Corns and calluses are areas of tough, thickened skin caused by pressure or friction. Calluses usually appear on the palms, fingertips, or soles of the feet.
Corns are smaller and form on the toes.
Calluses are often associated with certain types of work and sports. Tennis and baseball players develop calluses on their hands, manual laborers on their hands, joggers on the soles of their feet, and violinists and guitarists on their fingertips. For some activities it may be good to have calluses because they help keep you from getting blisters. Your doctor will examine you and may want you to have an x-ray to see if you have any physical deformity that could cause a corn or callus. If a corn or callus doesn't heal and is painful, you may need to see a foot doctor or orthopedic surgeon.