Foot Corn: Causes, Treatment, And More - Healthline

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HealthlineSubscribeWhat to Know About Foot Corns and When to See a Doctor

Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M.D., MPH — Written by Jerisha Parker Gordon — Updated on October 23, 2025

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Takeaway

You can often treat foot corns with over-the-counter products and home remedies. You may be able to prevent them by taking certain precautions, including wearing comfortable shoes.

Foot corns are hardened layers of skin that develop from your skin’s response to friction and pressure. You may have foot corns if you have the following symptoms on the tips and the sides of your toes:

rough, tough, yellowing patch of lumpy or bumpy skin
skin that’s sensitive to touch
pain when wearing shoes

Read on for tips on how you can treat existing corns and minimize your chances of developing new ones.

Where do foot corns develop?

Corns can form in a variety of places on your feet, such as:

below your toenail bed
between your toes
on the sides of your feet
on the bottoms of your feet

They typically develop on the tops of your toes.

What do foot corns look like?

Foot corns are hardened, thickened areas of skin that may have a yellow tinge to them.

What causes foot corns?

You can develop foot corns from wearing shoes that are too snug on your feet. If you stand or walk for long periods of time, the weight of your body and the constant friction can also cause painful corns on the bottoms of your feet.

Some people may be more likely to develop corns simply due to the way they walk or the structure of their feet.

Corns actually develop to protect your feet from further damage, though they can end up being painful.

How can you treat foot corns?

If you have a corn, you can try one of these methods to manage it at home. You should also replace any shoes that rub.

File away the corn

It may be possible to remove your corn by filing it down over time.

Use these steps:

Soak your feet in a warm bath with Epsom salts.
After the soak, pat your feet dry with a clean towel and moisturize with a hydrating lotion or cocoa butter.
Continue this process daily until your corn has softened.
After it’s softened and is not painful, try gently rubbing the corn with a pumice stone.
If the corn is between your toes, you can use an emery board (a nail file) to rub them.
Repeat these steps until your corn has disappeared, which may take a few weeks.

Make sure you don’t cut or damage your skin when filing. Be gentle and stop if you develop any pain.

Apply castor oil and corn pads

Another method to remove corns is to soak your feet daily as above, and then follow these steps once the corn has softened:

Pat dry your feet and apply castor oil. This vegetable-based oil can be purchased at your local pharmacy.
After moisturizing your corn with castor oil, protect it with a special corn pad you can find at your pharmacy. Corn pads help relieve the pressure from the area so that the corn can heal.
After applying, wear socks that are not too tight and ones you don’t care for because the castor oil can stain them. The corn could take several weeks to heal.

You can also purchase corn pads containing salicylic acid, which helps shed the dead layers of skin. You can find these in the foot care aisle of your pharmacy.

However, if you have certain health conditions, such as diabetes, it may not be safe for you to try at-home removal methods. In this case, speak with a medical professional.

When should you visit your doctor for foot corns?

If home treatments don’t work, see your doctor. Your doctor may refer you to a podiatrist, a doctor who specializes in foot conditions.

To treat the corn, they may scrape, shave, or cut away the layers of the hardened skin. This will help remove the corn.

Depending on the size of the corn, it may take a few appointments to get rid of it fully.

Never try to cut a corn off yourself at home. You could damage your skin or open it up to infection. A professional is trained in this process and uses tools that are sanitized and safe to use on the skin.

»FIND CARE:Find a podiatrist in your area today.

How can you prevent foot corns?

The best way to prevent corns from forming or returning is to make sure you wear comfortable shoes that fit your feet properly. Your toes should be able to move easily in them.

You may need to switch to a larger size or purchase shoes that are made for wider feet. A shoe store associate should be able to measure your feet and help you find properly fitting shoes.

If you’re breaking in shoes, wear thick socks over your toes. You can also cover the tops of your toes and sides of your feet with breathable bandages where they are prone to corns.

General tips include wearing socks with your shoes and keeping your toenails trimmed, as long toenails can cause your toes to be in an abnormal position.

Takeaway

Corns are thick areas of skin that may be painful but are usually not serious.

If you regularly develop corns, look for more supportive, comfortable shoes that better fit your foot shape and suit your walking style.

To treat corns, you can soak your feet, moisturize, or get a professional to help remove them.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Corns and calluses. (2025). https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/corns-and-calluses
Farci F, et al. Hyperkeratosis. (2023). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562206
Finding relief from calluses and corns. (2020). https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/finding-relief-from-calluses-and-corns
How to treat corns and calluses. (n.d.). https://www.aad.org/public/skin-hair-nails/skin-care/corns-and-calluses

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Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M.D., MPH — Written by Jerisha Parker Gordon — Updated on October 23, 2025

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