Homeopathic Management of Heloma Durum: A Review of Remedies and Clinical Outcomes

Abstract

Corn, also known as heloma or clavus, is a localized thickening of the stratum corneum due to repeated friction or pressure, commonly from ill-fitting footwear. It is a hyperkeratotic response to trauma, often seen on the feet, soles, dorsum of toes, and interdigital spaces. Corns can be hard (heloma durum) or soft (heloma molle). Common in athletes, diabetics, older adults, and those with foot deformities, corns are considered more of a symptom than a disease.¹ Plantar hyperkeratotic lesions affect 60% of older adults and are linked to female gender, hallux valgus, toe deformities, increased ankle flexibility, and prolonged standing. They are not associated with obesity, limb dominance, forefoot pain, or foot posture. Lesions typically fall into medial, central, or lateral distribution patterns.² Corns affect 14–48% of people and are a common cause of foot pain, often leading individuals to seek podiatric care. They can negatively impact mobility and quality of life. While scalpel removal by a podiatrist is the usual treatment, it often needs repetition due to recurrence, and there is limited evidence on the most effective long-term solution.³ Hard lesions on the sole, including corns and warts, are grouped under plantar keratosis. Surgical treatment is generally avoided due to high recurrence rates and potential scarring, which may cause similar discomfort. Conventional treatments are often invasive, have low success rates, and require lengthy recovery periods.⁴ Homeopathy uses a gentle, effective approach to treat corns by targeting the root cause. Unlike surgery, which only temporarily removes corns and carries a risk of infection, homeopathy offers a safe, long-lasting, and risk-free solution.⁵

Keywords: Heloma Durum, Corns, Types, Homoeopathic Approach, Comprehensive Review

Introduction 

A corn, also known as a clavus, heloma, or focal intractable plantar hyperkeratosis, is a small, localized area of thickened skin that forms due to continuous friction or pressure. It typically appears as a sharply defined, raised, and hardened lesion, often found on the feet over bony areas. Unlike calluses, which are larger, spread-out, and usually painless, corns are painful and more concentrated. They are commonly seen in people who wear tight or ill-fitting shoes, athletes, the elderly, individuals with diabetes, and amputees who experience uneven weight distribution while walking.⁶ The development of corns is frequently linked to mechanical stress caused by pressure from footwear, especially in the presence of structural deformities like raised toes, bent joints, or inward/outward deviations of the toes. These abnormalities create focal pressure points that lead to tissue hardening and corn formation. X-rays may show bone outgrowths or naturally prominent bones beneath the skin. Corns may also be associated with small fluid-filled sacs (bursae) located between the thickened skin and the bone. Proper footwear and maintaining even pressure on the feet are important for preventing corns.⁷ Treatment of corns involves two main approaches: removing the corn and preventing its recurrence. To remove it, the affected foot is soaked in hot water, the hard skin is filed, and glacial acetic acid is applied. A protective rubber covering is used, and over a few days, the dead skin peels off. Afterward, boric ointment is applied until healing occurs. To prevent recurrence, the underlying causes—such as toe deformities (e.g., hammer toes) and ill-fitting footwear—must be corrected. Toe deformities may require surgical intervention, and patients should be fitted with custom-made shoes to relieve pressure and avoid future corns. Proper footwear, stretching exercises, and protective padding are essential parts of long-term management.⁸ Nature has long been a primary source of herbal medicine, with knowledge passed down through generations. Scientific studies on the biological and phytochemical properties of medicinal plants are essential for treating various human ailments. Herbal plants have been traditionally used to promote wound healing, including corns and calluses.⁹ Homoeopathy offers a holistic and effective approach to treating corns by addressing both the symptoms and underlying causes such as pressure, gait issues, or constitutional tendencies. Unlike conventional methods that focus on surgical removal or temporary relief, homoeopathic remedies work internally to gradually soften and eliminate corns without side effects.¹⁰

Methodology

Search techniques

The literature for this review was located using published material-such as library catalogues-and electronic databases-such as PubMed and HomBRex. In order to locate further relevant studies, we also perused the reference lists of the papers. For this literature review, the search phrases “Homoeopathy, “corns” the skin disorder,” and their MeSH variations in PubMed and HomBrex were used. The search strategy covered all pre-clinical studies with descriptions that were published up until 2024.

