Of course the answer to many a corn is to wear sensible shoes so let's get that out of the way straight away! Corns are an incredibly common foot ailment and many can often suffer through the pain, whilst for others they can become an incredibly painful problem. Despite the glamour that surrounds celebrities, their feet can often let down their overall appearance with things such as corns and bunions deforming their feet.

What are corns? They are caused when a part of skin around a bony/jointed area is continually rubbed or pressed, which causes the keratin (a protein in the outer skin) to toughen and grow, creating a lump of skin. This keratin can then continue to push down into the skin, potentially affecting the nerves underneath the skin.

You will find corns in all sizes, some have tiny dots that are barely noticeable, whilst others will suffer from bigger corns that can push down to the skin with such force that they could affect the bones beneath. In these cases it may be necessary to carry out surgery to prevent the growth and discomfort of the corn.

Corns can also be formed in several different places; you may find that you have one on the top of your foot or side of your toe and both of these are most likely to have been caused by footwear that is rubbing.

They can also form on the sole of the foot, which could be down to the formation of your foot; which may require you to have corrective inserts and specialised insoles to even out the pressure applied through your sole. Uneven pressure can also occur after an injury if your foot has been misaligned.

You may also find corns in-between your toes, caused when your toes rub together, which can be aggravated by tightly fitted shoes, and this is the same for those on the side or top of your foot. The pain caused by these will probably ease if you wear wider shoes, depending on the size of the corn, but unfortunately for those with corns on the soles of your feet, every step will be uncomfortable. Everyone will find their corns different, but if you are particularly uncomfortable or concerned about the growth of the corn you should seek medical advice.

What's the difference between a corn and a verruca? They may look similar, particularly if the hardened skin is only small, but there is a simple test you can carry out to find out which you are suffering from. If the growth is a corn it will hurt if pressure is applied to it, whereas if it is a verruca, pinching it will cause discomfort.

How do I treat a corn? Treatments will vary with each case and it will depend how large it is and how long you have suffered from the corn, but there are several treatments available.

Where the corn has formed on the top or side of your foot, then this is down to your footwear, so make a simple change to wider shoes until you have treated the corn. Sacrificing those pointed shoes or high heels could vastly decrease the chances of the corn growing or giving you discomfort. If you're a fan of slip-on shoes as well, this can lead to corns on the top of your toes as you constantly curl them to try and keep the shoes on your foot.

One fantastic item of footwear that allows your feet to breathe and gives them some space to realign into the correct position is flip-flop or toe-post sandals, so wear these around the house or outside if it is a warmer summer month.

Corn plasters are widely available and these can help ease the pain of the corn by easing the pressure that is applied to it; particularly the plasters with holes in it. Podiatrists can tend to favour Hydroheel, which is a gel-like plaster dressing that provides an additional skin-like layer to your foot, whilst also removing moisture from the area.

You should never try to remove the corn at home by yourself as this could lead to further problems and much more pain. Medical attention is a must if your corn needs removing as they will cut out the centre of the corn using a specialised scalpel.

Salicylic acid is another corn treatment but one that isn't always advised as it can burn good skin that surrounds the corn, aggravating and making a larger area more uncomfortable. It isn't advised if you suffer from bad circulation or diabetes.

When keeping your corns at bay, keep them as soft as possible by moisturising and exfoliating your feet everyday if possible, whilst also seeking regular treatments to help remove the corn fully in the future. If you have a particularly severe corn, you may need surgery, particularly if you have an underlying bone deformity.