The common causes are: shoes that don't fit well (too tight, too loose, hard areas pressing on the foot), biomechanical issues that overload certain parts of the foot, foot deformities like bunions or hammer toes that change pressure distribution, thin foot pads (common with age), being on your feet for long periods and certain occupations or sports.

You'll see thickened skin: yellow, hard and sometimes raised. Calluses are usually painless until they get very thick or develop cracks. Corns are more focused and can be sharply painful when pressed (especially in shoes). Both can become painful when walking, leading to altered gait and sometimes knock-on pain in knees, hips or back.

Diagnosis is straightforward at a clinical examination. The podiatrist identifies whether it's a corn, callus or something that looks similar (verruca, soft tissue lump, blister). We also look at the underlying cause: foot shape, gait, shoe wear patterns and any deformities.

Professional debridement is the cornerstone of treatment. We use sterile instruments to skilfully remove the thickened skin or corn core. This is painless and gives immediate relief. We then address the underlying cause: footwear advice, offloading padding, silicone wedges between toes, custom orthotics for biomechanical issues, moisturisers for dry skin and recommendations for ongoing self-care between appointments.

No. Corn and callus removal is painless and most patients find it relaxing. We use sterile scalpels to skilfully thin and remove the dead, thickened skin. There's no anaesthetic needed, no recovery time and you walk out immediately more comfortable.

It depends on the underlying cause and how quickly the thickened skin re-forms. Some patients need treatment every 6 to 8 weeks indefinitely (especially older patients with thinner foot pads or biomechanical issues that can't be fully corrected). Others come in once or twice while we sort out the underlying cause then very rarely after that. We'll give you a realistic recommendation at your first appointment.

Home filing with a pumice stone or foot file can help maintain results between professional appointments. However, filing at home is much less effective than professional debridement, removes less of the problem skin and risks over-filing or infection if you go too deep. Diabetic or circulation-impaired patients should never attempt home treatment.

Because removing the corn or callus doesn't fix the cause. The corn is the symptom; the pressure is the cause. Until the underlying pressure is addressed (footwear, biomechanics, foot deformity), the skin will keep responding by thickening. Long-term resolution means working with us to identify and address the specific pressure point.

For your first appointment, allow up to 60 minutes. This gives us enough time for a thorough history, examination and treatment in the same visit. Follow-up treatments are typically up to 30 minutes for the vast majority of cases. We'll confirm the exact length when you book.

No. You can book a podiatry appointment directly with us with no GP referral needed. We can write to your GP after your appointment if there's anything they should know.

Wear something comfortable that's easy to roll up to the knee. Bring the shoes you wear most often (we'll often look at how they're wearing for biomechanical clues). If you've had any imaging or test results related to your feet, bring those too. Otherwise just bring yourself.

Podiatry & chiropody is available at our Great Dunmow clinic at 12 Stortford Road, CM6 1DA. The clinic has on-site disabled parking available on request. Just give us a call ahead of your appointment.