Our feet endure daily stress, making the skin on the soles of our feet is quite unique. The top layer of the skin, known as the epidermis, is thicker on the foot than it is anywhere else on the body! This skin adapts to pressure by thickening, leading to common foot conditions like corns, calluses, and warts. Understanding the differences is essential for proper care.
Corn vs Callus vs Wart vs Other—The Sole Mystery
Calluses (aka callosities)
A plantar callus is the most common type of thickened skin on the bottom of your foot. Calluses develop because of repeated friction and pressure. For this reason, they tend to occur over pressure points, such as the sides of the feet or big toe, the bottom of the toes, our heels, and the balls of the feet – areas that frequently rub against the shoe. Poorly fitting socks, similar to ill-fitting shoes, can result in calluses.
At times, calluses can grow large enough that they are uncomfortable.
The typical appearance of a callus is skin that is simply thickened but retains the normal footprint lines over the top of it. They can be of varying sizes but are usually the normal color of our skin.
Calluses Treatments
Treatment of calluses first and foremost requires offloading the pressure and eliminating the friction that causes them in the first place. Examine your footwear. Consider wearing socks and shoes instead of walking barefoot or wearing sandals or high heels. The greater the cushioning in your footwear, the lower the chances are that most types of calluses will persist or that you will develop them in the first place.
Certain moisturizers such as Amlactin or Urea Cream may help soften the thickened spots. Some patients with very good manual dexterity may find that they can thin calluses down by using an abrasive device such as an emery board or pumice stone. This is not something that we recommend doing repetitively however because the friction from this can cause a reverse effect, where calluses tend to be more persistent and thicken up more in time.
Corns (aka heloma)
A corn is a type of callus, made of dead skin; however, corns often tend to be smaller and have a central translucent appearing core. The skin lines are generally lost in this central area. They will also tend to occur over pressure points and arise as a result of friction. Sometimes they can even develop between toes. Even more so than calluses, corns can be painful to the point of causing substantial discomfort with walking. Also, they are usually flesh-colored.
While corns and calluses are not contagious, plantar warts are caused by a viral infection (HPV) and can be contagious.
Corns Treatments
Treatments for corns are very similar to calluses. Pressure and friction that trigger them need to be eliminated. At Advanced Dermatology of the Midlands, we frequently recommend nonmedicated donut-shaped corn pads and callus pads to help offload the pressure and prevent corns and calluses. We recommend examining your footwear and making sure that you are wearing the softest and best insoles possible. By minimizing friction and providing cushioning, you’ll be able to prevent corns and promote healing. If corns persist, professional treatment options such as trimming or prescription medications may be necessary.
Warts
In contrast to corns and calluses, warts tend to have overlain black dots. These sometimes are referred to as the “seeds” of the wart—in fact, they are broken blood vessels known as capillaries. Warts can be solitary with just one spot or quite extensive.
- Common warts are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) which is spread by casual skin contact or through shared objects.
- Plantar warts are types of warts that develop on the soles of the feet and walking tends to force them into the skin, causing pain to the affected area.
Numerous different ways to prevent warts and wart treatments are available. These include surgical and medical treatments.
Warts Treatments
When it comes to treating warts, various methods can help with wart removal. Salicylic acid is a commonly used over-the-counter medication to treat warts. Please see our previous blog – Warts Facts & Treatment – for more detailed information on warts.
How Corns, Calluses, and Warts Impact Daily Life
Living with corns, calluses, or warts can have a significant impact on your daily life. Painful plantar warts can make walking or standing for long periods difficult, while corns and calluses can lead to discomfort and self-consciousness. Understanding how these conditions can affect your lifestyle can motivate you to take action and seek the right treatment to maintain foot health and comfort.
Prevention and Professional Care
Proper footwear, good foot hygiene, and using protective pads can help prevent corns and calluses. Persistent areas of thickened skin that do not improve with pressure relief may require professional evaluation. Rare conditions, such as skin cancer, can mimic these growths. Consult a board-certified dermatologist for a definitive diagnosis.
For any spot on the foot, if it is not responding to pressure relief over the course of 3-4 months, consider seeing a dermatology provider in a consultation to make sure there is nothing more serious to worry about. Rarely other more sinister or serious skin conditions such as skin cancer can mimic these types of growths.
| Callus | Corn | Wart | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cause | Repeated friction or pressure | Localized friction or pressure | Caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) |
| Location | Bottoms and sides of feet, heels, toes | Tops, sides, or between toes | Soles of feet (plantar warts), but can appear elsewhere |
| Appearance | Thickened skin with intact skin lines | Central translucent core, loss of skin lines | May have black dots (capillaries), rough surface |
| Pain | Sometimes uncomfortable | Often painful, especially with walking | Often painful when pressure is applied |
| Contagious? | No | No | Yes – viral and spreads via skin contact or shared surfaces |
Advanced Dermatology of the Midlands | Best Dermatologist Omaha & Council Bluffs, IA | Board Certified Dermatologists
We hope you find this information useful when it comes to your feet. Remember to baby your feet and treating them right will pay dividends. Schedule a consultation, or call today to receive professional medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment.
