Caring for Corns, Calluses and Lesser-Toe Pressure

A bunion can crowd the second toe, contribute to hammertoe or alter load beneath the lesser metatarsals. After surgery, residual stiffness, shortening or gait changes can also produce transfer pressure.

Professional debridement, footwear changes, padding, orthoses and treatment of associated nail or skin disease may help. Persistent focal pain beneath a metatarsal or an unstable lesser toe requires assessment for plantar-plate or joint pathology.

Avoid cutting corns or calluses with blades at home.

Do not use medicated corn plasters on fragile skin or without professional advice.

Check whether a recurrent lesion aligns with a shoe seam or pressure point.

Seek review for ulceration, bleeding, colour change or rapid recurrence.

Does removing a corn solve the underlying problem?

Usually not. It treats the painful skin build-up. Unless pressure and mechanics are improved, the lesion commonly returns.