Corns and Calluses: Care Instructions

Overview

Corns and calluses are areas of thick, hard skin. They form to protect the skin from injury. They may form wherever the skin rubs against something, such as shoes.

• Calluses often form on the hands or feet. A callus is hard, dry, and thick. It may look grayish or yellowish. It may be less sensitive to the touch than surrounding skin.
• Corns usually form where toes rub together. A hard corn is firm with a thick core. A soft corn can look like an open sore.

In most cases, you can take steps at home to care for a corn or callus.

How can you care for yourself at home?

• Wear shoes and socks that fit well. This will reduce rubbing and give corns or calluses time to heal.
• Use protective pads, such as moleskin, to cushion the callus or corn.
• Soak your corn or callus in warm water, and then use a pumice stone to rub the thickened skin away.
• Use an over-the-counter callus-removing product, such as one that contains salicylic acid or urea. These products come in creams, ointments, gels, and patches.
• Talk to your doctor before you try any home treatment if you have a condition that causes problems with blood flow or loss of feeling in your feet. Examples include diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, and peripheral neuropathy.
• Wash your feet regularly, and rub lotion into your feet while they are still moist. Dry skin can cause a callus to crack and bleed.
• Never cut the corn or callus yourself. This is even more important/ if you have problems with blood flow to your legs or feet or a problem with numbness in your feet.