Sue Ferguson
Chiropodist and Podiatrist in Tenterden, Kent
LOCATION: Home | Topic of the Month | Felt pad for painful corn on little toe Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council
Registration No. CH16194
 

Special Topic

Felt pad for painful corn on little toe
How to made a chiropody felt pad

 

If you have a painful corn you should consult a chiropodist or podiatrist for a proper diagnosis and for the corn, callus or hard skin to be pared down. Please do not pare down your own corns or use salicylic acid corn plasters as these can be dangerous. If you can’t afford to see a private chiropodist or podiatrist please ask your GP if you can be referred to your local NHS podiatry department. Whether you will be allowed an NHS podiatry appointment will depend on your medical need.

If an NHS podiatry appointment is not an option and you can't afford private treatment then what can you do?

  • look carefully at your footwear choice - tight narrow shoes, unsupportive shoes and pointed shoes will make your problem worse.

  • pad the area - how do you do this?
Making a felt pad for a painful corn on the 5th (little) toe

I have marked the skin on the little toe where you typically might find a corn.

Little toe - typical site for a corn
Little toe - marker pen - typical site for a corn

Items you will need to buy

Chiropody felt – at least 5 mm thick
Tape – Hypoallergenic tape is best such as Fixomul or Hypafix. Many people have micropore already at home but this is not the best option.

Items you will need to use

Scissors that are sharp enough to cut through the chiropody felt.

Making the chiropody felt pad

Take a large sheet of chiropody felt and cut a small rectangle (about 2 x 4 cm). Remove a small piece of the felt as shown below, trim the corners to leave a crescent shape. Chamfer the edges and then trim further using a pie crust effect on the outside of the felt pad.

Chiropody felt pad
Chiropody felt pad 2 cm x 4cm
Remove a small piece of the felt as shown above
Remove a small piece of the felt as shown above
Trim the corners to leave a crescent shape
Trim the corners to leave a crescent shape
Chamfer the edges
Chamfer the edges
Edges chamfered
Edges chamfered
Trim further using a pie crust effect on the outside of the felt pad
Trim further using a pie crust effect on the outside of the felt pad

Prepare the skin

Make sure the skin is clean and dry. Do not apply foot cream. If you have recently applied foot cream to the area the felt pad might not stick to the skin.

Place the pad on the little toe

The aim of the felt pad is to deflect the pressure away from the corn. Place the pad in the correct place for your toe and particular corn. If you place the pad on top of the corn or too near the corn you might increase pain in the area.


Cover the area with hypoallergenic tape

Carefully place tape over the felt pad. Do not wrap the tape completely around the toe because you might hinder the blood circulation to the toe.

Hypafix tape
Hypafix tape
Hypafix tape cut to size
Hypafix tape cut to size
Place the first piece of tape over the felt pad
Place the first piece of tape over the felt pad
Place the second piece of tape over the pad
Place the second piece of tape over the pad
Smooth the tape down and make comfortable
Smooth the tape down and make comfortable

It is OK to get the area wet in the bath or shower. Remove excess moisture from the felt pad by gently patting the area with a towel.

 

For more chiropody tips look on my work blog www.footstar.co.uk

If the area on your toe is infected with a bacterial infection rather than just a corn or hard skin then it might be red, swollen, very painful, throbbing and/or hot. If the toe is infected you should see your GP or a chiropodist or podiatrist as soon as possible. If you are diabetic or have other medical problems you should not self treat and should urgently seek treatment.

   
Contact Sue Ferguson
Podiatrist
Book an appointment now to help your foot pain
Tel: 01580 765546
Tape
Microporous Tape
Callus Pad
Callus pad
Corn Pad
Corn Pad

Sue Ferguson
BSc (Hons), MRCPod
Chiropodist and Podiatrist

2 St Benets Court
Tenterden
Kent TN30 6QS
Tel: 01580 765546

Email: sjf.ferguson@gmail.com