Hopkins 24/7

Back to ABC News

This Thursday at 10/9c

This content requires javascript and flash player version 8.

Johns Hopkins Symptoms and Remedies

Johns Hopkins Medicine

Close Article Browser

Corns and Calluses

What is it?

A callus is a patch of rough, thickened skin that forms on the feet, hands, or other sites where constant pressure or irritation provokes the skin cells in the affected area to grow at an accelerated rate. The callus itself is generally painless (and in fact, forms to protect the skin below), although the underlying skin may be tender. A corn is a small, round callus on the surface that extends into the skin like a cone, with the point within the foot, hence the pain when pressed. Corns are usually found on or between the toes. Corns and calluses are common, minor problems that usually respond promptly to treatment. However, corns and calluses put people with diabetes mellitus at greater risk of foot infection and other complications.

What Causes It?

  • Constant pressure from ill-fitting shoes is the most common cause of corns and calluses on the feet.
  • Activities such as tennis, carpentry, dancing, writing, or playing the violin or guitar may cause calluses by putting repeated pressure and friction on the hands, fingers, or other parts of the body.

Prevention

  • Wear comfortable shoes that fit well.
  • Wear work gloves when performing manual labor.

Diagnosis

  • Diagnosis is based on visual examination of the affected area and does not require a doctor.

How to Treat It

  • Some calluses, such as those formed by dancing or playing the guitar, protect the skin from abrasion and need not be treated.
  • Corns and calluses on the feet often disappear on their own if ill-fitting shoes are replaced with good, comfortable footwear.
  • Doughnut-shaped felt pads or moleskin (available in drugstores) may ease pressure from shoes around the corn or callus.
  • Soak the affected area in warm water daily for at least five minutes, then use a pumice stone or callus file to rub away the upper layers of the thickened skin. (However, abrading a callus in this manner is not recommended for those with diabetes or poor circulation.)
  • The doctor may use surgery or chemical peels to remove a corn or callus that is resistant to treatment.

When to Call a Doctor

  • Because sensation and circulation may be diminished, people with diabetes mellitus should see a doctor if corns or calluses develop on the feet. They should be instructed by a doctor or nurse on how to conduct daily self-examinations of the feet.
  • Make an appointment with a doctor or podiatrist if the corn or callus persists despite treatment and it is interfering with your normal daily activities.
  • See a doctor or a podiatrist as soon as possible if the area around the corn or callus becomes red, painful, swollen, hot, or ulcerated; these are signs of inflammation, possibly due to infection.