Symptoms of a corn
A corn or maggot eye is a thickening of the skin commonly found on the feet. Most corns are on or around the toes and/or forefoot and are almost always close to the bone, it is precisely in these areas that they are very painful and can make walking difficult. It is important to know what the symptoms of a corn are so you can get to them quickly.
Symptoms of a corn:
- A lumpy, thick spot on the skin that sometimes causes pain
- A corn is several millimeters in size
- A corn is often on the sole of the foot or between the toes
- The shape is circular and often yellowish discolored
- The core is often deeper in the skin and is painful when you press the corn
Corn or foot wart?

The skin around the corn is hardened and has a yellowish color. Sometimes corns are mistaken for foot warts. However, the head of a wart often has black dots, caused by the blood vessels. With a corn, or also called clavus, this is not the case.
How a corn develops
A corn occurs when prolonged pressure and friction is applied to a particular area of the foot. For example, this can happen if you wear shoes that are too tight or uncomfortable, or if you often walk barefoot and calluses occur on your feet.
Whether it’s because you wear heels or your shoes are just a little too tight: high pressure on your feet can cause painful corns. So make sure your shoes are the right size and fit properly insoles can be a godsend but the right size is often better.
Choose shoes with appropriate shoe sizes. In addition, always ensure and proper foot care by removing calluses in a timely manner and hygiene to avoid problems such as sweaty feet.
Different types of corn
There are different types of corns that can occur on the feet. The most common are the hard corn (also called clavus) and the soft corn (also called heloma molle).

Hard corn
A hard corn is a small, round area of thickened skin that usually occurs on the top or side of a toe or on the ball of the foot. It may look like a small callus and can be very painful if pressure is applied to it.
Soft Corn
A soft corn is also an area of thickened skin, but it is softer and moister than the hard variety. It often occurs between the toes and can look like a white, spongy spot.
Vascular corn
In addition to these two types of corns, there are also vascular corns and neurovascular corns. However, these types of corns are less common and can be more severe than hard and soft corns. It is important to consult a specialist if you think you have one of these types of corns because they require special treatment.
Corn removal

You can often remove a corn yourself but in many cases it is necessary to consult a specialist.
We explain how to do this and how to act on which corn.You can often remove a corn yourself but in many cases it is necessary to consult a specialist.
We explain how to do this and how to act on which corn.
Self removal.
If you have small corns that are in an easily accessible area, you can treat them yourself. You do this with a corn plaster containing salicylic acid. Salicylic acid softens the corn making it easier to remove. You can also use a special pen that scrapes off the top layer of the corn which provides pressure relief. This will make the corn less painful.
Have painful corns removed by pedicurist
Is the corn hard to reach or too deeply ingrown? Do not do it yourself because it can lead to complications such as inflammation. In this case, have the corn treated by a qualified pedicurist.
Corn resulting from abnormal foot position
If the cause of the corn is due to abnormal foot position, it is important to take this to a podiatrist for animal advice. Often, fitted orthotics are then the solution to correct the pressure distribution in the shoe and thereby relieve the feet.
Corn due to sweaty feet
It is possible to get a corn as a result of sweaty feet. This is because the moist environment created by sweaty feet can cause softening of the skin and increased friction between the foot and shoes. This, in turn, can lead to the formation of corns. So it is important to prevent sweaty feet by keeping your feet dry and clean and wearing breathable shoes. If you already suffer from corns, reducing sweaty feet can help prevent further corns from forming.