Corns and calluses: painless removal, and why they come back
The most common reason to see a pédicure-podologue. A corn will not go away on its own, but it can be removed painlessly — the rest is mostly about shoes.
Corns (including soft corns)
A corn is a small, very localised thickening of the skin built around a hard core. The core presses on nerve endings, which is why a tiny corn can hurt so much. When it forms between two toes, the skin stays moist and white: this is called a soft corn.
- How to recognise it
- A small patch of hard, yellowish skin on top of a toe, at its tip or between two toes. Painful when pressed and inside shoes.
- Common causes
- Repeated friction or pressure on the same spot: shoes that are too narrow or pointed, clawed or hammer toes, a bunion pushing the toes together.
- At the practice
- The core is removed layer by layer with a sterile scalpel. The treatment is normally painless and relief is often immediate. The cause, frequently the shoe, is then looked for.
- Day to day
- Choose shoes that are roomy at the front, in soft materials. Avoid over-the-counter corn plasters and liquids: they contain acid that also attacks the healthy skin around the corn, which is risky with diabetes or poor circulation.
- See a doctor
- If you have diabetes, or if the corn becomes red, hot, weeping, or turns into a wound.
Calluses and hard skin
A callus is a patch of thickened skin, wider than a corn and without a core. It forms where the foot takes the most pressure: under the ball of the foot, on the heel, along the big toe. It is a protective reaction that becomes a problem when it gets too thick.
- How to recognise it
- Hard, yellowish, sometimes cracked skin; a burning feeling or the sensation of a pebble in the shoe.
- Common causes
- Excessive or uneven pressure, long walks, high heels, high-arched or flat feet, and age (the fat pad under the foot gets thinner).
- At the practice
- The hard skin is reduced with a scalpel and smoothed, never down to living skin. Advice on moisturising and footwear completes the treatment.
- Day to day
- A urea-based cream applied daily slows the return of hard skin. Avoid metal graters and blades at home: cuts are common.
Corn or callus: telling them apart
| Corn | Callus | |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | Small, round, with a hard core | Wider patch, no core |
| Where | Top or tip of a toe, between two toes | Ball of the foot, heel, edge of the big toe |
| Pain | Sharp and localised, like a nail | Diffuse burning, like a pebble |
| Cause | Pressure concentrated on one point | Repeated load on an area |
The role of your shoes
- Try shoes on at the end of the day, when feet are slightly swollen.
- Check the width at the front: your toes should be able to move.
- Watch out for inner seams sitting over a bent toe.
- Alternate heels and flat shoes; keep high heels for occasions.
Why avoid corn plasters
Most over-the-counter corn plasters and liquids contain salicylic acid. It softens hard skin but also attacks the healthy skin around it, and can cause a wound in people with diabetes, poor circulation or thin skin. Acid-free protectors (gel rings, cushioned pads) can ease pressure until your appointment.
Price
€44A pedicure treatment or foot reflexology: the same price at the practice.
Home visits: from €55, depending on the area and travel. The price is confirmed when you book.
Saturday: appointments possible on request — €70. By appointment only.
Frequently asked questions
Can a corn go away on its own?
If the pressure that caused it stops, it may shrink. But the core often stays and keeps hurting, so it needs to be removed.
Will it come back?
Yes, if the cause remains — same shoes, same toe shape. That is why treatment always includes looking for the cause.
How much does it cost?
A chiropody session costs €44 at the practice.
Book an appointment
Dominique Rozan sees patients at 72 avenue de la Bourdonnais, 75007 Paris, Monday, Thursday and Friday. Call; if she is with a patient, leave your name and number and she will call you back.
06 08 10 86 61From a non-French number: +33 6 08 10 86 61