Hard bump on toe located next to big toe

by Angela
(Santa monica, CA)

recently I have a bump that is on both feet on the toe next to the big toe. It is hard and feels like a part of the bone. It sticks out and doesn't hurt but looks strange. I have never had this before. What is this?

it is round in shape and is right below the middle of the toe.

Thank You for your help.

Angela

Hi Angela,

Assuming your second toe is a hammertoe, the round spot on top of the toe, if it is leathery in appearance with no hard "spot" is from excessive pressure and irritation on the underlying bone and has caused an excessive overgrowth of skin.
If the skin is hard and you feel like you can "pick" off some of the skin then you probably have a garden variety corn which is also the result of excessive shoe pressure on the underlying bone.
The easiest way to improve the condition is to avoid shoes that put too much pressure on the second toe, but I am not naive; most women do not consider that realistic advice.
Your other option would be surgical intervention to have the bones remodeled to reduce the shoe to bone friction.
My opinion is that unless the toe really hurts, you would be better off leaving the toe alone.
Marc Mitnick DPM