Symptoms of Corns

A corn announces itself simply: a small hard bump on a toe or the ball of the foot that hurts when pressed and complains with every step in the wrong shoes. The details help separate it from look-alikes and spot the rare complication.

The typical picture

• A small, raised, hard patch of thickened skin, usually under a centimeter
• A dense central core - sometimes visible as a whitish or yellowish center
• Sharp tenderness on direct pressure (pressing down on it); a pebble-in-shoe feeling when walking
• Surrounding skin may be dry, waxy or flaky
• Soft corns between toes look different: whitish, rubbery, soggy skin with a sore center
• Pain eases in soft, roomy footwear and worsens in tight or hard shoes

Where to look

Tops of toe joints, the outer side of the little toe, between the fourth and fifth toes, the ball of the foot under the toe joints, and occasionally the heel edge.

Corn or wart - the bedside distinction

• Press straight down: corns hurt sharply; warts hurt less
• Pinch from the sides: warts hurt more this way; corns less
• Skin lines (fingerprint ridges): pass OVER a corn, interrupted BY a wart
• Tiny black dots (clotted capillaries): wart, not corn
• Multiple spreading lesions in a child: think warts, not corns

Warning signs - see a doctor

• Redness, warmth, swelling, throbbing or pus: an infected corn - needs treatment, not home remedies
• Bleeding or an open sore under the corn
• Severe pain out of proportion, or pain even at rest
• Any foot lesion in a person with diabetes or poor circulation: professional care early, every time - small foot problems in diabetes can escalate into ulcers
• Recurrent corns despite good footwear: a foot specialist should look at the underlying bone alignment

One-line summary

A corn is a small hard bump with a tender central core that hurts on direct pressure and in tight shoes; infection signs, diabetes, or recurrence despite good shoes all mean professional care.