A corn is an often painful, conical inward-growing callus (hardened callus core). It occurs in places where there is frequent and frequent pressure and/or friction on the skin. This causes excessive callus formation in a concentrated area of the foot. A corn often occurs on the sole of the foot, the top of the toes, on the toe tip and between the toes. A corn can be painful; it can feel as if there is a nail in your foot.
A corn is usually well preventable by noticing friction in time and wearing footwear that is the right length and width size.
A pedicure can skillfully remove the corn by treating it manually and mechanically, cutting and milling away the callus. It will then disappear immediately and with it, so will the pain.

A callus is a localised thickening of the upper layer of the skin (also known as the epidermis). It forms naturally in places where the skin suffers from pressure and friction. Under the foot, there is often a thin layer of callus that serves to protect the skin. We call this physiological callus. In some situations, the horny layer continues to thicken, which can cause pain. This is known as excessive or pathological callus. It is therefore important to make sure that these calluses are removed regularly by the pedicurist or medical pedicurist.
Calluses can never be completely prevented. In fact, your feet always need a small amount of callus to protect the skin. However, you can try to keep the skin supple. Dry your feet well after washing them (preferably with warm water). When doing so, make sure you dry particularly well between the toes. Lubricating the feet daily with a foot cream will take good care of the skin and keep it supple.

Cracks in the foot are cracks or fissures in the skin. Foot fissures (and heel fissures) can occur in hard excess calluses, or just in dry skin without excess calluses. Cracks can be quite deep and cause painful feet. Cracks in hard and dry calluses require treatment by a pedicure.
Regular visits to a pedicure can prevent fissures from developing. Cracks cannot always be prevented. However, rubbing the skin daily with a good moisturising foot cream will help keep the skin supple.

Fungal nails can be recognised by a brown or yellow discolouration that appears on the sides of the nail. It usually starts at the nail of the big or little toe. In some situations, fungal nails can be treated. Just keep in mind that this can take 9 to 12 months and you have to treat the nail daily at home.

It is a misconception to think that fungal infections are caused by poor hygiene.

You can do the following to minimise the risk of infection:

• wash your feet daily, preferably without soap
• dry your feet well, especially between the toes.
• wear socks made of absorbent, natural material such as wool or cotton
• avoid wearing synthetic stockings or tights as much as possible
• put on clean socks every day
• preferably choose shoes made of real leather
• never try on new shoes in a shoe shop barefoot
• change shoes regularly and do not wear shoes too long together
• always wear slippers in public areas such as changing rooms, showers or saunas

In an ingrown nail, the side of the nail presses into the skin. This can cause a lot of pain, the surrounding skin may be red or swollen, but no inflammation is present.
In an ingrown nail (unguis incarnatus), the tip of the nail grows into the nail bed. An ingrown toenail has inflammatory symptoms, causes pain and irritation. A small wound may form and this may become inflamed with pus coming out of the skin. Both an ingrown nail and an ingrown nail usually occur on the big toe. However, the other nails can also grow in. The most common causes are the shape of the nail, cutting away the corners of the nails, picking at the nail, damp skin (common in teenagers, for example), shoes that are too narrow or an abnormal position of the toe.

Warts are benign cauliflower-like outgrowths of the skin. A wart is contagious and can occur because your foot has come into contact with the human papillomavirus. As with a foot fungus, the risk of infection is greatest in areas where several people walk barefoot, such as sports venues, public swimming pools, communal showers and sauna facilities. But infection can obviously be acquired on other occasions as well.