What Are the Causes of Seed Corns?

The development of corns and calluses is your skin's way of trying to guard itself from strain, weight and resistance. Corns commonly develop because of improperly fitting shoes. A seed corn, as the name implies, is a small, dry and stiff seed-like bump that can develop anywhere on the foot but typically pops up on the ball or heel of the foot. Seed corns can be prevented by removing the source of the pressure. Corns are not serious and require treatment only if they are irritating.

Shoes

Although the exact cause of seed corns is unknown, they often develop when skin is dry. When footwear doesn't fit correctly or when high-heeled shoes are worn, they apply pressure to certain areas of your foot. Shoes that are too loose-fitting may cause your feet to continually press against the shoe. In some cases, the line of stitching within the shoe may chafe your foot.

Socks

Your feet can be exposed to unnecessary friction if you fail to wear socks with shoes and sandals. Wearing socks or stockings that are too tight or otherwise don't fit your feet may also lead to problems such as seed corns.

Movement Stress

Seed corns may develop from the pressure and weight caused by repetitive movements, such as walking on a sloping surface or standing or walking on a hard surface, such as concrete, for an extended period. Sometimes seed corns are because of imbalanced walking patterns. This may result in unevenly distributed pressure on the feet, which is referred to as gait or biomechanical abnormalities.

Foot Deformities

The Mayo Clinic says foot deformities, such as bunions (an abnormal, bony bump that forms on the joint at the base of your big toe), hammertoe (the toe is bent at the middle joint, so that it resembles a hammer) and bone spurs (bony projections that develop along the edges of bones), may create continual rubbing in your shoe.