What is Foot Corn Appearance A corn is a bump of hard skin on the foot. They typically appear as a raised hard, yellowish patch of skin that is often tender to touch and painful when walking or wearing shoes. A corn is not normally a serious health condition. They tend to form small hard lumps of skin that distinguish them from callus, which form larger patches of thick skin on the feet. Causes Corns are a result of your body's natural response to pressure. The pressure compacts the skin into an inverted cone shape which gradually increases in size and eventually causes pain. There can be a number of causes, but normally they develop due to excessive pressure linked to foot shape and poorly fitted shoes. There are common areas of the foot that are more likely to experience pressure, which means they are more prone to corn buildup, these include: The sides of your small toes At the corner of your nail Between your toes The soles of the feet Treatments There are many simple at home or over the counter treatments to manage corns. These include: At home treatments Soak your feet in warm water to soften the hardened skin Use regular moisturisers/emollient cream with 10% urea on the area Use a pumice stone or file to help erode the corn down Throw away any shoes that are too tight or have insufficient cushioning, causing pressure and development of corns Over-the-counter treatments Corn-pads (pad with a hole) can help off-load pressure from the area and allow the corn to settle. These ar