Calluses vs corns — key differences
- Feature: Appearance — Callus: Broad, diffuse, yellowish — Corn (heloma): Small, round, with a central coreFeature: AppearanceCallus: Broad, diffuse, yellowishCorn (heloma): Small, round, with a central core
- Feature: Location — Callus: Heel, midfoot, under the toes — Corn (heloma): On or between the toesFeature: LocationCallus: Heel, midfoot, under the toesCorn (heloma): On or between the toes
- Feature: Core — Callus: None — Corn (heloma): YES — a central core that goes deepFeature: CoreCallus: NoneCorn (heloma): YES — a central core that goes deep
- Feature: Pain — Callus: On pressure, usually mild — Corn (heloma): Intense when walkingFeature: PainCallus: On pressure, usually mildCorn (heloma): Intense when walking
- Feature: Cause — Callus: Widespread friction/pressure — Corn (heloma): A single pressure point (shoes, deformity)Feature: CauseCallus: Widespread friction/pressureCorn (heloma): A single pressure point (shoes, deformity)
- Feature: Treatment — Callus: Mechanical removal + insoles — Corn (heloma): Core removal + orthosis + footwearFeature: TreatmentCallus: Mechanical removal + insolesCorn (heloma): Core removal + orthosis + footwear
Why do calluses and corns appear?
Every callus and corn has a biomechanical cause:
- Poor footwear — too tight, too loose, high heels, a narrow toe box
- Toe deformities — hallux valgus, hallux varus, hammer toes
- Foot arch — flat feet or high arches change how pressure is distributed
- Diabetes — impaired sensation, with a risk of painless corns
Viral warts — a key difference
Plantar warts (verruca plantaris) look like corns, but the cause is different (HPV) and the treatment differs too. How can you tell them apart?
- Core — Black dots (capillaries) — Whitish, translucent
- Pain — On lateral squeezing, not on direct pressure — On downward pressure
- Skin lines — Interrupt the skin's ridge lines — Ridge lines pass through
- Treatment — Cryotherapy, acid, laser — Podology core removal
> If in doubt — a podologist will identify it before treatment.
Podology treatment at J'ADORE
Callus removal
Podology burr and scalpel — mechanical removal of excess hardened skin. Correct technique means:
- No infection risk (sterile single-use instruments)
- We never go below the healthy tissue boundary
- No bleeding when the treatment is performed correctly
Urea 30–40% — a keratolytic application for hard areas, softening the skin before the next session. Available as a salon treatment or for home use.
Corn core removal (heloma)
Removing the central core of the corn with a podology scalpel brings immediate pain relief. Without the core, the corn no longer presses on the nerve, so the pain subsides.
Note: The corn will come back if the underlying cause — tight shoes, a toe deformity — isn't addressed.
Soft corns between the toes (heloma molle)
A moist environment between the toes creates soft, painful corns. Treatment: keeping the spaces between the toes dry, toe separators, and, if needed, a change of footwear.
Orthoses and podology insoles
Flexible orthoses (soft padding) reduce the pressure point:
- Toe separators (between the toes)
- Hallux protectors
- Silicone insoles under the midfoot
Long-term prevention
✅ Footwear: The right size (toes shouldn't be squeezed) and enough width ✅ Cotton socks — with no tight seams ✅ Urea 10–15% on the feet daily — prevents calluses from building up ✅ Pumice stone or foot file once a week — for anyone prone to calluses ✅ Orthopaedic insoles for valgus deformity or flat feet — to redistribute pressure
When to see a podologist or orthopaedist urgently?
🔴 See a specialist urgently when:
- A callus or corn appears in someone with diabetes — a risk of ulceration
- Pain that limits movement
- Redness, warmth or discharge (bacterial superinfection)
- A viral wart that hasn't responded to 3 months of self-treatment
