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Corn Removal Surgery: When Do You Need It?
A corn is a thick, hardened layer of skin that typically appears as a round, raised area with a hard center — much like a kernel of corn. A corn can form anywhere on your skin that regularly rubs against your shoes or socks, but they tend to occur on the tops of the toes or along the edge of the pinkie toe most often.
At The Foot Institute in Shreveport and Natchitoches, Louisiana, Angelo Morreale, DPM, regularly treats corns, calluses, and other foot-related skin friction injuries. In this month’s blog, Dr. Morreale explains how to identify a corn, when to seek professional treatment, and why surgery may be recommended instead of conservative care.
How to identify a corn
A corn looks a lot like a blister, but instead of being squishy and having liquid inside, corns are firm and hard to the touch. Common symptoms of a corn include:
- A round, thick area of skin
- A hardened, raised bump
- Tenderness or pain under the skin
- Redness or mild swelling around the bump
- Flaky, waxy, or dry skin with a bump
Anyone can develop a corn, but they’re most common in runners, athletes, and other active people. Regular activity increases the risk of skin friction, which is why these groups are more susceptible.
When to see a podiatrist for a corn
Most corns are small and improve with at-home care, such as wearing protective padding or shoes that don’t rub against the skin. Regularly soaking your feet or using a pumice stone on your skin can also help prevent corns from recurring.
For some people, however, corns become a regular issue, leading to persistent foot pain and mobility issues. Make an appointment with Dr. Morreale if you have a history of painful corns that affect your ability to work, exercise, or participate in other daily activities.
This is especially true if you have diabetes or poor circulation. If the skin around a corn is broken, proper wound care is essential to reduce the risk of infection and other complications.
What to expect during corn removal surgery
Dr. Morreale uses a conservative, non-surgical approach to treat corns whenever possible. But if you have a history of corns or a health condition that increases your risk of infection, surgery often makes the most sense.
Corn surgery is an outpatient procedure that typically takes 30-60 minutes. Before removing a corn, Dr. Morreale numbs the area with a local anesthetic. He then uses a scalpel to make a small incision, and carefully shaves off the dead skin all the way to the root of the corn.
After removing the corn, Dr. Morreale closes the incision with stitches, wraps it in a bandage, and provides care instructions. Because the procedure involves your toe and can affect your mobility, you’ll need someone to drive you home.
Corn removal surgery aftercare and recovery
Once a corn is removed, it won’t grow back unless you fall back into old habits like wearing the shoes or socks that caused it in the first place.
Following surgery, it’s normal to experience mild pain and redness around the incision site. Keep your foot elevated as much as possible during the first week of recovery and apply ice for 10-15 minutes several times a day to reduce swelling. Most people return to work and other activities within 24 hours. If you have multiple corns removed, you may need to take a day off.
Change your bandages regularly and cover your foot with a plastic bag when bathing to keep the incision from getting wet. We typically remove stitches a week to 10 days after surgery, but some people need to keep them in longer. Regardless, most patients fully heal within three weeks of surgery.
You’ll need to visit our office for a few post-surgery checkups to ensure you don’t develop an infection or experience other complications. These appointments are brief and don’t involve any special preparation.
Is surgery the best option for your painful corn?
If recurrent or painful corns keep you from exercising or doing other activities you love, you may be a candidate for corn removal surgery. To learn more, schedule a visit with Dr. Morreale at The Foot Institute: call your nearest office in Shreveport or Natchitoches, Louisiana, today.