Corns and calluses are thickened skin caused by pressure or friction. Though they are similar in some ways, they differ in their precise anatomy: corns are small, deep, painful, hard-centred (often on toes), while calluses are larger, broader, less defined (soles, palms, knees), and usually painless. Although they differ in many ways, both result from tight shoes, activity, or structural issues. Treatment includes soaking, pumice stone filing, moisturising, and padding; however, individuals with diabetes or poor circulation should consult a healthcare provider to prevent infection. A podiatrist can provide specialised foot care for a corn or a callus.
Quick Facts: Corns vs Calluses
| Aspect | Corns | Calluses |
| Size | Small, localised | Larger, spread out |
| Location | Tops/sides of toes, between toes | Heels, balls of feet, weight-bearing areas |
| Appearance | Round bump with a hard centre | Broad, flattened, thickened skin |
| Pain | Often painful when pressed | Usually painless |
| Core | Hard central core, inflamed tissue | No central core |
What Are Corns and Calluses?
Calluses are broad, uniform thickenings on the weight-bearing area of skin, such as the heels and the ball of the foot. They are the skin’s protective response to irritation, resulting in waxy, flaky, or dry skin. A callus covers larger areas of skin than a corn and rarely causes pain.
Corns are small, focused formations with a hard core and inflamed tissue. They develop in non-weight-bearing areas, such as the tops, sides, or between the toes. They cause sharp, pinpoint pain when compressed, either by shoes or other objects.
Types of Corns
Hard Corns (Heloma Durum)
Most common type. Small, dense area of skin on the tops and sides of toes where bones press against shoes.
Soft Corns (Heloma Molle)
Whitish or greyish appearance with softer, rubbery texture. Found between toes (especially 4th and 5th), where moisture softens the skin. Often mistaken for fungal conditions. Particularly painful from adjacent toe pressure.
Seed Corns (Heloma Miliare)
Smallest type. Tiny plugs on the bottom of your feet, often in clusters on the weight-bearing area of the foot. Less painful than a hard corn. Associated with very dry skin conditions.
Corns and Calluses Symptoms
Common symptoms of corns and calluses include:
- Appearance: The skin is thick, rough, or hardened, with a dry/flaky/waxy texture. Corns are raised bumps; calluses are flattened.
- Sensation: Pain is common, especially with pressure. Corns cause sharp, localised pain; calluses cause duller, generalised pain.
It’s important to seek immediate medical attention for redness, swelling, warmth, signs of infection (pus, odour), bleeding/open wounds, or severe pain hindering walking. Individuals with diabetes or poor circulation must closely monitor symptoms, as complications can develop rapidly.
What Causes Corns and Calluses?
Corns and calluses form when repeated rubbing, pressure, or friction exceeds the skin’s tolerance. This stress causes the skin to thicken protectively (hyperkeratinization), and it becomes a problem when it becomes excessively thick.
Primary causes of this friction include:
Footwear: Ill-fitting shoes (e.g., high heels, lack of arch support) or walking without socks/shoes. Bunched socks also create pressure points.
Foot Structure: Bunions, hammertoes, or bone spurs alter pressure distribution.
Activity/Posture: High-volume athletic training or improper walking posture amplifies mechanical stress.
Other factors include:
- Manual labour or repetitive tool use
- Loss of natural foot padding with age
- Genetic predisposition to thickening (keratosis punctata)
- Severe dry skin conditions
Who’s at Higher Risk of Corns and Calluses?
Medical Conditions
- Diabetes: Nerve damage lessens sensation; poor circulation hinders healing.
- Arthritis: Changes foot mechanics and pressure.
- Foot deformities (Bunions, hammertoes, bone spurs): Cause abnormal pressure points.
- Peripheral neuropathy: Reduces pain warning signals.
- Poor circulation: Raises complication risks.
