What Are Corns and Calluses?
Corns and calluses are areas of thickened, hardened skin that develop where the foot experiences repeated pressure or friction - most often from footwear, an abnormal gait, or bony prominences. A callus is a broader area of generalised hard skin, usually on the sole or heel, while a corn is a smaller, more concentrated area of thickened skin with a hard central core.
Corns come in a few forms: hard corns typically form on top of the toes, soft corns develop between the toes where moisture keeps the skin macerated, and seed corns are small, often painless corns that can appear in clusters on the sole. Left untreated, corns and calluses tend to thicken further and become more painful.
How to Identify a Corn
- Small, raised, hard bump of thickened skin
- A central core that presses inward, causing pain on direct pressure
- Most common on the tops and sides of the toes
- Soft, whitish corns between the toes where skin stays moist
- Broader areas of hard, flattened skin (callus) on the sole or heel
- Skin lines pass straight through a corn or callus, unlike a verruca
Corn or Verruca?
Corns and verrucas are often confused. A corn hurts most under direct pressure and its skin lines run straight through it. A verruca hurts more when squeezed from the sides, and the normal skin lines pass around it rather than through it. Both are treated in the same podiatry appointment.
Corn & Callus Removal Options
At Grays Foot Clinic we remove corns and calluses safely and painlessly using sterile instruments, then address the underlying cause to help stop them coming back:
Scalpel Enucleation
Careful, painless removal of the corn's hard central core, giving immediate relief.
Callus Debridement
Reduction of built-up hard skin using sterile podiatry instruments.
Padding & Offloading
Cushioning and redistributing pressure away from the area to help stop recurrence.
Footwear Advice
Guidance on footwear choices that reduce the friction and pressure causing the problem.
Be Careful With Corn Plasters
Over-the-counter corn plasters contain acid that can damage the healthy skin around a corn, and they carry a real risk for anyone with diabetes or poor circulation. Professional removal is the safer, more reliable option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does corn removal hurt?
No. Our podiatrists remove corns painlessly using sterile instruments - there is no cutting into healthy skin, and most patients feel immediate relief.
Will the corn come back?
Corns can return if the underlying pressure or friction is not addressed. Alongside removal, we advise on padding, offloading and footwear to reduce the chance of recurrence.
How much does it cost?
Corn and callus removal is included in our standard podiatry appointment, from £100 - there is no separate charge.
Can I be seen the same day?
Yes, subject to availability. Call the clinic and we will do our best to fit you in.