The difference between warts and corns

Corns are a type of disease that grows on the feet. It is not fatal but causes abnormal pain. It is named corns because its shape and appearance resemble chicken's eyes. Plantar warts are also a disease that grows on the feet and is caused by a virus. They are similar to corns, but the difference is that corns will not be infected, while plantar warts will be infected and become more common. So what is the difference between corns and plantar warts, and how can you tell them apart? Let’s learn about it below.

In fact, the causes of the two diseases are different. Corns are a physical skin disease caused by long-term friction and pressure causing hyperplasia of skin keratin. It often occurs in areas of pressure or stress, such as the front and middle part of the sole, the outside of the little toe or the inside edge of the big toe, and occasionally on the dorsum of the toes. The lesions are mostly single, pea-sized, with a smooth or slightly raised surface, clear boundaries and a yellow color. In the center, there is an inverted cone-shaped keratin plug embedded in the papillary dermis, compressing nerve endings and causing pain when walking or standing.

Plantar warts are benign epidermal growths caused by human papillomavirus and are common warts that grow on the soles of the feet. Plantar warts can occur anywhere on the sole of the foot, with varying numbers and sizes. Sometimes, several small warts arranged in satellite shapes may appear around a larger plantar wart. Plantar warts are round, gray-yellow or brown patches with a rough surface without skin wrinkles. Small black dots the size of a needle can often be seen, and they are painful when touched.

Corns are usually treated with commercially available corn ointment, crushed Chinese medicine Brucea javanica for external application, freezing, electrocoagulation, corn excision, etc. At the same time, patients are required to wear suitable soft-soled shoes with soft insoles to reduce friction and squeezing. Plantar warts can be treated with liquid nitrogen freezing, microwaves, local injection of bleomycin, external application of 5-Fu ointment or antiviral drugs.

1. Observe whether there are black spots on the surface; those with black spots are plantar warts, and those without black spots are corns.

These black spots are caused by the excessive growth of tissues, insufficient blood supply, and vascular necrosis. Of course, sometimes they cannot be seen clearly due to the stratum corneum on the surface. You can peel off the keratinized skin on the surface and it will be easy to see clearly.

2. Look at the number. Corns are caused by trauma, pressure, friction, etc., which embed keratinized skin under the skin. They occur occasionally, usually only one, at most two or three, and more than five are extremely rare. If the number is relatively large and will increase, plantar warts must be considered.

3. Look at the growth rate. Corns grow slowly, taking three to five months or even longer to form. Plantar warts, on the other hand, can grow in 10 days to half a month. If they grow very fast or you quickly feel pain in your feet, you should basically consider plantar warts.

4. If more corns grow after using corn cream, it must be plantar warts. Because corns are not contagious, but plantar warts are caused by viral infection, which is contagious and can penetrate through the corrosive skin wounds of corns and infect more.

5. Note that sometimes plantar warts and corns exist at the same time. Although this is rare, it does exist. In this case, plantar warts should be treated first, and then corns should be considered. Because corns are usually treated with lasers, there will inevitably be wounds. If corns are treated first, plantar warts are likely to be transmitted.

6. The occurrence of plantar warts is related to decreased immunity. The main treatment method is freezing (if the number is large, you can use Chinese medicine foot bath method, but try to avoid using laser). The specific method is clearly introduced in the best treatment method for plantar warts;