All About Blisters, Calluses, and Corn
Take better care of your feet

Blisters, calluses, and corns develop through various forms of friction in your feet, but they are relatively easy to cure and go away eventually with steady treatment. Here’s a rundown of blisters, calluses, and corns:

Blisters

A blister is an area of raised skin with a watery liquid inside. Blisters form due to rubbing and pressure, but they tend to form more quickly than calluses. Blisters happen most frequently due to uncomfortable shoes that chafe the skin on your foot in some way. Areas that continue to form blisters may go on to form calluses.

Calluses

A callus is an area of thick skin developed through repeated pressure over a long period of time. The skin first hardens from pressure exerted over time. The skin then thickens, forming a tough surface that feels rough and bumpy to the touch.

Calluses form to protect the skin. For example, gymnasts who perform on uneven parallel bars and other apparatus often develop calluses on their hands, which take a lot of abuse. Guitar players also get calluses on fingers from manipulating the strings. Calluses may make it easier to maneuver objects without painful chafing.

However, calluses on the feet can be painful because you have to step on them all the time. Many calluses form on the round ball of the foot or on the outside of the big or little toe or the heel. Tight shoes and high heels often cause calluses because they put a lot of pressure on your feet at points vulnerable to stress and friction.

Corns

Corns are areas of thick, hard skin similar to calluses. However, they’re different from calluses in that they’re made up of a soft yellow ring of skin around a hard, gray center. Corns often form between toes or on the ends of toes. Corns develop from shoes that are too tight in the toes.

How to Prevent Blisters, Calluses, and Corns

To avoid getting blisters in your hands, reconsider wearing chafing gloves and other clothes. Always choose shoes wisely if you want to be free of calluses forever. You can shop for shoes in the afternoon when you’ve walked around a bit so you can judge how they feel while your feet are slightly swollen. Shoe size and width can make a huge difference, and may affect your back and spine as well. Uncomfortable shoes should not be worn all the time. If they must be worn, switch them up with other more sensible shoes.

Treating Blisters, Calluses, and Corns

Blisters can usually heal by themselves. Try to keep them clean and dry so they don’t develop infections.

A callus benefits from a warm, soapy soak. You can slough off dead skin with a pumice stone.

Corns unfortunately take a little bit longer to go away. You can help them heal faster by buying special corn pads that fit into the hole in the middle.