Difference between Wart and Corn

Key Difference: A wart is a skin condition that usually appears most commonly on the soles of the feet, and can also appear on the other parts of the body like arms, fingers, legs, etc. A corn appears due to extreme pressure on the skinny or bony prominence of the foot that usually appear on the top of toes or ball of the foot.

Warts and corns are small outbreaks in the skin that irritate a lot and are very ugly. They are two common foot problems. It is very difficult to recognize whether the bump on the toe is a wart or a corn. Let’s have a brief description for both the terms: a wart and a corn.

A wart is a skin condition that usually appears most commonly on the soles of the feet. They can also appear on the other parts of the body like arms, fingers, legs, etc. and some times grow in the genital or anal area. They may be large and small in a size, and mostly occur on the heel and ball of the foot. Warts are interlinked with corns because sometimes their appearance is red in color, but they are usually white and grey colored. They can be very painful when they get infected and inflamed. Otherwise, warts are usually painless.

Corn A corn appears due to extreme pressure on the skinny or bony prominence of the foot. They usually appear on the top of toes or the ball of the foot. If someone wears tight sandals, fitting stilettos or high-heeled shoes, the foot will experience skin pressure, and therefore there will be inadequate blood circulation which causes corns. A corn doesn’t itch or bleed; they are usually thick and hardened dead skin. However, the only pain one can feel from corn is when there is direct pressure while standing or walking. They are non-infectious and should be treated as quickly as possible. Corns and warts can be removed at home, but if someone is experiencing extreme pain then he should consult a dermatologist.

Comparison between Wart and Corn:

	Wart	Corn
Description	A wart is a skin condition that usually appears most commonly on the soles of the feet. They can also appear on the other parts of the body like arms, fingers, legs.	Corn appears due to extreme pressure on the skinny prominence of the foot and they usually appear on the top of toes or ball of the foot.
Prone area of the skin	Heels or ball underside of toe	Legs; top of toes, less commonly on ball and heel
Appearance	No fingerprint on skin surface Tiny black dots	Fingerprint No black dots
Caused by	Virus – Human Papilloma Virus	It is not caused by any virus.
Types	Common warts Plantar warts Genital warts Mosaic warts Periungual warts Flat warts	Hard Corns Soft Corns
Numbers	Usually in clusters.	Always single, but may be found in several different areas on same foot.
Symptoms	Warts may appear as a bump with a rough surface, or it may be flat and smooth surface. Tiny blood vessels grow. Warts usually are rough, gray, brown and dome shaped growth.	Corn may appear as a bump on top of a toe, plug-like circle of dead skin, has a thin and smooth center. It can also be a compact patch of hard skin with a dense core.
Reduce / Preventions	Avoid touching warts Do not share razors, towels, socks, or shoes with another person. Someone with no visible warts can still be carrying the virus. Avoid walking barefoot on warm, moist surfaces where the wart virus may be alive. Wear shower shoes when using public showers, locker rooms, or pool areas. Keep your feet dry. If your feet sweat heavily, wear socks that absorb moisture or wick it away from the skin. Avoid irritating the soles of your feet. Warts grow more easily if your skin has been injured or broken in some way. Treat warts quickly to minimize spread to yourself and others.	Wear shoes that fit well. Don’t wear tight shoes without socks. Loose socks can bunch up and cause pressure. While garden spare or rake, wear gloves. Avoid touching corns if it is soft and watery, because if the water removed with pressure, it can cause an extreme pain. Avoid high heels; they apply too much pressure.