Protective pads can remove the pressure or friction that is causing a callus or corn, giving it time to heal. For smaller calluses and corns, cut a circle out of moleskin and then cut the center out of the circle so you have a doughnut-shaped pad. Put it on your skin so that the callus or corn is in the doughnut “hole” and the pad surrounds it.

You can also place a soft pad, called a metatarsal pad, on the ball of the foot near a large callus. The pad will cushion the foot and relieve pressure on the callus. You can buy metatarsal pads made of various materials, such as rubber, felt, or soft plastic.