How to Remove Corns from Your Toes

Medically reviewed by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS

Last Updated: January 10, 2024 Approved

Corns are usually caused by repetitive, constant friction to your toes and feet. These small, thick areas of raised skin can cause pain and discomfort as you go about your daily life. Experts agree that you can remove corns from your toes by softening them and gradually exfoliating the dead skin on top away, but you need to go about the process carefully to avoid making them worse.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Home Treatment

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1
Wear comfortable shoes that don’t put pressure on your toes. Corns result from pressure and friction on your toes, and tight or uncomfortable shoes can be one of the culprits behind their appearance. One of the most important things you can do to prevent corns from developing and to reduce the severity of any corns you may already have is to choose comfortable, well-fitting shoes.^{[1]
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- Choose shoes that are made from natural materials, such as leather and fleece, which allow for better moisture evaporation.
- Select shoes with fastenings like Velcro or laces so you can adjust them to fit your foot.
- Add a cushioning pad or insole to make your shoes more comfortable, if needed.
2
File the thickened skin gently with a pumice stone. To remove some of the dead skin, gently scrub the corn with a pumice stone. Repeat the process regularly.^{[2]
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- Some experts suggest soaking your feet in warm water for 5-10 minutes to soften the skin before you file the corn.^{[3]
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Choose a lotion with salicylic acid, urea, or ammonium lactate to help soften the hardened skin. Apply the lotion to the corns every day.^{[4]
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American Academy of Dermatology
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4
Try over-the-counter corn ointments or drops. Most over-the-counter treatments contain a minimal concentration of salicylic acid, which dissolves the keratin protein responsible for making up the corn and the thick, crusty layer of skin on top of it.^{[5]
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American Academy of Family Physicians
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Go to source} Apply the product as directed on the label.
- One disadvantage about over-the-counter treatments is that the acids can also damage healthy skin as well as skin affected by corns, so if you use these treatments too readily, you may end up causing more damage than good.
- Acids should not be used by diabetics, those with impaired sensation, or those with thin skin.
- Always follow the instructions on the label when applying an ointment or other topical treatment.
5
Use corn plasters to shrink the corns . These treatments stick on like an adhesive bandage, thereby cushioning the corn on your toes, but they also contain a small concentration of salicylic acid to treat the corn as it remains on.^{[6]
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- The best corn plasters are ring-shaped. They provide cushioning to the corn while holding in enough moisture to keep the corn soft, thereby easing discomfort.
- Since many of these pads contain an acid treatment, you should not use them with other treatments. If you need to cover the corns after applying another treatment, make sure that you use a corn pad or plaster without salicylic acid in it or a plain adhesive bandage.
6
Pad the corns to prevent irritation. While padding won’t help remove the corn, it can reduce the pain. Surround the corns with small pieces of moleskin or a donut-shaped adhesive pad. This can prevent the corns from rubbing on your shoes.^{[7]
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- If you have a corn between your toes, get a toe sleeve or toe spacers to make yourself more comfortable while it heals.^{[8]
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If your toenails are too long, they can push against your shoe and create pressure. Regularly trim your toenails to prevent corns from forming due to pressure.^{[9]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Medical Treatment

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1
Get customized shoe inserts. Professionally fitted shoe inserts can provide just the right amount of cushioning and protection for your feet, thereby helping corns on your toes to heal faster and preventing more corns from developing.^{[10]
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- You could use standard gel inserts purchased from the store, but customized inserts will be much more effective. Talk to a podiatrist about where and how to purchase prescription shoe inserts custom-fit for your foot.
2
Ask for a prescription topical remedy. Prescription remedies often use higher concentrations of salicylic acid than their over-the-counter counterparts, and some prescription remedies also use other, stronger combinations of acids to accomplish the same purpose.^{[11]
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- Acids should not be used by diabetics, those with impaired sensation, or those with thin skin.
- Follow the instructions carefully when given a medication to prevent accidental damage to the skin around the corn.
3
Get an antibiotic for an infected corn. If corns on your toes become infected, you may need to ask your doctor for an antibiotic to treat the infection as the corn heals.^{[12]
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- Note that an oral or topical antibiotic will only be prescribed if the corn gets infected. Antibiotics will have no effect on the corn itself and will only treat the infection.
4
Talk with a podiatrist about removing the hardened skin. While you should not shave or cut off a corn on your own, a professional foot doctor, or podiatrist, is often able to do so safely if the circumstances warrant it.^{[13]
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- The podiatrist will remove the thickened, dead skin with a very sharp, thin blade. The procedure is painless and safe when done by a professional, and it can reduce overall discomfort while speeding up the healing process.
- Alternatively, a podiatrist might use ablative laser therapy to treat your corns.^{[14]
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5
Inquire about surgical intervention as a last resort. If you develop corns on your toes frequently, an orthopedic surgeon may recommend a surgical procedure to fix bone protrusions.^{[15]
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DermNet NZ
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Go to source} If other treatments haven’t helped, talk to a podiatrist to see if you’d be a good candidate for surgery.
- Corns can develop in between your toes when the bones in your toes grow at angles that cause the toes to naturally rub up against each other. Surgery can actually realign these bones, making them straighter and less likely to collide.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How to remove a corn off toe for good?

Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.

Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS

Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner

Expert Answer

To keep your corns from recurring, make sure the pressure and friction on your feet is gone. You may need to improve your footwear. Choose shoes that don't cause rubbing or pressure on your feet, which can thicken your skin and cause corns. Also, take good care of your feet.

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Will distilled vinegar work?

Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.

Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS

Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner

Expert Answer

Yes, you can use distilled vinegar to soften your corns, which can help you more easily remove them. Mix 1 cup (250 mL) of vinegar into 2 gallons (7.5 L) of warm or comfortably hot water. Soak your feet for 45 minutes, then buff away the corn with a pumice stone.

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Warnings

Do not attempt home treatment of corns if you have diabetes, atherosclerosis, or any other form of circulatory disease.

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Never try to cut or shave a corn away. Doing so will not help fix the underlying problem, and worse, you will create a wound that can easily become infected by bacteria.

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