Skip to main content
Back

Corns and calluses

Corns and calluses are hard or thick areas of skin that can be painful. They're not often serious. There are things you can try to ease them yourself.

Symptoms of corns and calluses

You mostly get corns and calluses on your feet, toes and hands.

A corn on the toe of a person with white skin. There's a small, round, pink lump of hard skin with dry skin in the middle.
Corns are small lumps of hard skin.
Calluses on the feet of a person with white skin. There are rough, yellow patches of skin on the balls of both feet.
Calluses are larger patches of rough, thick skin.

What you can do about corns and calluses

Information:

If you have diabetes, problems with your circulation, a weakened immune system, or are an older person, do not try to treat corns and calluses yourself.

These conditions can make foot problems more serious. See a GP or foot specialist.

Corns and calluses are not often serious.

There are some things you can try to get rid of them yourself and stop them coming back.

A pharmacist can help with corns and calluses

You can ask a pharmacist about:

  • heel pads, corn plasters or toe separators, and insoles
  • products to treat corns and calluses
  • different types of pain relief

When and where to get medical help

You should see a GP if you get additional symptoms or you do not get any improvement after 3 weeks of treating a corn or callus yourself.

You should also see a GP if you have any issues that could make a foot problem more serious, like diabetes.

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:

You think you have a corn or callus and:

  • you have diabetes
  • you have problems with your circulation or a weakened immune system
  • it bleeds, or has any pus or discharge
  • it has not improved after treating it at home for 3 weeks
  • the pain is severe or stopping you doing your normal activities

Treatment for corns and calluses

A GP can check if you have a corn or callus.

They might:

  • give you antibiotics if a corn or callus is infected
  • refer you to a foot specialist if they think you need further treatment

Treatment from a foot specialist

A foot specialist, such as a podiatrist, may be able to offer treatments such as:

  • cutting away the corn or callus
  • patches or creams to help soften the hard skin so it can be removed
  • specially made soft pads or insoles to take pressure off the painful area of your foot

Referral to a podiatrist on the NHS may not be available to everyone and waiting times can be long. You can pay to see a podiatrist privately.

Information:

Self-refer to a podiatrist

If you have corns or calluses, you might be able to refer yourself directly to a podiatrist without seeing a GP.

To find out if there are any services in your area:

Common causes of corns or calluses

Corns and calluses are caused by pressure or rubbing of the skin on the hands or feet.

For example, from:

  • wearing high heels, uncomfortable shoes or shoes that are the wrong size
  • a problem with the bones in your feet
  • losing fat on the bottom of your feet as you get older
  • not wearing socks with shoes
  • lifting heavy weights
  • playing a musical instrument

Page last reviewed: 28 July 2026
Next review due: 28 July 2029