- Corns and calluses are thick, hardened layers of skin that develop when your skin tries to protect itself from friction and pressure.
- They most often develop on the feet and toes or hands and fingers.
Calluses
- Plantar calluses are hard, thickened skin that forms under the surface of the foot (the plantar side).
- Plantar calluses are common on the plantar fascia.
- This is the thick band of tissue that connects your heel bone to your toes and the ball of your foot.
- They can be uncomfortable, but they are very treatable.
Corns
- Corns form on the surface of the foot (the dorsal side).
Symptoms
- A raised, hardened bump
- An area of thick, rough skin
- Scaly and dry or scaly and waxy skin
- Pain or tenderness under the skin
Causes
- Inappropriate footwear
- Calluses on the edges of weight-bearing feet are often caused by shoes that are too loose
- Abnormal foot biomechanics
- Elderly patients
- Hallux valgus
- Diabetic neuropathy
- Claw or hammer toes
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- High activity levels produce pressure and friction
- People often develop calluses on the middle or ring finger of their dominant hand from writing with a pen or pencil
- Playing stringed instruments such as the guitar or violin; calluses will develop on the four fingers of the hand used to hold the strings to the fingerboard,
- Weightlifters have calluses in the upper part of the palm due to repeated friction.
- Calluses are also very common on the fingers of climbers on almost all of their fingers.
