There are a lot of myths around the problem of corns on the foot. Corns are a problem related to there being too much pressure on an area of skin. On the foot this higher pressure can be due to a toe deformity like hammer toes or bunions where pressure from the shoe creates the corn. It could be due to a dropped metatarsal bone, leading to a corn or callus on the bottom of the foot. These corns and calluses are a natural reaction of the skin to too much pressure. All that is happening is that the skin thickens up to protect itself. There is a normal and natural response of the skin. However, as the pressure that caused that thickening continues, the skin becomes so thick that it becomes painful. A skilled podiatrist can easily remove a corn. Its not difficult.
However, after it has been removed, it will just come back again eventually and unless the cause of that higher pressure is not removed. That is when the myths come into place. Some people might accuse the podiatrist of not doing their job properly, when they probably did, but the corn returned as the pressure, perhaps from poorly fitting footwear is still there. Other think corns have roots and the podiatrists did not remove the root. They think the corn comes back because the Podiatrist did not remove the root (like the plant analogy, it grows back if its roots are not removed). Corns do not have roots. That is the myth. They come back because the cause of it is still there. The only way to get rid of corns permanently is to remove the cause. That means the hammer toe or bunion need to be corrected, or better fitting shoes used so there is no pressure on it or foot orthotics to get pressure of the dropped metatarsal is used. If you have a problem with corns, then discuss with your podiatrist the options to get permanently relief.