Corns and warts often appear similar in location and size, especially when they form on the feet, leading to frequent confusion about their identity. Despite their superficial resemblance as small, hardened skin growths, they are fundamentally distinct conditions with completely different origins. The key difference between them lies not just in their appearance, but in the underlying cause, which is either a viral infection or a simple mechanical response.
Understanding Warts and Their Cause
A wart is a benign skin growth resulting from an infection by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). This virus enters the skin through tiny cuts or breaks, prompting an overgrowth of cells in the outer layer. Because they are caused by a virus, warts are contagious and can spread through direct contact or indirectly in warm, moist environments like communal showers.
There are over 100 types of HPV, causing specific wart types, such as common warts or plantar warts on the soles of the feet. Plantar warts are common on weight-bearing areas and can be painful due to pressure pushing the growth inward. The body’s immune system usually fights off the virus over time, but this process can take months or even years.
Understanding Corns and Their Cause
Corns are not infectious growths but a physical response to protect an area from repeated pressure or friction. They are localized patches of dead, thickened skin (hyperkeratosis) that form a dense plug, typically over a bony prominence.
Sustained mechanical stress, often caused by poorly fitting shoes or foot deformities, triggers the skin to thicken as a defense mechanism. These growths are essentially a buildup of keratin, the protein that makes up the outer layer of the skin.
Corns are generally smaller and deeper than calluses, featuring a central core that presses on nerve endings, resulting in focused pain. They are classified as hard corns, which appear on the tops of toes, or soft corns, which are rubbery and form between the toes.
Visual and Structural Differences
Telling a wart and a corn apart requires observing structural and pain response differences. Warts typically have a rough, granular, or “cauliflower-like” surface texture that disrupts the natural lines of the skin.
The most distinct visual marker for a wart is the presence of tiny black or dark brown dots, which are minute clotted blood vessels supplying the viral tissue.
A corn, conversely, has a smoother, often translucent or yellowish appearance and is distinctly defined with a hard, dense central core. When the thickened skin is scraped away, the normal lines of the skin usually pass straight through it.
A wart is often more painful when squeezed from the sides, while a corn tends to hurt more when direct pressure is applied straight down onto its core.
Treatment Approaches
Since their causes are entirely different, the treatment strategies for corns and warts are not interchangeable. Wart treatment focuses on eliminating the underlying Human Papillomavirus or destroying the infected tissue.
Common methods include the application of salicylic acid, which helps peel away the infected layers, and cryotherapy, which involves freezing the wart with liquid nitrogen.
The treatment of a corn focuses on relieving mechanical pressure and removing the excess dead skin. This often begins with changes to footwear, using protective padding, or incorporating custom orthotics to redistribute weight.
A medical professional can safely debride or shave the hardened core of the corn for immediate pain relief. This procedure cannot be performed on a wart without causing pain and bleeding.