Corns and calluses are small lumps or patches of hard skin that usually appear on your feet, toes and hands.
Symptoms of corns and calluses include small lumps of hard skin or patches of rough, thick skin.
Soaking your skin in warm water and moisturising can help a corn or callus. A foot specialist may be able to cut it off if it does not get better.
Corns and calluses are caused by pressure or rubbing of the skin, like wearing high heels or shoes that are the wrong size.
Read more on the NHS website.
Symptoms of corns and calluses include small lumps of hard skin or patches of rough, thick skin.
Check if you have a corn or callus
You mostly get corns and calluses on your feet, toes and hands.

Corns are small lumps of hard skin.

Calluses are larger patches of rough, thick skin.
Corns and calluses can also be tender or painful.
Read more on the NHS website.
Soaking your skin in warm water and moisturising can help a corn or callus. A foot specialist may be able to cut it off if it does not get better.
Self-care
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 foot specialist.
Corns and calluses are not often serious and there are things you can try to:
- get rid of them yourself
- stop them coming back
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
Don't
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
Medical treatments
A GP can:
- look at your foot to see if it's a corn or callus
- give you antibiotics if a corn or callus is infected
- refer you to a foot specialist if they think you need further treatment
Treatment from a foot specialist
A foot specialist, such as a podiatrist, may be able to offer treatments such as:
- cutting away the corn or callus
- patches to help soften the hard skin so it can be removed
- specially made soft pads or insoles to take pressure off the painful area of your foot
Referral to a podiatrist on the NHS may not be available to everyone and waiting times can be long. You can pay to see a podiatrist privately.
Read more on the NHS website.
Corns and calluses are caused by pressure or rubbing of the skin, like wearing high heels or shoes that are the wrong size.
Read more on the NHS website.