Study Selections

Clinical trials, remedy-based approaches, and review articles involving any form of homoeopathic treatment for corns were included in the selection process.

Data extraction 

Standardized Microsoft Excel files were used for data extraction. The author (G.L.) extracted the data and independently verified the information twice. Details on the drugs, dosage, positive control, trial duration, outcomes, and in-vivo experimental results were also collected by the same author. Any uncertainties were resolved through careful review and verification.

Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria

clinical case studies, Medicinal approaches, and Review studies published between 2016 and 2024 were included. 

Etiopathogenesis

Corns usually develop due to continuous friction and pressure on the skin, particularly over bony prominences. This repeated mechanical stress triggers a protective response by the body, resulting in thickened, hyperkeratotic skin—a condition known as corn formation. The excess horny epithelial layer serves as a defense mechanism to prevent skin breakdown or ulceration. This also explains why corns commonly appear near the condyles of the metatarsals and phalanges, and are more frequent in individuals with foot deformities. They are typically found on high-pressure areas such as the dorsum of the toes, the last interdigital space, and the soles.⁶

Types of Corns

1. Hard Corn

• Location & Cause:
  Hard corns typically develop over bony prominences, such as the heads of the metatarsals, due to continuous pressure or friction—often from tight or ill-fitting footwear. They are more common in individuals with foot deformities and are frequently seen in females.
• Appearance & Features:
  These are small, firm, deep-seated lesions with a central core of yellowish or gray-white dead, cornified skin. The lesion is narrow, deeply embedded, and highly sensitive or painful to pressure.
• Histology:
  Unlike callosities, hard corns display marked keratosis with a central plug composed of degenerated epithelial cells and cholesterol deposits.
• Symptoms:
  Pain arises from the corn pressing against underlying nerves. If infected, the area becomes inflamed, tender, and walking may become difficult. In severe cases, complications such as abscesses, ulceration, and even bursitis (due to associated bursae) may occur—especially in diabetic patients.
• Treatment:

• Conservative treatment includes topical application of keratolytic agents such as salicylic acid, or a combination of salicylic acid, lactic acid, and collodion to soften the lesion.
• Excision may be performed but should be avoided in diabetic individuals with neuropathy or poor blood supply (ischemic feet).
• Pressure relief is essential to prevent recurrence.

2. Soft Corn

• Location:
  Soft corns are most commonly found between the fourth and fifth toes, where constant friction between the bases of the adjacent proximal phalanges causes skin breakdown.
• Features:
  These corns remain soft due to moisture retention between the toes, making them appear whitish and macerated. Though less hard than typical corns, they can still be quite painful.¹¹

Diagnostic Approaches

• Dermoscopy:
  Dermoscopic examination can assist in differentiating corns from other lesions such as warts. Corns typically exhibit areas of hyperkeratosis without vascular or hemorrhagic structures, features that are more commonly present in warts.¹²
• Radiographic Imaging:
  Foot X-rays may be useful to identify underlying bony prominences or structural deformities that contribute to corn development, especially in chronic or recurrent cases.
• Plantar Pressure Studies:
  These tests can assess areas of increased pressure on the soles, which often correspond with the sites of plantar corn formation. Identifying and offloading these pressure points is crucial for effective management.
• Laboratory Investigations:
  In selected patients, additional tests such as fasting blood glucose may be recommended to screen for diabetes, and rheumatoid factor testing may be considered if rheumatoid arthritis or other systemic causes of foot deformity are suspected.⁶

Treatment of Corns

Hard corns (heloma durum) are treated using various methods, with salicylic acid being a widely accepted and effective keratolytic agent. Despite its common use, few controlled studies have evaluated adhesive plasters with 40% w/w salicylic acid. These plasters work by softening and breaking down the hardened stratum corneum, promoting desquamation.

Treatment options include:

• Adhesive corn plasters (20–40% salicylic acid): Provide prolonged contact, soften the corn, and allow for easier removal.
• Topical applications (paste, ointment, collodion): Used alone or alongside other treatments.
• Footwear modification: Eliminates pressure from ill-fitting shoes.
• Protective pads or shields: Reduce friction and pressure.
• Chiropody procedures: Surgical enucleation (removal) by professionals.
• Surgical correction: For underlying deformities or persistent cases.

