Water corn
A water callus is a formation on the skin that occurs as a result of its mechanical damage due to constant friction. As a result of rubbing, a bubble is formed, inside of which a transparent liquid is contained. A water corn is also called dropsy. This formation occurs most often on the feet due to wearing uncomfortable shoes or on the palms, fingers, which happens after prolonged work with a tool (hammer, axe, screwdriver, shovel and other objects).
The content of the article:
Causes of water corns
Symptoms of water corn
Treatment of water corn
Prevention of water corns
Water corn
Water callus responds well to treatment, and if you carefully take care of the affected area of the skin, then there will be no trace of dropsy. The appearance of a water corn is explained by the shift of the surface layer of the skin, which occurs due to friction. A water callus remains unnoticed for a long time, but further stages can be very painful. Constant friction peels off the surface layer of the skin, forms a cavity filled with a specific fluid called intercellular. This is how a water callus is formed. What to do when such an education appears, how to properly treat and care for the affected area of the skin, we will analyze in detail below.
Causes of water corns
The most common reason for rubbing corns is tight, uncomfortable, narrow, rigid shoes that contribute to the appearance of corns. The skin areas most exposed to mechanical action are most quickly affected by dropsy.
The same applies to rubbing the skin as a result of wearing tight clothes. The formation of calluses is actively promoted by increased sweating or the presence of holes on the fabric, which allows the skin to freely come into contact, for example, with the material of shoes.
Often a water callus occurs during physical work. What to do if the skin is extremely sensitive? After all, the handle of a shovel, the handle of a hammer or a kitchen knife, and the use of sports equipment can rub it. It is necessary to reduce the time of working with the tool or equipment in such a way as to protect your hands from chafing.
Symptoms of water corn
Initially, a water callus looks like redness, characterized by swelling and soreness. The second stage of dropsy formation involves the formation of a cavity gradually filling with intercellular fluid. At this stage, the corn causes unpleasant and rather painful sensations, because its walls are tense.If the affected skin is injured at this moment, the corn will burst, pouring out liquid, and a bright red oozing wound will remain in place of the bubble.
It is not recommended to injure the corn, since an open wound is formed that is susceptible to infection. Especially dangerous is the ingestion of staphylococcus or streptococcus, which is likely if the rupture of the bladder occurred with the peeling of the wall.
How to determine that the wound was infected? A torn corn becomes inflamed if a bright red spot remains in its place, a sharp pain occurs under pressure and friction, the fluid in the cavity becomes cloudy, suppuration, yellow crusts, and fever appear.
Depending on the stage at which the development of a water corn is (whether there is infection, infection, suppuration), the process of its treatment will depend. In some cases, if the water callus is small, you can self-medicate, but sometimes you can not do without medical help.
Treatment of water corn
As mentioned above, if the water callus is small, then you can help yourself by putting a Band-Aid on the bubble, without opening or injuring the dropsy.
A large water corn needs to be protected from injury and infection, go to a specialist, preferably on the first day after the appearance of dropsy on the skin.
Piercing a corn is a simple process, which, however, should be carried out with extreme care. To prevent infection and inflammation of the punctured bladder, it is necessary to pay attention to proper sterilization of the instrument.
The puncture site is lubricated with an antibacterial, aseptic agent, such as iodine, green diamond solution, alcohol. The water corn is eliminated with a sterilized needle.
The water corn is pierced from the side to prevent injury to the bottom of the bubble and prevent its detachment. If the corn is large, it is better to make several punctures so that the removal of fluid takes place constantly and evenly. It is impossible to injure the wall of the bladder, because it protects the delicate skin from damage. If you start to tear off the shell of dropsy, then a trace will form in place of the corn.
After the puncture is performed, the dropsy cavity is gently pressed with a napkin or bandage, which allows you to completely remove the liquid from the bladder. To prevent the wound from becoming inflamed and infected after these manipulations, a gauze bandage soaked in antibiotic ointment is applied to it. Upon completion of these procedures, a patch is additionally applied to the puncture site, protecting the wound from injury.
It is necessary to apply an antibacterial ointment and in case of accidental rupture of a water corn. Carrying out manipulations consists in treating the wound with an aseptic and applying a bandage with ointment, and then a patch.
An infected corn will require more serious intervention. The doctor should open the cavity, clearing it of pus, infection and inflammatory products. Then the wound is drained, and the patient is additionally prescribed antibacterial prophylactic local treatment.
Obviously, the puncture of large calluses should be carried out by a doctor, since self-medication is dangerous in this case. It is possible to damage the wall of the bladder, the skin, introduce an infection or insufficiently disinfect the wound, allowing it to become infected or inflamed. The specialist will carry out the puncture so that it does not touch the walls of the water corn, thereby protecting the patient from various complications.
Prevention of water corns
If a corn appears on the hands (palms and fingers) after prolonged work with the tool, it is necessary to protect the skin from rubbing. It is recommended to perform all physical work of this kind using protective gloves or mittens.
The appearance of calluses on the feet can be prevented by wearing comfortable soft shoes that do not squeeze, rub or squeeze the foot. For sports, you need to choose specially designed and created shoes for this.
Since the appearance of calluses can be provoked by excessive sweating, it is necessary to take care of buying acrylic socks that remove sweat well.
During daily work, it is necessary to use paper towels to wipe your hands from excessive moisture, which contributes to the appearance of calluses. Shoes must be dried well and treated with talc or other powdery means.
It is possible to prevent the occurrence of water corns by simply observing the basic rules of personal hygiene and body care. It is much easier to prevent skin chafing than to heal a burst, inflamed or infected corn.
