Because of their similar appearance, warts are often confused with corns. This can become a problem, since both have to be treated very differently. We explain how to tell the difference between a wart and a corn.
While corns usually result from areas of skin being subjected to repeated pressure and friction over a period of time, most warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). These can be transmitted, for example, when shaking hands or walking barefoot in the swimming pool.
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Warts and corns: how to treat them
Both warts and corns can go away on their own after a few weeks. If this is not the case, they must be treated: solutions of salicylic acid can be used for warts or a dermatologist can apply freezing – corns can be removed with a pumice stone, for example, or treated with certain callus agents (keratolytics).
However, the skin changes have one thing in common: They are unsightly and can become a great burden for those affected if they do not heal on their own. In order to treat the relevant area of skin, it must first be determined whether it is a wart or a corn. But how do you tell the difference?
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Wart or corn: That’s the difference
Since corns are caused by persistent pressure on certain skin areas, the skin changes usually appear on the feet and less frequently on the hands or elbows. Plantar warts in particular can be confused with corns, since they are warts on the soles of the feet, heels or between the toes, which in most cases reach deep into the subcutaneous tissue. As a result, like corns, they can cause pain – both with pressure and without. In addition, both corns and warts are surrounded by a layer of callus. However, there are two distinct differences: corns usually have a yellowish translucent core and the lines on the skin are noticeable, which is not the case with warts. Warts, on the other hand, often have small black or red dots in the middle. These are tiny capillaries that can indicate that the wart is healing. If in doubt, or if the skin change does not recede, a visit to a dermatologist can help.
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