Salicylic acid is safe, effective, and has been in use since ancient times. It helps by hydrating and exfoliating the hyperkeratotic skin.¹³

Homoeopathic Approach to Corns

Homoeopathy offers a safe, natural, cost-effective, and long-term solution for corns with no side effects, as remedies are derived from natural sources.

Commonly Indicated Remedies:

1. Antimonium Crudum

• Hard, inflamed, sensitive corns with thickened skin.
• Worse from walking; often indicated in obese children and elderly with alternating constipation and diarrhea.

2. Ranunculus Scleratus

• Painful corns with acrid discharge.
• Burning, smarting pain, especially in left toes. Worse from pressure and touch, better by stretching toes.

3. Silicea

• Best for soft corns between the toes.
• Pus-forming, offensive-smelling, painful with stitching or burning sensations.

4. Hepar Sulph

• Inflamed, suppurating corns with stinging, burning pain.
• Very sensitive to touch.

5. Ranunculus Bulbosus

• Hard, horn-like corns with severe smarting and searing pain.
• Highly touch-sensitive.

6. Ferrum Picricum

• Corns with yellow discoloration due to overexertion or long walking.

7. Nitric Acid

• Hard, painful corns causing stinging, tearing, and pressing pain.

8. Lycopodium

• Deep, painful corns, hurting like stepping on a pebble.
• Suitable for callosities on soles and toes with aching or burning pain.

9. Sulphur

• Aching, stinging corns, worse when covered.
• Suited for those with hot feet, sweet cravings, and philosophical traits.

10. Natrum Muriaticum

• Painful corns with ripping and stitching pain.
• Indicated for emaciated, emotionally sensitive individuals with greasy skin.

11. Calcarea Carbonica

• Cold, damp feet, corns with raw soles and horny callosities.
• For sluggish, fair, flabby individuals with sweat and glandular issues.⁵

A Comprehensive Analysis of Homoeopathy in the characteristics of corns

Sl.no	Title and Author	Name of the Journal and year of publications	Methodology	Discussion
1	Corn and Homoeopathic Treatment: A Case Report (Dr Gogoi Modit ranjan , Dr Sarma Tikendrajit)	Scholars Journal of Applied Medical Sciences (SJAMS) (2016)	Clinical case study	The case demonstrates the effectiveness of Antimonium crudum 200 in the successful treatment of corns. A careful assessment of the patient’s symptoms before and after treatment confirmed complete recovery. This highlights the importance of accurate remedy selection and proper application in achieving permanent cure through homoeopathy.14
2	Role Of Homoeopathic Medicine in the case of corn, The Case Report (Charushila Gawal)	Materia Novum – The Journal of Homoeopathy (2019)	Clinical case study	The case was treated with Antimonium Crudum. The Prescriber has given homoeopathic similimum. After giving medicine, the size of corn and hardness reduced substantially and patient is not experiencing any pain. After giving medicine the case was under observation for 3 months and in every follow up pain and size, hardening has reduced.15
3	Homoeopathic treatment of Heloma durum-Case Report(K. M. Nisanth Nambisan, Smita N. Nambisan)	Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy(Aug 2021)	Clinical Case Study	Quick recovery in all cases using the same remedy without individual case analysis suggests effectiveness due to shared genetic traits. This supports the concept of a genetic similimum, where a single remedy suits individuals with similar hereditary and constitutional makeup, aligning with homoeopathy’s holistic approach.4
4	Corn treated with Homoeopathic medicine: A case study (Dr. Subhash Chand Yadav and Dr. Anshuman Kankoriya)	International Journal of Homoeopathic Sciences(2021)	Clinical case study	Case taking was done followed by Repertorization using Synthesis 9.0 repertory Radar 10.0 and Sulphur has been given as an individualized medicine.10
5	Corns of feet: Can homoeopathy be a better alternative? A narrative review(Pooja Gautam, Meetu Goel, Amulya Ratna Sahoo, Papri Debbarma)	Journal of Integrated Standardized Homoeopathy(2022)	Review Articles	Homoeopathy offers a gentle and potentially permanent solution, but more clinical cases and studies are needed to establish its efficacy with strong evidence.1
6	Homoeopathic approach in corns (Dr. Sreevidhya JS)	International Journal of Homoeopathic Sciences (2023)	Homoeopathic Medicinal Approach	Homeopathic remedies for corn decrease the severity of symptoms, the likelihood of recurrence, and the need for surgical intervention, thereby increasing patients’ quality of life.5
7	“Role of Homoeopathy in the treatment of corn”(Dr. Zubair ali khan, Dr. Devika Chaturvedi, Dr. Ram Prasad Yadav, Dr. Itti Mishra, Prof. Dr. Dileep Kumar Sonkar)	International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research  (2024)	Clinical case study	A proper case taking and repertorization was done and Sepia 30 CH was prescribed, after four follow ups there was marked relief which was analyzed by EQ-5D-5L score.16

