Brief Answer:
Home care/ life style changes/ Doctor's help as per need would help.

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for the query under health care magic.I understand your concern.
* The typical site & form of lesion & symptoms You have suggest you have corn under your 4th toe. Corns are thickened skin in bump/ conical forms appearing at pressure points in body. They are dry/ hard/ scaly & painful to touch because the pressure they exert on local nerves under the part of skin.
Abnormalities in shape of foot or bunions / wrong way of moving/ pressures caused during work walking bare feet/ misfitting shoes can lead to corn formation.
*The physical examination & symptoms are diagnostic . Some times X rays need to be taken if cause is abnormality in foot.
* management- Most of the times it goes with home care & life style changes-
- Washing & soaking leg with water frequently... using pumice stone to remove mild thickening
- Moisturizing the feet well
- Using well fitting & cushioned shoes & socks./shoe inserts
- The thickened skin can be removed with over the counter local Keratolytic products.. mostly it contains salicyilic acid..available in different forms like patches/ drops/applicators/ gels.
In diabetic patients & those with skin thinning in peripheral vascular diseases it should be avoided ( may cause harm to skin ) so they need to consult doctor & not to try home care.
-Do not try to shave / cut the thickened skin at home as it may cause infection.
* Signs of inflammation( redness, pain, fever )/ no effect of salicylic acid treatment at home indicate taking a doctor's help.
* Doctor's role-Your family physician should be approached./ surgen's help taken as per his advise.
- Doctor can cut away the thickened skin under aseptic precautions.
- Antibiotic & anti inflammatory pills are given to treat infection.followed by local applications under doctor's guidance.
- Surgery for corns is rare need,whenever done it includes complete removal of corn along with correction of bony abnormalities which are causing the corns.
Thus with good home care/ Doctor's advise you can get rid of the painful problem & can prevent it by change in life style ( described under home care.)
I hope the answer is informative & useful to you.

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