Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDifferencesSimilaritiesHand Callus CausesHealing TimeRemoval When SevereTreating at Home
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Differences
Similarities
Hand Callus Causes
Healing Time
Removal When Severe
Treating at Home
Corns and calluses are patches of thickened skin. They can occur anywhere on the body but are mostly found on the hands and feet. Corns and calluses are typically painless and feel like hardened areas of skin.
Severe calluses or corns may hurt, which can affect your ability to walk. They may also become infected or cause skin and tissue damage. Pain and swelling are signs of an infected corn or callus.
F.J. Jimenez / Getty Images
Differences Between Corns and Calluses
Appearance, Size, and Texture
Corns are thickened areas of skin about the size of a kernel of corn.They are round or oval. Due to a thickened, raised skin buildup, corns have a lighter color than the skin tone. They have a rubbery texture.
In the middle of the corn is a core, which looks like a small hole. The core is the thickest part of the corn.
Over time, a corn can become painful, tender, or sensitive to pressure. You may experience pain when walking, exercising, standing on your feet for too long, or performing repetitive hand tasks.
Foot calluseswill present similarly to dry, flakey skin at the bottom of the feet.However, the thickness will be much more than what is seen with dry skin.
Calluses can be discolored because of the buildup of dead skin from fiction. If a callus causes pain, it may be because of cracks called fissures in the thicker skin areas.
Reproduced with permission from ©DermNet NZ and ©Raimo Suhonen www.dermnetnz.org 2022
Location
Corns develop where there is pressure over a bone, such as the tops or sides of the toes or the balls of the feet.On the hands, corns can develop on the fingers of people who work with their hands, such as mechanics and gardeners.
Calluses often appear on the foot pads and heels.On the hands, they can present in areas where the skin has become raised from repeated friction and rubbing, usually the fingertips and palms.
Alena Ivochkina / Getty Images
Formation
Both corns and calluses develop to protect your skin’s layers from pressure and friction.
Corns develop because of constant or repeated pressure on the skin over a bone. This pressure causes the cells on the outer skin layers (the epidermis) to divide and grow, leading to skin thickening.
The hands and feet are prime sites for corns because they are more frequently exposed to rubbing and pressure than other body areas.
Older adults may experience corns more often.Foot problems are common in older adults because of age, weight, and health problems likediabetes, heart disease, andosteoporosis(progressive weakening of bones).
Calluses result from repetitive movements that produce skin friction. Over time, dead skin cells build up and harden over new ones to protect the skin underneath.
While calluses can occur all year round, they seem to be more common in the summer months.This might be because people wear open-toed shoes and flip-flops more frequently during these months, and friction may lead to skin buildup. High-heeled shoes and other shoes that put pressure on the feet can also cause the same roughness.
Why Is My Skin So Dry?
Corns and calluses may cause pain, but most of the time, they do not.If they do become painful, this occurs over time as the skin thickens. The raised skin areas can become sensitive to pressure.
A corn or callus can become infected. If this happens, this could cause you pain and problems with walking.You will want to seek medical attention for a painful corn or callus, especially if you have diabetes or another health condition that could lead to infections orskin ulcers.
To prevent corns and calluses, work to reduce your exposure to sources of friction or pressure.This may include wearing supportive and well-fitting shoes or gloves when performing repetitive activities with your hands.
Bunions vs. Corns and Calluses
Bunionsare bony bumps that form at the base of the big toe.They cause the toe to bend inward. An affected toe might also be swollen and painful.
Risk factors for bunions include tight-fitting shoes, problems with foot structure, and inflammatory conditions like arthritis that affect the feet.
Causes of Calluses on Hands
On hands, you may get calluses from the following:
Effect of Smoking on Corns and Calluses
Some evidence suggests corns and calluses are more common in people who smoke cigarettes. For example, smoking can lead to more calluses on the feet due to restricted blood flow.Smoking can also lead to corns that are much more painful than regular corns.
