Corns are a very common occurrence that may be primarily caused as a result of wearing the incorrect or ill fitting shoes. Corns are characterized by the thickening of the skin as well as an inflammation of the affected area. In most cases, as in yours, you will notice a yellow or brownish discoloration of the skin. The affected area is usually tender and soft and can be the source of some considerable pain when substantial pressure or friction is applied to it. At times, the pain is known to be excruciating enough to have a debilitating effect on one's movements. Some of the other common causes of the development of corns include an abnormal walking style that applied too much pressure on a certain area of the foot, the presence of bunions or hammertoes as they tend to rub against the material of the shoe, wearing sandals without socks, or even wearing high arched shoes that will place a lot of stress between the big toe and the second toe, which is the most common site for development of corns. Corns will usually develop in an area of the skin that has some bone structure under it that presses against the skin when under pressure. Walking downhill for a long period of time is also going to put a lot of stress on the front of the foot, thereby increasing the likelihood of corn development.
The first and most important part of the treatment of corns would be to wear shoes that are a perfect fit for your feet. Women tend to develop corns more frequently than men because of the fact that they often wear high heeled, narrow toed shoes. Instead of such elegant footwear, wear some comfortable shoes or sandals and give your feet a rest. To treat the corn, you could also try soaking a cloth in some apple cider vinegar and place it over the corn for an extended period of time. This will cause the corn to come off along with its root on its own. Another option would be to soak the foot in a tub of warm water and, after drying the foot, tie the inside of a lemon peel over the corn and leave it overnight. If the corn has dried and you still see the yellow discoloration, this is because of the presence of dead skin on your foot. Exfoliation should ideally take care of this problem.
answered by M W