Corns and Calluses: What They Really Mean and How to Treat Them

If you feel like you are walking on a tiny pebble that never leaves, you may have a corn or a callus. These thicker skin areas are your body’s protective response to repeated rubbing or pressure. They are common, often annoying, and very treatable without toughing it out.¹

What Are Corns and Calluses

Corns and calluses form when skin experiences repeated rubbing or pressure. Your body responds by creating extra keratin to protect the area underneath.¹

Corns are smaller and more focused. They usually show up on or between toes and often have a firm center.¹

Calluses are broader and flatter. They typically sit under the ball of the foot or the heel where pressure is highest.¹

The difference matters because the best treatment depends on where the pressure starts and how your foot loads during walking.²

It’s Physics, Not “Tough Feet”

Each step can send two to three times your body weight through your feet. When that force is not balanced, skin thickens to defend the deeper tissues.²

Why They Form

Most corns and calluses come from mechanical overload — a specific spot is taking more pressure than it should.²

Common causes include:

• Shoes that are too tight, too loose, or too narrow²

• Toe deformities such as hammertoes or bunions that create rubbing²

• High arches or flat feet that shift weight unevenly²

• Hard floors with barefoot time that adds friction²

• Age-related fat pad thinning that reduces natural cushioning²

• Diabetes or neuropathy that alter pressure awareness and healing¹

🦶 Related Reading: Plantar Fasciitis Treatment Guide

Corn vs Callus: Quick Comparison

Feature	Corn	Callus
Location	On or between toes	Ball of foot or heel
Shape	Round with a firm center	Broad, flat thickened skin
Pain	Sharp, pinpoint pain	Dull, achy discomfort
Common Cause	Rubbing from toe shape or tight shoes	Pressure from walking or shoe fit

If you can point to one tiny sharp spot that feels like a pebble, it is likely a corn. If it is a thicker patch that aches across a wider area, it is likely a callus.¹

When to See a Podiatrist

Corns and calluses may seem harmless, but chronic pressure can lead to cracks, blisters, and even ulcers — especially in people with diabetes or circulation problems.¹

See a podiatrist if:

• The area is painful, bleeding, or cracking

• You see redness or drainage

• You have diabetes or neuropathy

• The spot keeps coming back after home care

• It interferes with walking, work, or exercise

In clinic, we can safely remove the thickened skin and address the pressure source so relief lasts.¹

👣 Also Helpful: Your Foot and Ankle Anatomy Guide

Home Treatment and Prevention

The key to lasting relief is removing the source of pressure, not just the dead skin.¹ ²

Step 1: Fix the Footwear

• Choose a wide toe box and a soft upper to reduce rubbing

• Make sure there is enough depth if you add insoles or orthotics

• Avoid shoes that pinch or slide while walking

Clinically Trusted Picks:

• Brooks Ghost Max 3 — shock absorption and smooth rocker support

• Hoka Bondi 9 — plush cushioning for pressure relief

• Topo Ultraventure 4 — roomy forefoot that lets toes spread

Step 2: Gently Thin the Skin

• Soak feet in warm water for 10 to 15 minutes

• Use a pumice stone or foot file 1–2 times per week

• Apply a urea-based cream nightly (20–40%)

Recommended creams:

• Urea 40% Cream

⚠️ Important: Avoid medicated corn pads with salicylic acid unless prescribed — they can burn healthy skin, especially in people with diabetes.¹

Step 3: Offload Pressure

• Use silicone toe sleeves, foam pads, or orthotic inserts to spread pressure²

• Use soft gel separators for corns between toes²

• Custom or OTC orthotics can help if alignment keeps pressure concentrated²

Step 4: Keep Skin Healthy

• Moisturize daily

• Wear moisture-wicking socks

• Do not peel or pick at thickened skin

• Trim toenails straight to limit rubbing in shoes

💡 Quick Tip: If a corn keeps returning, your body is telling you that something about your gait or shoe fit is still off. Treat the cause for long-term relief.²

