Hi - please help if you can....

I am a healthy, African American woman who is suffering from the burns left over from corn removers... I thought I had a corn on both my second toes. I placed the Dr. Scholl's corn removers on them, and it left a huge corn looking thing on the top of my toe. It is huge, soft to touch, and is not painful at all... After I get out of the shower/bath, it is white so, I actually file it down (b/c it's callus like) and it is still swollen like a corn, only my skin is lighter underneath the callus. Today, I visited my podiatrist who confirmed that it is not a corn.

What can I do to reduce the size and make my toe look normal?? How can I prevent the callus type thing from coming back. Even if i wear comfortable shoes, it comes back. What can be done??? help help!
Please help!

Are you prone to keloids (overgrown scaring) ? Is it just dead skin you are removeing?

When you walk does your toe hit the the top of your shoe? Are you wearing a whole in your sock/nylon?

Can you wear open toes shoe/sandles for about two weeks? ( to see if their is a change in the skin grownth. During that time stop any treatment of the toe.)

Mainly I think you have created a scar your pigmentation might return very slowly but is unlikely it will return to normal.

If this does not help see a dermatoligist who is familar with african american skin and scaring.

Dear DCgirl
Firstly, I would have to recommend that you immediately stop using corn pad removers. Most of these products contain acid which essentially burns the corns off. I have seen first hand the disasterous effects of these pads. Unfortunately, if you have a darker pigmentation to your skin, it will turn to a lighter hue if constant pressure is applied to that area. Conversely, a patient with lighter skin tone will develop areas of hyperpigmentation to areas of increase pressure.

It sounds like you have hammer toes and usually "corns" do typically develop over these bony prominences. If you don't have corns, what did your Podiatrist's diagnosis?

If you have corns/pain secondary to hammer toes, usually patients are given tube foam which is applied to the entire toe or orthotics which have a metatarsal pad and instructed to wear shoes with a deep toe box. If conservative treatment fails, surgery is usually recommended. An elipse to the skin is performed to remove the hypopigmented areas.

Good-luck and thank-you for contacting foot.com,
SBarlizo, DPM, C Ped
foot.com expert

Please help!

I am experiencing the same symptoms as DCgirl, except this has been an ongoing problem for years. I thought it was a corn too, and tried using those "callous scraper" things as well as corn remover sollutions, which did get rid of dead skin, but leaves behind red, irritated skin. Not only is it one toe, it is actually four toes- the two outer toes on each foot. I have been seeing a Pediotrist since Sept. of 05, and the problem is not getting any better. Every few weeks I go in to see my Dr. and he just throws a couple of sample tubes of ointments that I'm sure his pharmaceutical reps are pushing him to sell, and then sends me on my way. He has mentioned some injections that we may try soon. I have tried steroid creams, anti-inflammitory creams and pills, "Lida Mantle" cream, and a bunch of other samples that I don't even remember- and I'm sure my Dr. doesn't either. The bottom line is that I am getting very distraught because I cannot even wear flip flops, go swimming, or even show my feet because I am embarrassed of the ugly reddish swollen knots. Not to mention I am a college student, and I really cannot afford to continue to pay to see a Dr. that just isn't helping me. Please someone offer me some advice!!

Have you ruled out keloids (overgrown scaring)? Keloid scars are very comon to african american skin but not exclusive. Their are dermatologist who speacalize in keloid treament.

Most people start treating themselves because of painful corns on top of the toe. They try corn pads, corn removers, cushioning pads, pedicures, etc. The problem is a structural deformity within the toe and thus the above mentioned treatments are temporary and affect only the skin. The source of the problem is the contracture of the bone within the toe. The use of larger shoes may initially help this problem, but this will not alter the underlying bone structure problem. Some milder forms of hammertoes can be improved with the use of foot orthotics. The most effective treatment is surgical correction.

Hi,
Have you guys found a solution to this? Anybody figure out what it is? I'm having the same problem on both my big toes for years. I've scraped it down many many times after showering, but it keeps coming back.
It's not painful or itchy. It's just an embarassing dark thick patch of skin on my toes.

Hello,
I have the same problem. I used a corn remover years ago when I thought some were forming on my last two toes (on both feet) and now I have these red looking things. I've also tried scraping and shaving to no avail. Can somebody tell me if surgery is an option. If so, does anybody have any idea of how much it costs (on average) and what the recovery time is for these types of surgery. I'm getting married in September and I am seriously considering surgery so that I can wear nice sexy shoes. I'm a huge shoes fan and now I'm limited in what I can wear. Please please help me

Wear comfortable well fitting shoes let your feet heal. Find your cute stylish wedding and reception shoes wear them only for 2hrs on the weekends three to four weekends prior to your wedding. Be the first person to kick off your shoes to head ( a lot of people will be happy to follow) for the dance and wear them for the pictures only.

Take care have a fun wedding