Hard Skin and Corns

Corns and calluses are hard, thickened areas of skin that form as a consequence of rubbing, friction or pressure on the skin, most commonly associated with particular footwear and walking patterns.

Although corns and calluses are often talked about together, they are separate conditions, and can make walking painful.

Calluses are hard and rough-feeling areas of skin that develop specifically in weight-bearing areas as a result of friction and pressure overload.

Corns generally occur on the tops and sides of the toes. A hard corn is a small patch of thickened, dead skin with a small plug of skin in the centre. A soft corn has a much thinner surface, appears whitish and rubbery, and usually occurs between the toes. Seed corns are clusters of tiny corns that can be very tender if they are on a weight-bearing part of the foot.