Corns

Corns are small circles of thick skin that usually develop on the tops, sides and between the toes, along with the soles of the feet. They are usually yellowish in colour and are caused by excessive pressure and friction. In addition, soft corns that form between the toes are caused by excessive moisture or sweating. Corns are often more painful than calluses, but this can vary from one individual to the next. The excessive pressure that causes corns and calluses can be due to tight, pointy or high heeled shoes, or changes in the structure of the feet or toes.

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Symptoms

Common causes

Inappropriate footwear such as high or tight pointy shoes
Feet that have lost some of their fatty padding, possibly as the result of the ageing process
Weight gain
Some medical conditions such as diabetes or hypothyroidism, which cause drying out of the skin to a higher degree than normal
Some skin disorders such as psoriasis and eczema
Excessive sweating of the feet
Stepping on sharp objects such as nails or glass. The resulting damage to the skin leaves the area affected more prone to the formation of corns and calluses
Previous treatments such as cryosurgery, often used to treat troublesome verrucas

What else can look similar

Verrucas are often confused with corns. Verrucas are caused by a virus, whereas corns and calluses are caused by pressure and excessive moisture.

What you can try at home

How we can help

Perform a physical examination to ascertain the cause
Gentle removal of the thickened hard skin and corn
Advice on suitable footcare products to delay the hard skin and corns returning
Footwear advice, as many individuals wear incorrect fitting and styled footwear
Provision of protective padding
Custom made shoe insoles to remove the cause of the hard skin
We do not recommend patients using corn plasters that contain acids
Recommend surgery if non surgical or conservative treatment is not deemed appropriate (rarely required)