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The podiatrists at Entire Podiatry care for people of all ages, treating any foot problem. The most common foot conditions on the skin include corns, calluses and warts. 

These conditions are usually painful but are simple to treat and respond well to conservative care. 
Corns and calluses are a thickening of the outer layer of skin. This thickening is known medically as hyperkeratosis.  Corns and calluses develop as part of the skin's normal defence against friction and pressure.

• Corns —  Corns are usually hard and circular, with a waxy or translucent centre. They may become painful or ulcerated in response to persistent friction.  At the centre of a corn is often a very dense knot of skin called a core, which is located over the area of greatest friction or pressure.

Firm, dry corns that form on the upper surfaces of the toes are called hard corns.  Pliable, moist corns that form between the toes are called soft corns.

• Calluses — A callus is a thickening of skin that is exposed to prolonged rubbing.  Unlike a corn, the thickening in a callus is evenly distributed. There is no dense central core. Although calluses usually occur on the soles of the feet, they also can form on other parts of the body that are exposed to long-term friction. eg calluses often are found on the hands of manual labourers and guitar players.

On the soles of the feet, calluses typically develop near the base of the toes, where they are caused by friction from the inside of shoes. Less often, calluses are related to walking problems or foot abnormalities that place unusual stress on parts of the foot during walking.

Symptoms

On the feet, a small corn or callus may not cause any symptoms.  However, a large, bulky corn or callus can cause foot pain and difficulty walking.
After prolonged irritation, a discoloured area (brown, red or black) may develop under a large corn or callus. This discoloration is caused by a small amount of bleeding in the space between thick and normal skin. In severe cases, the thick and normal skin may separate, exposing the area to possible infection, especially in people with diabetes.

Diagnosis

Your podiatrist at Entire Podiatry will ask about your shoes, because shoes with narrow toes are more likely to cause corns.  He or she also will ask about your foot history and your history of other medical problems, including diabetes and circulation problems. Some types of foot problems can alter the mechanics of the foot, causing abnormal pressure on certain areas and leading to calluses.  Also, any previous surgery or trauma to the feet may affect the structure and alignment of foot bones, increasing the risk of calluses.
To assess whether your corns and calluses are related to foot abnormalities, your podiatrist will inspect your feet for toe deformities, structural problems of the bones, poor bone alignment and problems related to an abnormal way of walking (gait). If your podiatrist finds some abnormality during this part of the foot exam, they may suggest a specific type of padding or shoe insert to help prevent your corns and calluses from returning or causing as much discomfort.

Also, whenever there is a painful area of thickened skin on your feet, your podiatrist may need to check whether it is a plantar wart, a localized skin infection caused by human papilloma virus.