Is It a Callus or a Corn? (2025)

A callus is a hard, thickened patch of skin that develops due to repeated friction or pressure, most often on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet. It differs from a corn which is an inward growth of hardened skin caused by weight-bearing pressure on the foot. While both are considered calluses, the way they are treated and the symptoms they cause can differ.

A callus can form on the hands due to repeated friction caused by manual labor, regular running, or the wearing of high heels. Calluses can heal on their own if the irritation is removed. They can also be reduced with salicylic acid, a pumice stone, or in-office removal by a podiatrist.

What Does a Callus Look Like?

A callus can form anywhere on the body exposed to repeated friction, grinding, rubbing, or pressure. The most common sites are the palms of the hands, the balls or sides of the feet, the outer edge of the big toe, the back of the heel, and the knees.

Classically, a callus is recognized by the following signs and symptoms:

• A slightly raised, hard, thickened area of skin
• A waxy or flaky appearance
• Yellowish or whitish coloration

Callus vs. a Corn

A callus differs from a corn (also known as a heloma). While both are calluses, the way that they form and the symptoms they cause are distinct.

Calluses and corns are caused by the piling up and thickening of skin cells as a form of defense. Each has a specific growth pattern, affects specific parts of the body, and is more or less likely to cause pain.

By comparison:

• With calluses, the accumulation of skin cells spreads outward from the source of friction or pressure. They can occur anywhere on the body and are fairly even in thickness. Calluses are rarely painful. If there is pain, it has no relationship to the size of a callus.
• With corns, the accumulation of skin cells grows inward in a cone shape at weight-bearing pressure points on the foot only. Corns are most often seen on the top of toe joints, the outer edge of the pinkie toe, the ball of the foot, or between toes. Corns are far more likely to cause pain, especially as they get bigger.
  

Callus Types

There are two basic types of calluses:

• Diffuse-shearing callus: This is a "typical" callus measuring more than 1 centimeter across that is relatively flat with an even distribution of hardened skin cells.
• Discrete nucleated callus: This is a less common type in which a hardened core, called a keratin plug, develops in the thickened skin. Keratin plugs differ from corns in that they occur when pores become blocked with keratin. These types of calluses are more likely to cause pain.

There are also different types of corns:

• Heloma durum: Also known as a "hard corn," this is the most common type of corn that appears as a firm, dry mass with a polished surface. These corns can be painful.
• Heloma molle: Also known as a "soft corn," this is the type that develops on opposing surfaces between toes, especially the fourth and fifth toes. These corns tend to be extremely painful.
• Heloma millare: Also known as a "seed corn," these are small superficial corns that can occur alongside foot calluses. Most seed corns are not painful.

Causes and Risk Factors

The bones underlying the hands and feet—such as on the palm near the base of the fingers or the ball of the foot—have many areas of projection. When mechanical stress is applied to these projections, the body will respond by producing more keratin.

Keratin is a structural protein that makes up the skin, hair, and nails. Calluses form when excessive amounts are produced (referred to as hyperkeratosis) to protect vulnerable sites.

But, doing so can also cause problems by increasing pressure within shoes as a callus grows, increasing keratin production along with the risk of keratin plugs or corns.

With hyperkeratosis, the outer layer of dead skin cells (called the stratum corneum) will start to thicken along with the underlying layer (called the stratum granulosum.) The same will happen to keratin-producing cells, called keratinocytes, that inhabit the stratum granulosum.

Calluses can form on the hands and fingers due to repetitive mechanical stress caused by:

• Writing extensively with a pen or pencil
• Lifting heavy weights
• Using hand tools
• Manual labor
• Playing a stringed instrument, such as a guitar

Calluses can form on the feet and toes due to these types of repetitive mechanical stress:

• Running long distances
• Playing sports that involve a lot of running, like tennis or basketball
• Walking on hard surfaces without shoes
• Wearing tight footwear, high heels, or narrow shoes
• Wearing loose shoes that allow the shoe to rub against the seam of a shoe
• Walking with an abnormal gait due to a foot deformity like flat feet, bunions, or hammertoe

Certain medical conditions can predispose people to calluses and corns, including diabetic neuropathy of the foot and a rare genetic disorder called paronychia congenita that causes abnormal organization of keratin in the skin and nails.

Treatment

Many calluses will clear once the chronic friction or pressure is removed. But, this isn't always possible because of jobs or the sports you participate in. In such cases, there are home remedies and over-the-counter (OTC) treatments that can help.

Chief among these include:

• Manual debridement: This involves soaking the callus in warm water and using a pumice stone to remove (debride) the hardened skin regularly. You can also soften the skin beforehand with an emollient moisturizer or Epsom salt bath.
• Salicylic acid: This is a keratolytic agent that breaks down keratin. It is available as medicated pads or solutions you apply directly to calluses or corns, which gradually break them down so that they can be easily debrided. Some also contain urea (uric acid). Use as directed.
• Moleskins and corn pads: These adhesive cushions help ease painful calluses and corns. They can also aid with healing by reducing pressure on the lesion. Some are specially infused with salicylic acid.

Surgery and Specialist Procedures

Calluses or corns that cause pain warrant treatment from a podiatrist. The removal may be delivered in one visit or over several. Because recurrence is common, you may need to visit the podiatrist regularly to keep things under control.

Procedures include:

• Callus reduction: This typically involves a topical keratolytic agent along with special scrapers or scalpels to remove a callus or corn.
• Surgical enucleation: This is an in-office procedure involving local anesthesia used to remove corns or keratin plugs. This may involve a scalpel or a skin punch used for skin biopsies. Stitches are sometimes needed.
• Cortisone injection: This is a local steroid injection that doesn't treat calluses or corns but provides long-term pain relief for those with severe or recurrence corns.
• Oral antibiotics: These are sometimes prescribed after surgical enucleation to prevent bacterial infection, particularly for larger procedures involving the feet.

Prevention

There are ways to prevent calluses, whether they occur on the hands, feet, knees, or other parts of the body. Here are some of the most effective preventive measures:

• Apply a light moisturizing to your hands, feet, and knees regularly.
• Wear properly fitted shoes with a wider toe box.
• Limit the use of high heels or narrow-toed shoes.
• Use moleskins or corn pads on toes and heels when wearing high heels or narrow-toed shoes.
• Wear moisture-wicking athletic socks that prevent friction and sliding when running.
• Wear gloves when lifting weights, doing manual labor, or playing sports like tennis or golf.
• Use a rubber pencil grip if you write a lot.
• Wear knee pads when gardening or doing manual labor on your knees.
  

Summary

A callus is a rough, thick area of skin caused by repeated mechanical pressure or friction. It can affect any part of your body but is most common on the soles of the feet and palms of the hands. It commonly affects athletes who run, people who wear high heels, or manual laborers who grip tools.

Home treatments involve skin softeners, topical salicylic acid, or manual debridement with a pumice stone. A podiatrist can shave down larger calluses or perform surgery to remove a corn or keratin plug. Skin moisturizers, padded gloves, and properly fitting shoes can help prevent calluses.