Corns and calluses are thickened areas of dead skin that have built up due to prolonged pressure. Common causes are ill-fitting shoes, repetitive activities and boney prominences.

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A corn tends to form in the shape of a cone, meaning it can sit much deeper into the skin than a callus and be very painful. There are four types of corns.

• A hard corn (heloma durum) tends to form on the ball or heel of the foot.

• A soft corn (heloma molle) forms in the space between the toes and are usually white and moist.

• A seed corn (heloma millare) presents as multiple pin head sized corns, usually accompanied by very dry skin.

• A neurovascular corn (intractable plantar keratoderma) contains nerves and/or blood vessels and is common in smokers.

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A callus (hyperkeratosis) is thickened layers of dead skin that has formed over a larger surface area, usually bigger than a 10c coin. It can be made worse if the skin is also very dry.

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Corns and calluses can be safely and painlessly removed by our podiatrists. Using sterilised equipment we debride away the dead skin of the callus and enucleate corns.