Why You Shouldn't Try To Treat A Corn Yourself

If you notice a corn on one of your feet, you may want to get rid of it because of the discomfort that it's causing when you're standing. This can especially be a concern if you do a lot of standing and walking for your job, whether you're a mail carrier, a restaurant server, or you work in another field. If you look online, you'll likely learn that cutting off the outer layers of a corn can often bring pain relief. If you're a do-it-yourself type of person, it's possible that you could attempt to perform this task yourself. It's a far better idea to see a local podiatrist instead. Here are some reasons that you shouldn't attempt to treat a corn yourself.

Risk Of Infection

While it's certainly possible for the average person to cut the top layer of their corn off, a big concern with doing so is that this area could easily become infected. This is because the knife that you use may not be sterile. An infected incision can not only be painful but can potentially lead to various other health issues. When you visit a podiatrist for this treatment, you can be confident that their blade will be sterile. They'll remove a fresh scalpel blade from a sealed package just seconds before treating your corn. 

Deep Cut

A podiatrist knows exactly how much skin to remove from the outer part of a corn to alleviate the discomfort that you're experiencing. They also know to avoid cutting too deeply, as doing so can create a whole new type of pain. They've learned this through training and experience with the task, which are two things that you don't possess. It's entirely possible that you could cut too deeply into the area and give yourself a serious cut — perhaps even one that requires medical attention.

No Advice

When you see a podiatrist for help with a corn on your foot, they'll not only treat the issue by reducing the corn in size, but they'll also give you a good amount of advice about how to keep the corn from growing again. On your own, you might be able to cut some of the corn off, but it might continue growing because you won't have the knowledge about how to manage this condition moving forward. While a do-it-yourself approach might seem tempting, it's always a better idea to visit a podiatrist for help with your corn.

Contact a podiatrist for more information. 

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