If you use your hands for work or other activities, consider wearing padded gloves or using padded hand tools. Wearing comfortable, well-fitting shoes may also help with healing.
How to Get Rid of Calluses on Feet
Removal When You Have Severe Symptoms
If you have a corn or callus that becomes painful or infected, consult a healthcare provider.
You should also see a healthcare provider for corns and calluses if:
Your healthcare provider will check your foot or hand to determine whether you have a corn, callus, or other foot or hand condition. If there is an infection or other problem, they will treat it.
If the corn or callus does not resolve withhome treatments, your healthcare provider may recommend additional treatments.
Such treatments may include:
How to Get Rid of a Corn or Callus at Home
It is possible to treat a corn or callus at home. Options for treating a corn or callus at home include:
Take Caution If You Have DiabetesOver-the-counter products designed to treat corns and calluses contain harsh ingredients. If you have diabetes, it is not a good idea to self-treat corns or calluses. See your healthcare provider right away to avoidfoot complications.
Take Caution If You Have Diabetes
Over-the-counter products designed to treat corns and calluses contain harsh ingredients. If you have diabetes, it is not a good idea to self-treat corns or calluses. See your healthcare provider right away to avoidfoot complications.
Summary
Corns and calluses are areas of hard, thickened skin. They can develop anywhere on the body but mainly form on the hands and feet. People develop these conditions because of ill-fitting shoes, repetitive tasks related to specific activities and occupations, and health conditions that affect the feet or are related to aging.
Corns and calluses are typically painless, but they can cause pain and become infected. Most can be treated at home with home remedies, including soaking the skin, using OTC salicylic acid–medicated pads and gels, and wearing comfortable-fitting shoes.
You should contact a healthcare provider if you have an infected or painful corn or callus or if you have medical conditions like diabetes that can lead to complications.
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.InformedHealth.org [Internet].Corns: overview.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Foot pain and problems.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat corns and calluses.Piedmont Healthcare.Why do we get calluses on our hands and feet?Cedars Sinai.Calluses and corns.Harvard Health Publishing.What to do about bunions.Lindgren AL, Hui Austin A, Welsh KM.Cell thumb replaces writer’s bump: changing times, changing callouses.Case Rep Dermatol. 2020;12(1):1-4. doi:10.1159/000505310Hoyt DW, Cohen PR.Pull-up palms (PUP): a case of exercise-associated palmar callosities and review of sports-related hand-associated skin conditions in athletes.Cureus. 2023;15(1):e34476. Published 2023 Jan 31. doi:10.7759/cureus.34476DermNet.Skin problems in construction workers.Sims SE, Engel L, Hammert WC, Elfar JC.Hand sensibility, strength, and laxity of high-level musicians compared to nonmusicians.J Hand Surg Am. 2015;40(10):1996-2002.e5. doi:10.1016/j.jhsa.2015.06.009Merrill TJ, Ven V, Rodriguez LA.Relationship between smoking and callus formation of the foot. The Podiatry Institute.Sports and Structural Podiatry.Can smoking give you a corn on your foot?Beahrs TR, Reagan J, Bettin CC, Grear BJ, Murphy GA, Richardson DR.Smoking effects in foot and ankle surgery: an evidence-based review.Foot Ankle Int. 2019;40(10):1226-1232. doi:10.1177/1071100719867942American Diabetes Complications.Foot complications.
