Corn and Calluses - What is the Difference and How Can They Be Treated?

Is the skin on your feet or hands thickened and causing discomfort? The chances are you might have a corn or callus. Before you look for a treatment, let us understand what foot corns and calluses are and how they differ.

Differentiating between corns and calluses is crucial for proper foot care and treatment, as they have distinct characteristics and require specific management approaches.

 

Feature	Corn	Calluses
Definition	Small, localised areas of thickened skin that form on the toes or sides of the feet due to friction or pressure.	Larger, diffuse areas of thickened skin that develop on weight-bearing areas of the feet or hands due to repetitive friction or pressure.
Appearance	Hard, raised bumps with a central core often surrounded by inflamed skin.	Flat, thickened patches of skin that may appear yellowish or discoloured.
Location	Typically found on toes, tops of toes, or sides of feet.	Commonly occur on the soles of the feet or palms of the hands.
Symptoms	Painful when pressure is applied, may be tender to touch.	Generally painless, but may cause discomfort when walking or standing.
Causes	Result from pressure or friction from ill-fitting shoes or abnormal foot anatomy.	Develop due to repeated pressure or friction, often from footwear or manual labour.
Prevention	Wearing comfortable, properly fitting shoes, using cushioned insoles, keeping feet clean and moisturised.	Wearing well-fitted shoes with adequate support, maintaining proper foot hygiene, avoiding prolonged friction or pressure on the affected areas.

Treatment for corns and calluses usually involves avoiding the repetitive actions that caused them to develop. You can help resolve them by following simple tips like:

• Wear properly fitting shoes
• Use protective pads
• Trim away your excess skin
• Use shoe inserts 
• Trim your toenails 
• Keep your feet clean

 

If a corn or callus persists or becomes painful even after some self-care measures, we recommend seeing your doctor. If you are diabetic, visiting your doctor as soon as possible will help you cure it sooner. 

You can also treat foot corn with a plaster, which helps soften the corn and relieve it. Here’s how the Hansaplast Corn Plaster can provide you with quick and effective relief from corn:

 

1. Faster relief

When the centre of the plaster's ring is applied to the corn, quick pressure ensures that the corn softens. 

 

2. Long-lasting relief

The plaster gets rid of the corn by gently applying pressure and ensuring that the hard core of the corn softens. As this process continues, the hardened corn starts disappearing, and the plaster stops exerting pressure on the sensitive inner layers of your skin. This leads to long-lasting relief.

 

3. Ease of application

The soft cushioning foam on the plaster ensures that it shields the corn as it heals, absorbs and distributes the pressure that may be exerted on it during this process.

 

4. Better grip

Your feet are always in motion, and ordinary plasters find it hard to hold on to your feet for this very reason. However, the skin-friendly adhesion on the plaster ensures it stays put during healing.

The plaster softens the corn and provides relief. The use of Narmalic Amal in the corn plaster draws from Ayurveda, ensuring natural healing. Also, the plaster has been designed to deviate pressure from an area where the application and retention of the plaster are difficult. For better and faster corn removal, replace the plaster every two days.

Distinguishing between corns and calluses is vital for effective care. Corns, small and painful, contrast with calluses, which are larger in size and painless. Treatment involves prevention and self-care, with medical attention for persistent discomfort, especially crucial for diabetics. For targeted relief, consider the Hansaplast Corn Plaster, a soothing remedy designed to hasten corn removal and nurture foot health with its innovative formula.