Which of the following is a listed cause of corns?

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Corns form when skin is repeatedly pressed and rubbed, and ill-fitting footwear is the most common source of that pressure. Shoes that are too short push the toes against the front of the shoe, creating constant friction on the toe tops and sides. The skin responds by thickening in a localized, cone-shaped area (a corn) to protect underlying tissues, which is why this situation makes sense as the listed cause. The other options don’t fit as directly: overlong toes can contribute to crowding but aren’t the standard listed cause of corns; a dry environment doesn’t provoke the thickening of skin seen in corns; and while a bony growth can press on the skin, corns are primarily a response to repetitive friction from poorly fitting footwear rather than bone alone. To prevent or relieve corns, choose shoes with enough length and width to avoid toe crowding and pressure, and consider protective padding or padding in areas of high friction.