Callus and Corns

Corns and calluses are a build-up of hard, thick areas of skin. It develops from repeated friction, rubbing or irritation and pressure on the skin.
Corns and calluses typically form on the bony or prominent areas or the areas where there is ongoing rubbing against the skin.​
Corns
Corns tend to be small and round. There are several types of corns:
  • Hard corns: Small, hard dense areas of skin usually within a larger area of thickened skin. Hard corns usually form on areas where there is bone pressure against the skin.
  • Soft corns: These corns have a softer, rubbery texture. Soft corns appear between the toes.
  • Seed corns: These corns are small and usually form on the bottom of feet.
​Calluses
Calluses are hard and thick patches of skin. Compared with corns, calluses are larger and have a more irregular, spread out shape. You are most likely to see calluses on the bottom of your foot on the bony areas that carry your weight.

Who is more likely to get corns or calluses?

​You are more likely to develop corns or calluses if:
  • There is a change in the normal alignment of the bones in your feet. For example, arthritis in your feet, bunions, bone spurs or hammertoes.
  • You walk without socks.
  • You wear shoes that are too narrow for your foot.
Callus occurs due to repeated friction and pressure, as the shoe (or ground) rubs against a bony prominence on the toe or foot.
  • The skin thickens in response to this pressure.
  • Small amounts of friction or pressure over long periods of time cause a corn or callus.
  • Calluses typically develop under a metatarsal head (the long bone that forms the ball of the foot).
  • ​Calluses can have painful nerves and bursal sacs beneath them, causing symptoms ranging from sharp, shooting pain to dull, aching soreness.
​Are corns and calluses painful?

Corns and calluses may or may not be painful.
Some corns and calluses may not be painful when they first develop but then become painful over time as they thicken.
The raised areas of skin – especially of corns – can be tender or sensitive to touch or pressure.
Calluses tend to be less sensitive to touch.

What are the complications of having corns and calluses?

Untreated or unsuccessfully treated corns and calluses might grow larger in size until you fix what caused them to develop in the first place.
Corns or calluses can become infected. This can be painful and make walking difficult. 
What are the most likely causes of corns and calluses?

Corns and calluses have many of the same causes.
  • Shoes that do not fit properly, a common cause of corns on the top of the feet. Shoes that are too tight or have areas that rub against your skin cause shearing, friction, and pressure. Women who frequently wear high-heeled shoes often develop calluses on the balls of their feet from excessive pressure on this area.
  • Standing, walking, or running for long periods of time.
  • Sports activities or work that put pressure on your feet.
  • Going barefoot.
  • Not wearing socks with footwear.
  • Having socks and/or shoe linings that slip and bunch up under your feet while in shoes.
  • Walking with improper posture – walking too heavily on the inner or outer edge of your foot.
  • Structural foot deformities or altered biomechanics (hammertoes, tailor’s bunions, deformities from birth).
What are the most likely symptoms of corns and calluses?

Common symptoms include:
  • Hardened areas of skin where there is repeated friction or pressure on the skin (corns and calluses).
  • Small, round, raised bump of hardened skin surrounded by irritated skin (more likely to be a corn).
  • Thick, hardened, larger typically more flatten patch of skin (more likely to be callus).
  • Less sensitivity to touch than the surrounding skin (more likely to be callus).
  • Raised area may be painful or cause discomfort (more likely to be corn).
​How are corns and calluses diagnosed?

​A visual exam of the skin is usually all that is needed.
​If your corn or callus is on your foot, we may ask you to walk to check your posture and the way you walk, ask about your footwear and ask how you take care of your feet.
​How are corns and calluses treated?

Treatment depends on your symptoms and what caused the corn or callus.
For the typical corn or callus, removing the build-up of skin is an effective treatment. Follow these steps:
  1. Soak the corn or callus in warm water. Do this for about five to 10 minutes or until the skin softens.
  2. File the corn or callus with a pumice stone. First dip the pumice stone in warm water, and then use the stone to gently file the corn or callus.
  3. Do not remove too much skin. This could lead to bleeding and an infection.
  4. Apply moisturizing lotion or cream to the area daily. 
  5. Use padding. To protect calluses from further irritation during activity
  6. Wear shoes that properly fit.  Wear shoes with increased width and height in the toe area.
  7. Keep your toenails trimmed. Toenails that are too long can force the toes to push up against your shoe, causing a corn to form over time.
 
Never try to cut out, shave away or remove corns or calluses with a sharp object. Most corns and calluses gradually go away when the friction or pressure causing them stops. However, if you aren’t sure what is causing your corn or callus, if the hardened skin is very painful, or if you have diabetes, have poor circulation, are prone to infections or have delicate skin contact us for treatment. - This treatment involves in-office painless debriding (shaving away or removing) the hard skin build-up.
​​Self-care for corns to relieve discomfort is a 'short-term' solution.
For a long-term solution to rid these painful, lingering corns, please contact our office, 010 110 0171.
Can corns and calluses be prevented?

Feet are an often-overlooked part of the body until a problem develops.
  • Wear shoes that are comfortable and fit well.
  • The toe area of shoes should have enough length and width so toes are not rubbing against the shoe or other toes.
  • Avoiding high-heeled narrow-toed shoes that push the toes forward causing them to rub against the shoe or each other.
  • Avoid hard-soled or leather-soled shoes unless they have enough padding to cushion your feet.
  • Wear socks with your footwear.
  • Use cushioned or padded insoles
  • You may want to ask us about customized orthotics. These can even out weight-bearing forces on the bottom of your foot to prevent calluses from forming.
  • Inspect your feet daily and keep them clean and apply a moisturizing foot cream.
  • Keep your toenails trimmed.
  • Do not walk barefoot.
​After corns and calluses are healed, do they come back?

Since corns and calluses are the result of friction, irritation, or pressure against the skin, they can return if the cause has not been fixed. -If poorly fitted shoes were the cause and you continue to wear these same shoes, the corns and calluses will likely return.

When should you see your podiatrist if you have corns or calluses?
  • If you have diabetes. People with diabetes can have lack of feeling or peripheral neuropathy making it difficult to detect appropriate pain sensations. Persons with diabetes may have poor blood circulation in their legs and feet, which makes healing more difficult.
  • If you have other underlying diseases or conditions that increase your risk of infection or if you have frail, delicate skin.
  • If home treatments do not work to manage your corns or calluses.
  • If you think you may have abnormal bone structure or alignment as the reason why corns and calluses have repeatedly formed.
  • If your corns or calluses are painful, the pain worsens, or you think the corn or callus has become infected.
  • If your foot pain is intense or you have discomfort when walking.
1 Stan Road, Grayston Drive, Morningside, Sandton. Johannesburg 2057