Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

146 The Integumentary System
compress and irritate the nerves in the underlying
tissues, and continue to grow as long as the pressure
against the toes continues.
The most effective treatment for corns is prevention
by wearing low-heeled shoes that fit
properly. A shoe with a heel more than half an
inch higher than the rest of the shoe’s sole causes
the foot to slide forward in the shoe, squeezing
the toes and subjecting them to pressure from the
sides and top. Once a corn develops, treatment
focuses on softening the skin and relieving pressure
against the area. Self-care measures include
• wearing flat-soled, wide-toe-box shoes
• using corn pads, donut-shaped felt or foam
rings, to relieve pressure against the sensitive
inner core of the corn while wearing shoes
• gently rubbing the corn with a pumice stone
while in the bath or shower
• applying aloe vera gel or moisturizing lotion to
the area
Large corns or corns that fail to respond to selfcare
measures require evaluation and possible
treatment from a podiatrist (foot care specialist),
who may anesthetize the corn and use a scalpel to
shave away some of the overgrown skin.
See also BLISTER; CALLUS; KERATOCYTE.
cradle cap A form of DERMATITIS, also called
infantile seborrheic dermatitis, in which the sebaceous
structures of the SKIN oversecrete oils. The
excessive sebaceous secretions trap loose, dead
skin cells, forming crusts or scales. Cradle cap, as
the name implies, affects young infants. Doctors
believe the condition results from the surge of
maternal hormones that infuse the infant’s bloodstream
shortly before birth, stimulating the sebaceous
glands. Because the primary location of
body hair on the infant is on the head, the crusts
are most common on the scalp. They also may
form around the eyebrows. Gentle shampooing
helps keep the scalp clean. The caregiver can rub
baby oil into crusted areas to soften crusts before
shampooing to help remove them. Cradle cap
generally clears up within a few months and does
not occur after about age 12 months.
See also DANDRUFF; HORMONE; SEBACEOUS GLAND.