Corns and Calluses

Skin and Nail Conditions· Also known as: hard skin, corns, calluses, heloma, callosityUpdated Oct 2026

Reviewed by Andrew Schox, BSc(Hons) PGradDipPod MPod, October 2026

At a Glance

Corns and calluses are areas of thick, hard skin. Your skin builds them up to protect itself from repeated pressure or rubbing. Callus is the most common foot skin problem, in people of all ages. A corn is a small, hard lump with a core in the middle, and it can hurt when pressed. A callus is a wider, flatter patch. Most are not serious, and taking the pressure off the spot is the main step. People with diabetes or poor circulation need extra care.

What is it?

Corns and calluses are areas of thickened skin. The medical word is hyperkeratosis (too much of the tough outer layer of skin). It is a normal response of your skin to pressure or rubbing that keeps happening over time.

A corn is small and sits in one spot. It has a hard, cone-shaped core of tough skin in the middle. A callus is larger, flatter and more spread out.

Callus is the most common foot skin problem, in people of all ages. Most corns and calluses are not serious.

Who does it affect?

Anyone can get them. They are most common on the feet and toes, and they also turn up on the hands.

People who spend a lot of time on their feet, are very active, or wear shoes that don't fit well are more likely to get them. Work shoes can be part of the problem. Older people with shoes that don't fit well are also more likely to have corns.

People with diabetes need extra care. A callus on the sole of the foot can be a sign of too much pressure in that spot, and over time this can lead to an ulcer (an open sore).

Signs and symptoms

A hard corn is the most common type. It looks like a small, hard, often yellowish lump, up to about the size of a small pea. It often sits inside a wider patch of thick skin. Hard corns usually form over a bony spot, such as the top of a toe, the little toe or the ball of your foot. They hurt when you press on them, because of the core in the middle.

A soft corn grows between your toes, where the skin stays damp. It looks white and rubbery, and it usually forms where two toes rub together.

A callus is a broader patch of rough, thick skin. On the foot, it often forms on the sole at the front of the foot. The skin may look yellowish or a bit discoloured.

What causes it?

The cause is too much pressure or rubbing on one spot. Your skin thickens to protect itself.

Common causes include:

shoes that are too tight, too narrow, too shallow or pointed, or that have high heels
a bony lump or a toe that is bent, which presses on your shoe
the way your foot works or the way you walk, which puts extra load on one area
lots of time on your feet, or very active work or sport

Corns on the top or sides of your toes often come from shoes that aren't deep or wide enough at the front.

How is it diagnosed?

Your podiatrist can usually tell by looking at your foot and feeling the spot. They will check where it is, whether it sits over a bone or between your toes, and what pressure may be causing it.

They will also check that it isn't something else, such as a verruca (plantar wart). They may ask about your shoes, work and activities.

Treatment

The aim is to take the pressure or rubbing off the spot. Care at home is a good place to start for most people.

Looking after it at home

Change to shoes that are not tight or pointed and don't have high heels. Make sure there is enough width and depth at the front for your toes. Avoid long walks and long periods of standing while the spot is sore.

Check the corn or callus every day. Look for bleeding under the skin, redness, swelling or pus.

Don't cut or pare a corn or callus yourself. It can cause an infection or damage healthy skin. Some corns have nerves and blood vessels in them and can bleed a lot if cut.

If you have diabetes, poor circulation or a weakened immune system, or if you are older, don't treat it yourself. These conditions can make foot problems more serious, so see your GP or a foot specialist.

Treatment from your podiatrist

Your podiatrist can look at what is causing the pressure, such as your shoes, a bony lump or the way you walk. Cutting and paring are best left to a podiatrist, not done with a razor or blade at home.

Your podiatrist can also talk to you about shoes that suit your feet. If your toes are crowded in narrow or shallow shoes, that is often the first thing to change.

Other options

For adults with diabetes, custom-made firm shoe inserts (orthoses) may help reduce the number and grade of calluses. This is limited evidence. Your podiatrist can tell you whether inserts might suit you.

Recovery

Most corns and calluses are not serious. Taking the pressure off the spot is the main step. How long they take to settle, and how often they come back, isn't clear yet, so ask your podiatrist what to expect for you.

If it hasn't improved after three weeks of looking after it at home, get it checked.

Preventing it

Shoes are the biggest thing you can change. Choose shoes with enough depth and width for your toes, and avoid tight, pointed or high-heeled shoes.

Check your feet every day for early changes. If a corn or callus keeps coming back, ask your podiatrist to help you find what is causing the pressure.

People with diabetes should have their feet checked by a professional regularly. In older people with diabetes, foot ulcers were strongly linked to shoes that didn't fit well. Those with an ulcer were up to 5 times more likely to be wearing badly fitted shoes. Good shoe fit really matters.

When to see a podiatrist

Book an appointment if

Book an appointment with your podiatrist if a corn or callus hasn't improved after three weeks of care at home, or if home care hasn't worked and the pain is getting in the way of your usual activities. Also book if you have diabetes, circulation problems or a weakened immune system, or if you are older, rather than treating it yourself.

Seek prompt assessment if

Book with your podiatrist or see your GP soon if a corn or callus bleeds, including bleeding under the skin or very dark colour. The same applies if it has pus or discharge, is red or swollen, is very painful, or the skin over it has broken. See your GP or another doctor today if you have an open sore (ulcer) on your foot, or if you have diabetes or poor circulation and notice any of these signs. If your GP can't see you today, go to an urgent care clinic or an after-hours GP.

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell a corn from a verruca (plantar wart)?

Corns and calluses tend to form on the parts of your foot that take your weight. A verruca can appear anywhere on the foot. A corn hurts when you press straight down on it. A verruca is usually painful when you pinch it from the sides. Your podiatrist can tell you which one you have.

Can I use corn plasters or other removal products from the chemist?

It is best to avoid them. Over-the-counter corn removal products can cause infection or damage healthy skin. Salicylic acid, a common ingredient, should be avoided if you have diabetes or peripheral vascular disease (poor blood flow in the legs). Ask your podiatrist what is safe and suits your foot.

Can I see a podiatrist without a referral from my GP?

In some places you can book a podiatrist yourself, without seeing a GP first. Public podiatry services may not be open to everyone and waiting times can be long. Seeing a private podiatrist is another option.