What to look for when buying shoes

Look at width and toe height, not only at size, and try shoes on at the end of the day when your feet are slightly swollen.

The explanation

Size says something about length, not about width. Width determines whether your toes are pushed together, and that is one of the main causes of corns between the toes. Stand upright in the shoe and check whether your toes can spread.

Also look at the height of the toe box. With a toe that sits slightly bent, the top rubs against the leather and a corn forms there. A shoe with a higher, roomier toe box prevents that.

A sole that is too hard passes on every impact. On a concrete or tiled floor you feel that in the ball of the foot, where callus then forms. A slightly cushioned sole with some profile spreads the load better.

Patty's advice

Bring the socks you will actually wear, and alternate shoes daily so the pressure shifts and the footwear can dry.

Read more about corn treatment? See the treatment page or request an appointment straight away.