advanced, most effective treatments for those throughout Kenya and the world who are dealing with corns.

What are Corns?

Corns aren’t dangerous, but they can cause irritation. They’re also more likely to affect women than men.

If your shoe repeatedly rubs against a spot on your foot, for example, the inflammation and gradual build-up of scar tissue lead to the development of a cor.

There are 3 types of corns which include, hard, soft, and seed.

Hard corns are the most common type of corn. They’re small, concentrated areas of hard skin, usually found within a wider area of thickened skin. Soft corns, on the other hand, are whitish or gray and are rubbery in texture. They often appear between the toes. Seed corns are small and usually found on the bottom of the foot.

As they thicken, corns can become quite painful.

Symptoms associated with Corns

You may have a corn or a callus if you notice:

1. A thick, rough area of skin
2. A hardened, raised bump
3. Tenderness or pain under your skin
4. Flaky, dry, or waxy skin

What causes corns?

Pressure and friction from repetitive actions cause corns to develop and grow. Some sources of this pressure and friction include:

• Wearing ill-fitting shoes. Tight shoes and high heels can compress areas of your feet. Corns result when pressure from shoes rub against the toes or causes friction between the toes, causing a build-up of hard tissue resulting in painful corn.
• Skipping socks. Wearing shoes and sandals without socks can cause friction on your feet. Socks that don’t fit properly also can be a problem.
  Corns on the palms and fingers are very common in manual laborers who make heavy use of a number of tools like hammers, and spades. Friction from these tools causes the formation of corns.

If you have diabetes or another condition that causes poor blood flow to your feet, you’re at greater risk of complications from corns.

Risks include nerve injury, infection, and stiffness of toes. At times, if all areas of the deformity are not addressed, then corn can form in a different area of the foot.

Possible complications include:

1. Nerve injury
2. Infection
3. Stiffness of the toe
4. Bunions
5. Hammertoe

How are corns diagnosed?

Specialized tests aren’t necessary to diagnose corns. Direct observation of the corn and the surrounding skin is all that’s necessary.

However, if a physical abnormality is causing the corn, our foot and ankle surgeon in Kenya may recommend x-rays to determine the degree of the deformity and assess the changes that have occurred.

Once your surgeon has evaluated your corn, a treatment plan can be developed that is suited to your needs.

Corns Treatment in Kenya

To make sure your corns don’t develop or come back after treatment, you have to eliminate the conditions that caused them.

If a corn or callus persists or becomes painful despite your self-care efforts, medical treatments can provide relief:

Trimming away excess skin: Your doctor can pare down thickened skin or trim a large corn with a scalpel, usually during an office visit.
Shoe inserts: If you have an underlying foot deformity, your doctor may prescribe custom-made padded shoe inserts (orthotics) to prevent recurring corns or calluses.
Surgery: In rare instances, your doctor may recommend surgery to correct the alignment of a bone causing friction.
If you suspect you have a corn, or that one may be forming, we welcome you to visit us. An experienced podiatrist/ foot surgeon in Kenya, Col (Dr) Adari will quickly diagnose your corn and determine the appropriate next steps.

Lifestyle Home Remedies

Here are some tips to help eliminate friction and prevent corns from forming:

• Use corn pads. Corn pads help protect against excess pressure or friction around your corn. They come in a variety of materials including foam, felt, and moleskin. Typically, these pads are donut-shaped — to redistribute the pressure around the corn — with an adhesive backing.
• Soak your hands or feet. Soaking your hands or feet in warm, soapy water softens corns. This can make it easier to remove the thickened skin.

• Moisturize your skin. Apply moisturizer to your hands and feet to help keep the skin soft.
• Wear comfortable shoes and socks. Stick to well-fitting, cushioned shoes, and socks until your corn or callus disappears.
• File the corn with a pumice stone -First, dip the pumice stone in warm water, and then use the stone to gently file the corn or callus. Use circular or sideways motions to remove dead skin.

When is surgery needed?

Corn removal surgery is a quick outpatient procedure that is generally completed in less than 30 minutes. Prior to surgery, a local anesthetic will be applied to numb the treatment area.

Using a sterile scalpel, your surgeon will carefully shave off the dead layers of skin, all the way down to the root of your corn (This is called Debridement). You may experience slight bleeding during this process and stitches may be necessary to close the wound. Following removal, your surgeon will apply a bandage to cover the treatment area.

Recovering from corn surgery with Col (Dr) Adari, an orthopedic surgeon in Kenya

The recovery time truly depends upon the extent of the surgery and any complications that may arise from it.

After corn removal surgery, it is important to take steps to prevent the corn from forming again.

Your foot and ankle surgeon in Kenya, Col (Dr) Adari gives you measures you can take to ensure your foot heals correctly such as taking care of your feet by wearing shoes that properly fit to help prevent future corns.