What do foot corns look like?

Hard corns on the feet appear as hard patches of thick, dead skin with central cores, while soft corns are thinner and generally appear between the fourth and fifth toes, according to WebMD. Seed corns are small corns that may appear on the bottom of the foot or elsewhere.

Corns form as a natural response by the body to protect sensitive skin, usually from ill-fitting shoes or improper walking motions, notes WebMD. Pressure and rubbing often cause soft corns, although a soft corn without a known cause may be indicative of a trapped splinter or foreign body under the skin that requires evaluation by a medical professional.