Description: Corns and calluses are the most common conditions on the skin of the foot. Corns and calluses are often confused, but they’re not the same thing.

Corns are smaller than calluses and have a hard center. Corns usually develop on parts of your feet that don’t bear weight, such as the tops and sides of your toes. Corns can be painful. A corn has a central core.

Calluses, which may feel rough, are rarely painful and vary in size and shape, but are often more than an inch in diameter. Calluses usually develop on the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet, especially underneath the bottom ends of your foot bones (metatarsals).

Common sites of corn and callus formation are the ball of the foot, under the big toe, the tips and the tops of toes. ‘Soft’ corns may develop between the toes, where the skin is moist from sweat or inadequate drying. Sometimes the pressure of the corn or callus may produce inflammation, which can result in acute pain, swelling and redness.

Corns and calluses may be a sign that you have an underlying foot disorder, such as a joint that is out of alignment. This is why it is important to seek professional advice rather than attempt to treat calluses or corns yourself.

Footwear: The first line of defense for this condition is a good supporting shoe that has a wide toe-box and a low heel. Although difficult to eliminate, pressure on the affected surface should be reduced and redistributed. Make sure shoes and socks fit properly and do not rub. Stylish shoes often prevent this freedom of motion. Shoes that increase discomfort of a lesion should be eliminated from the wardrobe.

How can orthotics help? Orthotics help correct mechanical foot-motion problems that lead to the development of corns and calluses by redistributing the pressure. This helps relieve pressure on toe deformities and allows the toes and major joints of the foot to function more appropriately.