Corn (pathology)

Corn (pathology)

A corn (or clavus; plural clavi or clavuses) is a distinctively shaped callus of dead skin that usually occurs on thin or glabrous (hairless and smooth) skin surfaces, especially on the dorsal surface of toes or fingers. They can sometimes occur on the thicker skin of the palms or bottom of the feet.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /kɔːrn/

Etymology

The term "corn" comes from the Old English corn, originally meaning "small hard particle, a grain," which derived from Proto-Germanic kurnam, akin to Old High German korn, "grain," and Old Church Slavonic zruno, "grain."

Types of Corns

Corns are of two types, namely:

• Hard Corns (Heloma durum): These are the most common and appear as concentrated areas of hard skin.
• Soft Corns (Heloma molle): These are whitish or gray in color, with a rubbery texture, and appear between the toes, where the skin is moist from sweat or inadequate drying.

Causes

Corns are caused by repeated friction and pressure from skin rubbing against bony areas or against an irregularity in a shoe. Other risk factors include foot deformities and wearing shoes or sandals without socks, which leads to friction on the feet.

Treatment

Treatment of corns includes paring of the hard skin, padding the affected area, and using special footwear or shoe inserts (Orthotics) to reduce friction. In severe cases, surgery (Podiatric surgery) may be necessary.

Related Terms

• Callus
• Heloma durum
• Heloma molle
• Orthotics
• Podiatric surgery

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Corn (pathology)
• Wikipedia's article - Corn (pathology)

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