Corns and calluses are thick, hardened layers of skin that develop when your skin tries to protect itself against friction and pressure. They most often develop on the feet and toes or hands and fingers. Corns and calluses can be unsightly.

You may have a corn or a callus if you notice:

• A thick, rough area of skin

• A hardened, raised bump

• Tenderness or pain under your skin

• Flaky, dry or waxy skin

Corns and calluses are not the same thing.

Corns are smaller than calluses and have a hard center surrounded by inflamed skin. Corns tend to develop on parts of your feet that don't bear weight, such as the tops and sides of your toes and even between your toes. They can also be found in weight-bearing areas. Corns can be painful when pressed.

Calluses are rarely painful. They usually develop on the soles of your feet, especially under the heels or balls, on your palms, or on your knees. Calluses vary in size and shape and are often larger than corns.

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Causes

Pressure and friction from repetitive actions cause corns and calluses to develop and grow. Some sources of this pressure and friction include:

• Wearing ill-fitting shoes. Tight shoes and high heels can compress areas of your feet. When footwear is too loose, your foot may repeatedly slide and rub against the shoe. Your foot may also rub against a seam or stitch inside the shoe.

• Skipping socks. Wearing shoes and sandals without socks can cause friction on your feet. Socks that don't fit properly also can be a problem.

• Playing instruments or using hand tools. Calluses on your hands may result from the repeated pressure of playing instruments, using hand tools or even writing.

Prevention

These approaches may help you prevent corns and calluses:

• Wear shoes that give your toes plenty of room. If you can't wiggle your toes, your shoes are too tight. Have a shoe shop stretch your shoes at any point that rubs or pinches.

• Use protective coverings. Wear felt pads, non-medicated corn pads or bandages over areas that rub against your footwear. You can also try toe separators or some lamb's wool between your toes.

• Wear padded gloves when using hand tools. Or try padding your tool handles with cloth tape or covers.

Treatment

Treatment for corns and calluses usually involves avoiding the repetitive actions that caused them to develop. You can help resolve them by wearing properly fitting shoes, using protective pads and taking other self-care measures.

If a corn or callus persists or becomes painful despite your self-care efforts, medical treatments can provide relief:

• Trimming away excess skin. We can pare down thickened skin or trim a large corn with a scalpel, usually during an office visit. Don't try this yourself because it could lead to an infection.

• Callus-removing medication. We may also apply a patch containing 40 percent salicylic acid. Such patches are available without a prescription. You may also use a pumice stone, nail file or emery board to smooth away dead skin before applying a new patch. You can also get a prescription for salicylic acid in gel form to apply on larger areas.

• Shoe inserts. If you have an underlying foot deformity, we may prescribe custom-made padded shoe inserts (orthotics) to prevent recurring corns or calluses.

• Surgery. In rare instances, we may recommend surgery excise the central hard region of the corn and close it with stitches. It is done when the corn extends deep into the dermis.