Corns and calluses are common skin issues that develop on the feet and hands, often causing discomfort or pain. These thickened patches of skin are the body’s protective response to repeated friction or pressure. Understanding how these layers of hardened skin form is the first step in resolving the issue. For most people, corns do not require medical intervention to disappear.
Understanding Corns and Calluses
Corns and calluses are both formed by an accumulation of dead skin cells, but they differ in structure and location. A callus is a wide, diffuse area of thickened skin that typically forms on weight-bearing surfaces like the soles of the feet or palms of the hands. They tend to be less painful because the pressure is spread over a larger area.
A corn is a smaller, more concentrated area of thickened skin, often round or oval-shaped, that develops over bony prominences, such as the tops or sides of the toes. Corns have a dense, central core that can press deeply into nerve endings, making them tender or painful when subjected to pressure. This development of extra skin tissue is a physiological defense mechanism to shield the underlying tissues from damage.
Spontaneous Resolution Requires Eliminating Friction
The answer to whether corns go away naturally is yes, but only if the source of friction or pressure is removed consistently. Since the corn is the body’s reaction to an irritant, the skin will stop producing the excess hardened layer once the irritant is gone. Small corns, especially, will often diminish on their own if the pressure is eliminated.
For the corn to resolve, the hardened tissue must naturally slough off as the underlying skin regenerates to its normal state. This process involves identifying the source of irritation, which is frequently ill-fitting footwear or a toe deformity. Changing to well-fitting shoes or using non-medicated protective padding, such as moleskin, can immediately reduce the friction. If the cause remains, the corn will persist or worsen, requiring active intervention.
Effective Home Treatment Strategies
When simply removing friction is not enough, active home treatments can accelerate the removal process. The first step involves softening the hardened skin by soaking the foot in warm water for about 5 to 10 minutes. This process makes the dead skin cells more pliable and easier to remove.
After soaking, a pumice stone or foot file can be used to gently rub the corn in a circular motion, carefully removing small amounts of the toughened skin. It is important to avoid aggressive filing, which can cause bleeding, irritation, or infection. Over-the-counter medicated products containing salicylic acid are another effective option. This keratolytic agent works to dissolve the proteins that make up the corn. These products, often available in liquid or plaster form, use concentrations ranging from 10% to 40% to chemically exfoliate the dead skin over a period of days or weeks.
When Professional Care is Necessary
Self-treatment is generally safe for healthy individuals, but professional care from a podiatrist is required in certain situations. Individuals with underlying health issues, such as diabetes, heart disease, or poor blood circulation, should never attempt to treat corns at home. For these patients, even a minor injury or irritation from a medicated pad can lead to a non-healing sore or a serious infection.
You should also seek medical attention if a corn becomes severely painful, shows signs of infection like redness, swelling, or discharge, or has not improved after several weeks of consistent home treatment. A podiatrist can trim the corn using a sterile scalpel, removing the dense core that causes pain. They can also assess for structural foot deformities or biomechanical issues, offering solutions like custom-made orthotics to prevent future formation.