Age & Lifestyle
- Older adults: loss of fat/elasticity on the foot
- Athletes: runners, dancers, gymnasts
- Occupation: manual labourers, service workers
Anatomical Factors
- High arches, flat feet, or uneven leg lengths
- Long second toe (Morton’s toe)
- Gait abnormalities (overpronation, supination)
If several of these risk factors apply to you, regular podiatric check-ups are essential.
Corn vs Callus vs Wart: Telling Them Apart
What is the difference between a corn, a callus, and a wart?
| Feature | Corn | Callus | Plantar Wart |
| Cause | Pressure/friction | Pressure/friction | HPV virus |
| Appearance | Hard centre, defined edges | Diffuse, irregular | Black dots visible |
| Pain | Sharp when pressed | Usually painless | Painful with side squeeze |
| Location | Toes, bony areas | Weight-bearing areas | Bottom of feet |
| Contagious | No | No | Yes |
One examination a specialist will do is the black dot test. Plantar warts show tiny black dots (blood vessels); corns and calluses don’t.
Advanced Diagnostic Approaches
At The Foot Practice, we use a thorough check-up combined with modern tools.
The RehaWalk® pressure mapping machine shows exactly how your weight is distributed as you walk at different speeds. This helps us see how an unusual weight distribution during walking can cause corns and calluses on the feet. This information guides the design of custom orthoses (special shoe inserts) to relieve pressure on specific areas.
Stiff joints often make you move in ways that can put undue pressure on certain areas of your foot. We check the full range of motion in the legs and feet to identify any stiffness that can be causing your feet to be overloaded.
For people with diabetes or poor circulation, diagnosis is much more important and complicated. These conditions can reduce sensitivity in the extremities and delay healing; therefore, regular professional check-ups are vital. If circulation is poor, you might not feel the pain that normally signals it’s time to seek treatment.
Safe Home Treatment
If you’re wondering how to remove corns and calluses, the safest way to remove corns and calluses is through professional treatment. Here’s what you can do at home, while waiting for professional treatment:
- Soak feet in warm water for 5-10 minutes to soften the skin
- Gently file with a wet pumice stone or foot file
- Don’t remove too much of the skin, as you may risk bleeding and infection
- Moisturise daily with cream containing urea or ammonium lactate
- Use doughnut-style pads around corns to relieve pressure
- Wear properly fitted shoes with adequate toe room
- Keep toenails trimmed straight across to prevent toe pressure
- Apply a cold pack for painful corns (10-20 minutes maximum)
What NOT to do:
- Don’t self-treat if you have diabetes, have poor circulation, or are prone to infections
- Never cut, shave, or remove with sharp objects
- Avoid OTC corn and callus remover pads with salicylic acid (burns healthy skin)
Over-the-Counter Products
There are over-the-counter options for corns and calluses. However, you must use these with caution and seek professional help if anything goes awry. Salicylic acid products like corn and callus remover pads are one option, and they do the following for corns and calluses:
- Use chemicals to melt away the hard, thick skin
- May damage the good skin around a corn or callus
- Need to be placed exactly right, which is hard to do
- Might cause a skin infection if the skin breaks
- Should not be used by those with diabetes or poor blood flow in their feet
Safer alternatives:
- Soft, non-medicated ring-shaped pads
- Fuzzy padding (like velvet)
- Cushions for your shoes
- A podiatrist cutting them off
Never use OTC chemical treatment if you have:
- Diabetes
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Poor circulation
- Delicate or thin skin
- Open wounds
When to See a Podiatrist
See a podiatrist for corns and calluses if:
- You have diabetes or poor blood flow. Don’t try to treat yourself.
- You see signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, warmth, pus, or a bad smell.
- The pain is so bad it’s hard to walk.
- The corn or callus is bleeding or has an open sore.
- Corns or calluses keep coming back even though you’ve tried home remedies.