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.InformedHealth.org [Internet].Corns: overview.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Foot pain and problems.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat corns and calluses.Piedmont Healthcare.Why do we get calluses on our hands and feet?Cedars Sinai.Calluses and corns.Harvard Health Publishing.What to do about bunions.Lindgren AL, Hui Austin A, Welsh KM.Cell thumb replaces writer’s bump: changing times, changing callouses.Case Rep Dermatol. 2020;12(1):1-4. doi:10.1159/000505310Hoyt DW, Cohen PR.Pull-up palms (PUP): a case of exercise-associated palmar callosities and review of sports-related hand-associated skin conditions in athletes.Cureus. 2023;15(1):e34476. Published 2023 Jan 31. doi:10.7759/cureus.34476DermNet.Skin problems in construction workers.Sims SE, Engel L, Hammert WC, Elfar JC.Hand sensibility, strength, and laxity of high-level musicians compared to nonmusicians.J Hand Surg Am. 2015;40(10):1996-2002.e5. doi:10.1016/j.jhsa.2015.06.009Merrill TJ, Ven V, Rodriguez LA.Relationship between smoking and callus formation of the foot. The Podiatry Institute.Sports and Structural Podiatry.Can smoking give you a corn on your foot?Beahrs TR, Reagan J, Bettin CC, Grear BJ, Murphy GA, Richardson DR.Smoking effects in foot and ankle surgery: an evidence-based review.Foot Ankle Int. 2019;40(10):1226-1232. doi:10.1177/1071100719867942American Diabetes Complications.Foot complications.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
InformedHealth.org [Internet].Corns: overview.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Foot pain and problems.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat corns and calluses.Piedmont Healthcare.Why do we get calluses on our hands and feet?Cedars Sinai.Calluses and corns.Harvard Health Publishing.What to do about bunions.Lindgren AL, Hui Austin A, Welsh KM.Cell thumb replaces writer’s bump: changing times, changing callouses.Case Rep Dermatol. 2020;12(1):1-4. doi:10.1159/000505310Hoyt DW, Cohen PR.Pull-up palms (PUP): a case of exercise-associated palmar callosities and review of sports-related hand-associated skin conditions in athletes.Cureus. 2023;15(1):e34476. Published 2023 Jan 31. doi:10.7759/cureus.34476DermNet.Skin problems in construction workers.Sims SE, Engel L, Hammert WC, Elfar JC.Hand sensibility, strength, and laxity of high-level musicians compared to nonmusicians.J Hand Surg Am. 2015;40(10):1996-2002.e5. doi:10.1016/j.jhsa.2015.06.009Merrill TJ, Ven V, Rodriguez LA.Relationship between smoking and callus formation of the foot. The Podiatry Institute.Sports and Structural Podiatry.Can smoking give you a corn on your foot?Beahrs TR, Reagan J, Bettin CC, Grear BJ, Murphy GA, Richardson DR.Smoking effects in foot and ankle surgery: an evidence-based review.Foot Ankle Int. 2019;40(10):1226-1232. doi:10.1177/1071100719867942American Diabetes Complications.Foot complications.
InformedHealth.org [Internet].Corns: overview.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Foot pain and problems.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat corns and calluses.
Piedmont Healthcare.Why do we get calluses on our hands and feet?
Cedars Sinai.Calluses and corns.
Harvard Health Publishing.What to do about bunions.
Lindgren AL, Hui Austin A, Welsh KM.Cell thumb replaces writer’s bump: changing times, changing callouses.Case Rep Dermatol. 2020;12(1):1-4. doi:10.1159/000505310
Hoyt DW, Cohen PR.Pull-up palms (PUP): a case of exercise-associated palmar callosities and review of sports-related hand-associated skin conditions in athletes.Cureus. 2023;15(1):e34476. Published 2023 Jan 31. doi:10.7759/cureus.34476
DermNet.Skin problems in construction workers.
Sims SE, Engel L, Hammert WC, Elfar JC.Hand sensibility, strength, and laxity of high-level musicians compared to nonmusicians.J Hand Surg Am. 2015;40(10):1996-2002.e5. doi:10.1016/j.jhsa.2015.06.009
Merrill TJ, Ven V, Rodriguez LA.Relationship between smoking and callus formation of the foot. The Podiatry Institute.
Sports and Structural Podiatry.Can smoking give you a corn on your foot?
Beahrs TR, Reagan J, Bettin CC, Grear BJ, Murphy GA, Richardson DR.Smoking effects in foot and ankle surgery: an evidence-based review.Foot Ankle Int. 2019;40(10):1226-1232. doi:10.1177/1071100719867942
American Diabetes Complications.Foot complications.
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