Calluses are thickened skin areas caused by repeated friction and pressure. They form to protect the skin and the structures beneath it from injury or damage. Calluses on the bottoms of feet thicken with time, and sometimes develop into hard corns.
If you see a tender spot in the middle, surrounded by yellowish dead skin, corns can be easily seen on the bottom of the feet and over the joints of the toes. Shaped like a pyramid, with the apex pointing inwards, they are tender when touched.

There are two types of corns. Hard corns are the most common type. They are caused primarily by ill-fitting shoes and toe distortion. They usually develop on the tops and tips of the toes and on the sides of the feet. Soft corns (heloma molles) usually occur as the result of bone abnormalities in the toes. They develop between the toes and are sometimes referred to as “kissing corns.” Soft corns (heloma molles) usually occur as the result of bone abnormalities in the toes.

They develop between the toes and are sometimes referred to as “kissing corns.” Soft corns typically develop between the fourth and fifth toes when one of the toe bones (phalanges) is slightly too wide. Normally, phalanges are hourglass-shaped and the ends are wider than the middle. Soft corns result when the ends of the toe bones are too wide, causing friction in between the toes. This problem is aggravated by tight-fitting shoes.

Causes of corns and calluses

• Some people’s toe bones are wide, causing friction between the toes, a problem that’s made worse by tight-fitting shoes. These people may develop soft corns which resemble open sores. So, too, might women who wear narrow, tapering, high-heeled shoes that squeeze the foot and shift the body’s weight to the front of the foot.
• Humans typically spend several hours on their feet and take several thousand steps each day. This puts pressure on the feet equivalent to two-to-three times body weight. For many Americans, that could amount to almost half a ton of pressure. If you’re not wearing sensible shoes, the stress will damage your feet in one way or another.
• Shoes that are too small irritate the feet, but so do shoes (and socks) that are too loose, allowing the foot to slide and rub against them. Start wearing shoes that support your feet.

Prevention of corns and Calluses

• Don’t wear big clunky shoes with a suit or dress.
• Avoid high heels with shorts or capri pants.
• Shoes that are too tight or too loose can cause bunions, corns, or calluses and these are a painful price to pay for ill-fitting shoes.
• If you walk a lot in your job or stand for long periods of time, make sure your shoes are comfortable shoes and fit well. They should feel like you haven’t even got them on.
• Don’t wear extremely high heels just because they are “in”. Choose a fashionable yet comfortable shoe. A small difference in heel height can make a big difference to the way your shoes feel, and being able to walk and stand comfortably for long periods of time.

Treatment of corns and calluses

• Tape a fresh slice of lemon over the painful area overnight. Resist the temptation to squeeze it onto your breakfast of steamed mackerel the next morning.
• Rub with papaya or pineapple.
• Apply cider vinegar followed by tea tree oil.
• Corn plasters, available in any drug store, can be used to remove corns and calluses. They contain 40% salicylic acid and have very clear directions for application which need to be followed meticulously.
• Surgery is performed to treat soft corns.
• Applying lanolin-enriched lotion to help the skin become soft around the corn can also be an option.
• Wearing a donut-shaped foam pad over the corn will also help relieve the pressure.
• Using a pumice stone to reduce the thickness of the corn.
• Using padding to prevent the pressure.