Skin conditions
Calluses and corns
A corn pressing into the toe with every step can make walking miserable, yet most people never think to have it assessed. At Murray Shore Pharmacy in North York, a pharmacist can examine calluses and corns under the Ontario minor ailment program, figure out the friction source causing them, and, critically, screen out the feet that should never be treated at home.
Common signs
- A thickened, hardened patch of skin on the sole, heel, or toes
- A small, dense core of hard skin, often on top of or between toes, that hurts when pressed
- Pain with walking or in certain shoes
- Rough, flaky, or yellowish skin buildup at pressure points
- A soft, whitish corn between toes where moisture collects
See a doctor instead if
- You have diabetes or poor circulation: foot lesions in these cases go to a physician or foot specialist, not self-treatment
- Redness, warmth, pus, or streaking that suggests infection
- Cracked skin that bleeds or will not close
- Numbness or reduced feeling in the feet
- A lesion you are not sure is a callus at all, such as one with black dots, which may be a wart
Any of these sound like you? Call 416-789-1800 and we will point you the right way — or reach Health811 (opens in a new tab) by calling 811.
How the assessment works
The pharmacist inspects the lesion, distinguishes a corn from a callus from a plantar wart, and asks about footwear, activity, and health conditions, especially diabetes, which changes everything about foot care. For straightforward cases, a keratolytic product may be prescribed where appropriate, with guidance on padding and footwear so the corn does not simply grow back. The assessment is covered by OHIP.
Sources 1, 2Three ways to get started. Do it all from home, or come in.
Start online from your phone, call us, or walk in and ask for the pharmacist. No appointment is needed. When you start online, a pharmacist calls or messages you back to finish the assessment. Prefer email? Write to us.
Frequently asked questions
Plain answers from the pharmacy team. Tap a question to open it.
How do I know whether it is a corn or a wart?
Corns keep the normal skin lines running through them and have a dense centre; plantar warts interrupt the skin lines and often show tiny black dots. It matters because the treatment paths differ, and telling them apart is part of the assessment.
I have diabetes. Can you still help with my calluses?
We will gladly assess, but if you have diabetes we do not recommend self-treating corns or calluses at all. The safest path is referral to your physician or a chiropodist, and we will help arrange the handoff.
Why does my corn keep coming back after I file it down?
Because the pressure source is still there. Corns are the skin's response to repeated friction, usually from footwear or toe alignment. The assessment focuses on finding and offloading that pressure point, not just removing hard skin.
Will the pharmacist cut or shave the corn off?
No, pharmacists do not perform cutting or debridement. We assess, recommend or prescribe suitable topical care where appropriate, and refer to a foot specialist when hands-on removal is the better route.
What should I bring to the assessment?
Your OHIP card and, if you can, the shoes you wear most. Footwear is the most common culprit, and seeing the actual shoe often explains the corn immediately.
Do I need an appointment?
No, walk in whenever the pharmacy is open, or call 416-789-1800 if you would like to arrange a time. Bring your health card; the assessment is covered by OHIP.
Are seniors' feet assessed any differently?
Somewhat, yes. Skin thins and circulation often slows with age, so the pharmacist checks more carefully for healing concerns and is quicker to involve a chiropodist or physician when the feet need hands-on care.
How can I stop corns from forming in the first place?
Footwear with a roomy toe box and socks that fit smoothly prevent most corns. Protective pads over known pressure points help, and rotating between pairs of shoes keeps any one pressure spot from being constant.
Could my corn actually be a plantar wart?
It happens often, and the two are treated differently. If the assessment shows a wart rather than a corn, that is also a condition a pharmacist can assess; see our warts page for how that works.
How long does it take for a callus or corn to improve?
Hard skin builds over months and softens over weeks, so expect gradual change rather than overnight results. The pharmacist gives you a realistic timeline and a point at which to return if things are not improving.
What happens at the follow-up if it is not improving?
The plan changes. Either the pressure source has not been addressed, the lesion is not what it seemed, or it is time for referral to a foot specialist. That decision is much easier to make once we have a baseline from the first visit.
Sources & further reading
Numbered references, linked from the sections above.
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416-789-1800 Call nowPrefer not to call? Email info@murrayshore.com or visit us at Bathurst & Baycrest.