If you have diabetes, foot care is vital because nerve damage (neuropathy) can obscure corns or calluses, poor circulation slows healing, increasing the risk of infection, and a weakened immune system can exacerbate minor issues quickly. Daily foot checks are a must. Look closely at the tops and bottoms of your feet (use a mirror to see the soles), check for cracks, and watch for redness, swelling, colour changes, or new thick skin.
Call your podiatrist immediately if you notice concerns, as an unmanaged corn can lead to amputation if you’re a diabetic. Seek emergency help right away for redness/red streaks, swelling, warmth, pus/fluid, fever with foot problems, broken skin, worsening pain, or a bad smell.
Conditions Management at The Foot Practice
Effective removal of foot corns and calluses in Singapore requires the management of both immediate symptoms and underlying causes. Surface treatment is only temporary if biomechanical issues persist.
Professional debridement: We use sterile instruments to carefully remove thickened skin layers. This skilled approach, unlike home treatment, creates smooth, healthy tissue while preserving essential protective layers of skin.
Custom orthoses, based on detailed impressions and pressure analysis, can redistribute pressure away from vulnerable areas and maintain proper foot alignment. They address the specific mechanical factors contributing to each patient’s condition.
Mobilisation exercises: A regimen can complement orthotics by restoring optimal joint function in the foot and ankle. Limited movement in the other joints can lead to compensatory patterns, increasing pressure on the area prone to corns or calluses. Targeted stretching and strengthening protocols re-establish balanced movement.
Specialised interventions:
- Chronic formations: Serial debridement with controlled keratolytics.
- Structural abnormalities (bone spurs, bunions, toe deformities): Surgical consultation.
- Complications (ulceration, infection, especially in diabetics): Antibiotic therapy.
Surgery is a last resort, used only after non-surgical management fails.
Complications if Left Untreated
While corns and calluses aren’t inherently dangerous, ignoring them can lead to:
| General population | – Increased pain hinders walking – Blisters/bleeding under thickened skin – Altered gait causes joint/back foot problems – Painful, slow-healing fissures – Risk of secondary infection if the skin breaks |
| High-risk groups ( those with diabetes, poor circulation) | – Ulceration: corns breaking down into open sores – Deep tissue infection spreading to the bone – Gangrene in severe cases – Amputation risk from serious infections – Hospitalisation for IV antibiotics |
| Quality of life impacts | – Difficulty standing for work – Inability to exercise or play sports – Dependence on others for walking assistance – Sleep disruption from pain |
Nearly all complications are preventable with proper professional care and early intervention.
How To Keep Your Feet Corn-Free
Daily habits: Wash your feet thoroughly, dry well (especially between the toes), apply cream, inspect for thickening, and trim nails straight across.
Footwear best practices: If you are buying shoes, buy them later in the day, when feet tend to swell. Ensure a ½-inch gap between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. Wear shoes that are wide enough to wiggle your toes. Always wear socks with closed-toe shoes and choose socks that don’t bunch. Replace worn shoes promptly. Limit wearing high heels. Use padded insoles on hard surfaces.
Protective measures: Use toe separators or lamb’s wool (not cotton) between affected toes. Wear cushioned, non-medicated corn pads. Apply felt pads to pressure points, and use padded gloves for manual work.
For athletes: Wear proper sports shoes. Replace athletic shoes every 300-500 miles. Use custom orthotics. Apply anti-friction products to pressure areas. Take rest days to let your feet recover.
Regular maintenance: After bathing, gently file thickened skin with a pumice stone. Consult a podiatrist if corns persist despite preventive care. Treat foot deformities early and, if applicable, manage your diabetes well.
Why Choose The Foot Practice
When corns and calluses are causing you discomfort, professional podiatric care at The Foot Practice offers relief. We provide individualised, evidence-based care using advanced technologies such as RehaWalk® pressure mapping and proven management protocols to deliver lasting results.
Contact us today to book a skin and nail care appointment and learn how we can improve your foot health with comprehensive management of your corn or callus.
