Corns
Do you have a hard, painful spot on or under your foot or toe? And does it feel as though you’re walking on a pebble? If so, you may have a corn. A corn is also known as an ‘eksteroog’.
A corn can make walking, standing and wearing shoes uncomfortable. Often, the corn keeps coming back as long as the cause of pressure or friction persists.

What is it?
A corn is a thickened patch of calloused skin with a hard core. This core presses inwards into the skin. As a result, the area can be very painful, especially when pressure is applied.
Corns often develop on the toes, between the toes, under the forefoot or in places where the shoe rubs against the skin.
Causes
A corn develops as a result of prolonged pressure or friction. The skin then forms extra callus in that area to protect itself. If the pressure persists, the callus can become increasingly hard and deep.
Possible causes include:
- shoes that are too narrow or too small;
- pressure from seams, stitching or hard edges inside the shoe;
- an abnormal position of the toes;
- hammer toes, claw toes or misalignment of the big toe;
- a lot of pressure under the forefoot;
- a change in the way one walks.
What do you notice?
A corn may seem small, but it can still cause a lot of pain. The pain is often localised to one specific spot.
You may notice that:
- you feel pain when walking or standing;
- the area feels hard or sharp;
- you have pressure pain in a shoe;
- otherwise you’ll end up walking to avoid the pain;
- the corn returns after removal;
- if redness or irritation develops around the area.
The impact of a healthy lifestyle and your mental health
A healthy lifestyle and good mental health have a positive effect on skin recovery and on reducing pressure-related problems in the feet. Good foot care, well-fitting shoes and plenty of rest when experiencing pain help to reduce skin irritation.
Maintaining a healthy body weight can also help to reduce pressure on the feet. Less pressure on the feet often means a lower risk of pressure sores and pain. Pain can affect how much you move and how you feel.
Our lifestyle coaches helping people to adopt healthy habits, strike a good balance between exercise and recovery, and reduce strain on the feet.
What can you do yourself?
There is a lot you can do yourself to reduce the pressure on the corn.
To minimise complaints, you can:
- wear well-fitting shoes;
- avoid hard seams or pressure points in shoes;
- Do not cut into the corn yourself;
- Have your feet checked regularly.
Do you have diabetes, reduced sensation in your feet or poor circulation? If you experience any symptoms, please contact a specialist.
Advice and treatment
Our podiatrists investigate where the pressure is caused. We look at the position of your feet and the way you walk. The podiatrist will also assess your shoes.
Treatment may consist of:
- the removal of the corn;
- temporary pressure relief with felt;
- a toe orthosis to reduce pressure between or on the toes;
- podiatry insoles to distribute pressure more evenly;
- shoe advice;
- collaboration with a medical pedicure.
Together, we look not only at the corn, but above all at its cause. In this way, we reduce the likelihood of the problem returning soon.
Shoe tips
Good shoes help to reduce pressure and friction on the foot. When buying new shoes, bear the following in mind:
- Always try on both shoes;
- It is best to buy shoes at the end of the day. Your feet are usually slightly swollen by then, so you can be sure the shoes fit properly;
- Check that there are no stiff seams or stitching in the shoe;
- Choose the correct length and width of the shoe;
- Choose a sturdy sole, so that the pressure under the foot is distributed more evenly.
Rondom Shoes
Good shoes can prevent many ailments. At Rondom Shoes We’ll help you choose shoes that suit your feet and your everyday life. This way, you can reduce any discomfort and prevent new problems as much as possible.
At Rondom Schoenen, we use our knowledge and experience to put together a suitable range of shoes. In doing so, we take into account different foot shapes, needs and styles. We ensure there is a wide choice of good-quality shoes, across various price ranges.
Rondom Schoenen also has a knowledge base! Here you will find tips and information to help you choose the right shoes.
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