How to prevent corns on foot: 3 advice

As a foot specialist, EPITACT gives you 3 simple advice to avoid foot corns. 

Foot corns result from a process called hyperkeratosis. To protect itself from external damages (frictions, pressures...), the body overproduces keratin. This excess of skin forms a strong shield on the toes or fingers. However, this process can be easily avoided. With EPITACT^®, learn how to prevent foot corns in 3 steps: give your feet regular care, use corn prevention pads and wear the best shoes to avoid corns. Thanks to these few tips, you will also know how to prevent corns from coming back!

First advice: find out what are the best shoes to avoid corns!

We will never say it enough but your shoes should adapt to your feet and not the opposite! First, analyse the shape of your feet. Are they narrow, large, flat, hollow? Is the instep of your foot pronounced? The form of your shoes must fit the shape of your feet. Then, make sure to be comfortable. Avoid changing the natural curve of the arch of your foot and support it with an adapted insole. Do not wear shoes with narrow tips and do not tighten your laces too much!

Ladies, if you wear high heels, choose smaller heels to avoid excessive body weight transfer on the forefoot. Opt for elegant heeled shoes, not too thin to favour proper heel supports.

Choose your shoes with your feet rather than with your eyes! Comfort and well-being are even more important than appearance. Try to go shopping at the end of the day, when your feet are slightly swollen. If your shoes need to be worn with socks, opt for lined shoes to be comfortable.

Be careful with seams, buckles, straps and eyelets because over time, they could cause useless frictions or pressures.

Finally, regularly change your shoe model. It allows varying the support points, the areas of pressure and it limits deformities.

Second advice to prevent corns on the foot: take care of your feet

To limit the development of foot corns, it is essential to have good hygiene. Wash your feet everyday, dry them and then moisturise them if necessary.

Regularly cut your nails straight to avoid useless injuries.

Sanding dead skin with a pumice stone may be tempting, but do it rationally or it could favour hyperkeratosis!

Third advice: use corn prevention pads

Corns mainly appear on top of the toes. Therefore, to avoid them reappearing, choose thin silicone protections. This pad between the shoe and the foot reduces pressures and frictions.

If one single toe is affected, opt for a Digitop* or DIGITUBES^® protection*. This small toe cap is made up of smooth fabric that protects your toe by comfortably isolating it from the other toes. Reusable, this solution can also be worn in shoes. The DIGITUBES^®* and Digitops* are washable with water or soap. Their material favours perfect holding.

To conclude, take care of your feet with shoes that are appropriate to your morphology. You’ll improve your comfort and fight against the reappearance of foot corns. By choosing adapted protections, you reduce frictions, pressures and avoid corns. However, each person is different. Some foot shapes (flat or hollow feet) or deformities (hallux valgus, bunion, claw toes or hammer toes...) can favour the formation of callosities. In this case, do not hesitate to ask for advice to your pedicurist-podiatrist for an appropriate treatment.

*These solutions are class I medical devices that bear the CE marking under this regulation. Carefully read the instructions before use. Manufacturer: Millet Innovation. 09/2021