Calluses are large areas of very rough, thickened skin. They commonly occur on the heel or ball of the foot and may have a yellow colour.

Corns (not to be confused with a certain popular yellow vegetable) develop when the pressure is concentrated on a small area. They form as small, round circles of thick skin. We often see them on the tops, the sides and in-between toes. They often occur on bony areas of the foot, particularly if there is not much cushioning in that area.

Corns are commonly confused with warts, which can look similar to the untrained eye. Although a wart can also form a small hard lump on the skin, these are caused by a virus in the HPV (human papillomavirus) family. Warts usually feel rough and sometimes small black spots are visible under the surface.

Corns are super irritating. But what causes them?

Corns typically grow in response to repeated pressure or friction. They develop as a natural response to help protect the skin underneath them and prevent blistering.

The most common cause of corns is shoes that don’t fit properly or are too tight. These rub against the skin forming a corn. Even if your shoes fit well, standing for extended periods, or doing lots of walking or running, can also cause corns and calluses.

If you wear high heels frequently, you’re likely to have calluses over the ball of the foot because of the pressure put on this area when walking.

Not wearing socks is a liability too. Socks protect against friction by providing an extra layer of material between the body of a shoe and your feet.

Some people are at a higher risk than others of corns. The elderly, for instance, are at higher risk because skin is often thinner and there is less natural padding.

You may also be at a higher risk if you roll your feet inwards or outwards when you stand, or if you have bunions, or hammer toes. These conditions results in pressure concentrating in smaller areas of your foot.

If you have a corn or callus, you might notice one of the following: 

• A hard, raised or thickened patch of skin on your foot

• A bump of skin which looks like it has a central spot or core

• A painful sensation when you put pressure on a certain part of your foot

Podiatrists are experts at treating corns and callus. To identify corns, they will examine your foot and may press different areas to assess sensitivity. They will watch you walk to assess the way you move.

Our Expert Podiatrists then use a non-invasive procedure to remove callus and corns. They also identify reasons why the corns or callus have formed, and suggest lifestyle changes to prevent corns from coming back again. This can be as simple as changes to footwear, or the use of specially made soft pads or insoles to take pressure off the painful area of your foot.

After assessing the way your feet move, they may suggest slight adjustments to the way you walk or run to reduce friction or pressure.