Corns and calluses

Corns and calluses Corns and calluses are hard or thick areas of skin that can be painful. They're not often serious. There are things you can try to ease them yourself.

Corns are small lumps of hard skin..

Calluses are larger patches of rough, thick skin.

Important If you have diabetes, heart disease or problems with your circulation, do not try to treat corns and calluses yourself. These conditions can make foot problems more serious. See a GP or contact us for more advice.

Corns and calluses are not often serious and there are things you can try to:

get rid of them yourself

stop them coming back

Things to do

wear thick, cushioned socks

wear wide, comfortable shoes with a low heel and soft sole that do not rub

use soft insoles or heel pads in your shoes

soak corns and calluses in warm water to soften them

regularly use a pumice stone or foot file to remove hard skin

moisturise to help keep skin soft

Things to Avoid

do not try to cut off corns or calluses yourself

do not walk long distances or stand for long periods

do not wear high heels or tight pointy shoes

do not go barefoot

Common causes of corns or calluses

Corns and calluses are caused by pressure or rubbing of the skin on the hands or feet. For example, from:

wearing high heels, uncomfortable shoes or shoes that are the wrong size