Results

A total of seven studies published between 2016 and 2024 were reviewed, including five clinical case reports, one review article, and one medicinal approach study. Remedies such as Antimonium crudum, Sulphur, and Sepia were commonly used, selected through proper case-taking and repertorization. All cases showed notable improvement-either complete resolution or significant reduction in corn size, pain, and recurrence-demonstrating the clinical effectiveness of individualized homoeopathic treatment.

Discussion

The reviewed studies highlight that homoeopathy offers a safe and effective alternative for managing corns. Individualized remedy selection based on totality of symptoms played a key role in achieving successful outcomes. The cases showed that not only were corns resolved, but associated symptoms like pain and inflammation were also reduced without side effects. However, most studies were single-patient reports with limited sample sizes. To validate these findings, more extensive and controlled clinical trials are needed, focusing on long-term outcomes and standardized evaluation methods.

Reference 

1. Gautam P, Goel M, Sahoo AR, Debbarma P. Corns of feet: Can homoeopathy be a better alternative? A narrative review. J Integr Stand Homoeopathy. 2023 Apr 7;6(1):9–12. 

2. Spink MJ, Menz HB, Lord SR. Distribution and correlates of plantar hyperkeratotic lesions in older people. J Foot Ankle Res. 2009 Mar 30;2:8. 

3. Farndon LJ, Vernon W, Walters SJ, Dixon S, Bradburn M, Concannon M, et al. The effectiveness of salicylic acid plasters compared with ‘usual’ scalpel debridement of corns: a randomised controlled trial. J Foot Ankle Res. 2013 Jan;6(1):40. 

4. Nisanth Nambisan K, Nambisan S. Homoeopathic treatment of Heloma durum-Case Report. Indian J Res Homoeopathy. 2015;9(3):194. 

5. Js DrS. Homoeopathic approach in corns. Int J Homoeopath Sci. 2023 Jan 1;7(1):471–3. 

6. Al Aboud AM, Yarrarapu SNS. Corns. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025. 

7. McElvenny RT. Corns—Their etiology and treatment. Am J Surg. 1940 Dec;50(3):761–5. 

8. Roth, Paul Bernard. “THE TREATMENT OF CORNS.” The Lancet 185.4785 (1915): 1048. 

9. (PDF) A review on indigenous herbs as an imperative gift from nature for corns and calluses wound management. ResearchGate. 

10. Yadav DrSC, Kankoriya DrA. Corn treated with homoeopathic medicine: A case study. Int J Homoeopath Sci. 2021 Jan 1;5(1):234–6. 

11. M SB. SRB’s Manual of Surgery. Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers; 2019. 1249 p. 

12. Bae JM, Kang H, Kim HO, Park YM. Differential diagnosis of plantar wart from corn, callus and healed wart with the aid of dermoscopy. Br J Dermatol. 2009 Jan;160(1):220–2. 

13. Lang LMG, Simmonite N, West SG, Day S. Salicylic acid in the treatment of corns. The Foot. 1994 Sep;4(3):145–50. 

14. Gogoi, M. R., & Sarma, T. (2016). Corn and Homoeopathic Treatment: A Case Report. Scholars Journal of Applied Medical Sciences (SJAMS), 4(5C), 1669–1671. 

15. Gawali C, Scholar P. Role Of Homoeopathic Medicine in the case of corn, The Case Report. 

16. khan DZ ali, Chaturvedi DD, Yadav DRP, Mishra DI, Sonkar PDDK. ROLE OF HOMOEOPATHY IN THE TREATMENT OF CORN. In: JETIR. 2024.