What Happens in the Office

Debridement: Thickened skin is safely removed with sterile tools — immediate relief.¹

Assessment: We evaluate shoe fit, foot shape, and gait to find the true source of pressure.²

Correction: Pads, footwear changes, orthotics, or occasionally a small minimally invasive procedure if a bone prominence keeps causing pressure.² ³

Most patients walk out more comfortable within minutes.¹

Pediatric Note

Corns are uncommon in children. Repeated calluses can signal early gait issues or toe shape changes that should be addressed before they cause discomfort or activity limitations.³

👶 Parents Start Here: Pediatric Flatfoot: What Parents Need to Know

Common Myths and the Real Truth

Myth	Reality
“Just file it down and it will go away.”	Filing offers temporary relief, but without removing the pressure source it always returns.
“Corn pads cure corns.”	They dissolve surface skin but do not fix the underlying pressure and may burn healthy tissue.
“Only older people get them.”	Footwear and biomechanics matter far more than age—anyone can develop them.
“Cut them off yourself.”	Self-trimming risks infection and injury. The true fix is correcting the pressure cause.

When Surgery Is Considered

Surgery is rare. It may be needed when a bone spur or hammertoe keeps pressing, when months of conservative care have failed, or when pain limits daily life.

Most procedures are minimally invasive with fast recovery.³

Prevention That Works

• Rotate shoes daily so materials rebound

• Keep skin moisturized

• Check your feet often, especially if diabetic

• Use cushioning for workouts on hard floors

• Address deformities or gait issues early

The Bottom Line

Healthy skin follows healthy pressure. You should not feel a hot spot every step you take.

If you do, we can fix both the skin and the source.¹ ²

Question	Answer
What’s the difference between a corn and a callus?	A corn is a small, focused area of thickened skin that usually appears on or between toes and often feels like a pebble. A callus is a broader, flatter area that forms under weight-bearing spots like the ball of the foot or heel.
Do medicated corn pads work?	Not usually. Acid pads dissolve skin but don’t treat the pressure that caused the corn. They can also burn healthy tissue—especially risky for people with diabetes.
Can I cut or file them off myself?	It’s best not to. Home trimming can lead to bleeding or infection. A podiatrist can safely remove the thickened skin and correct the cause to prevent recurrence.
When should I see a podiatrist?	Seek professional care if the area is painful, cracking, or bleeding, if you notice redness or drainage, or if it keeps returning despite home care. People with diabetes or poor circulation should always get medical evaluation.
Can new shoes really help?	Absolutely. Shoes with a wide toe box, softer uppers, and cushioned insoles redistribute pressure and can stop most corns and calluses from coming back.

🛠️ Feet Made Simple: Products I Recommend for Corns & Calluses

These are evidence-based, clinic-tested products that help reduce pressure, soften thickened skin, and keep your feet healthy. I use or recommend each of these regularly in practice.

👟 Shoes & Footwear

• Brooks Ghost Max 3 – Excellent shock absorption and rocker sole for reduced forefoot stress

• Hoka Bondi 9 – Plush cushioning for pressure relief and comfort on long days

• Topo Ultraventure 4 – Wide toe box and stable base to prevent toe rubbing

🧴 Skin Care & Creams

• Urea 40% Cream – Deep-penetrating urea formula for thick or dry callused areas

🦶 Pressure Relief & Protection

• Silicone Toe Sleeves – Reduce friction and protect toes from corns

• Orthotic Inserts – Distribute weight evenly and prevent recurrence of pressure spots

🪶 Exfoliation Tools

• Pumice Stone – Use after soaking to safely smooth thick skin

References

¹ Naylor J, Singh D. Corns and Callosities: Current Understanding and Treatment. Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery. 2023.
² Langer P. Biomechanical Contributors to Recurrent Plantar Callosities and Their Management. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association. 2022.
³ Hsi R, et al. Mechanical Overload Syndromes of the Foot and Modern Care Pathways. Foot and Ankle International. 2021.