Planter warts and calluses, round patches of thickened skin on the bottom of feet, are both the result of hyperkeratosis, the process that produces a thick, hard layer of skin. Because planter warts and calluses are so similar in appearance, however, it is often difficult to determine whether you have planter warts or calluses on your feet.

Planter Warts: A Definition

When people think of “warts,” they usually think of round masses that rise above the skin, like those that can appear on the tops of feet or on the hand. Planter warts, though, are impacted into the skin. Also called ‘verrucas,’ planter warts are rough little bumps caused by a highly contagious virus. People usually contract the planter warts virus in common areas such as locker rooms, swimming pools and public showers.

Planter warts can appear in groups – or planter warts can appear as a singular hard patch – but they’re always on the bottom of the foot. More unsightly than typical warts, planter warts can also be quite painful. Because planter warts are found directly on the bottom of the feet, the full body weight is exerted on these hard, pebble-like planter warts. People with planter warts often find standing or walking uncomfortable.

Calluses: A Definition

Calluses, like planter warts, also appear on the bottom of the foot. But calluses are a result of friction and pressure, not a virus like planer warts. Calluses appear for one reason: to protect your foot against contact with the offending surface, usually a shoe or ill-fitting sock. Calluses are certainly not dangerous, but can be very uncomfortable, and are not really painful like planter warts.

The Major Differences Between Planter Warts and Calluses

Planter warts and calluses come in many varieties.

There may be one isolated mass, a series of flat bumps or an entire area of the foot affected by planter warts or calluses.
Your planter warts or calluses may be large or small.
Your plantar warts or calluses may have tiny spots, points, or depressions, or appear very flat and spread out.

To help you properly distinguish between calluses and planter warts, here are some differences to look out for:

Planter warts have tiny black centers (tiny capillaries) that carry the blood supply to the planter wart.
How painful is the area? Calluses feel more painful when receiving direct pressure, while planter warts appear to be more sensitive to squeezing or side pressure.
Many people trim calluses. If you try to trim the area, and it starts to bleed, you probably have planters warts.
Planter warts are contagious, while calluses are not, so if you start noticing that other areas of your body are becoming infected, you most likely have planter warts.
Children or young adults get planter warts more often that mature adults.

Treating Calluses and Planter Warts

The successful treatment of both planter warts and calluses depends on a successful diagnosis. Both planter warts and calluses can be painful, and careful paring of the thickened skin will temporarily reduce the pain in both.

Effective treatments to eliminate planter warts include acid preparation, topical drying agents and surgical excision of the lesion using various modalities.

Treatment of calluses, unlike planter warts, involves the use of insoles and inserts in your shoes to combat pressure points and rubbing, softening creams and possible surgery on the foot to help rebalance the bones to relieve pressure.

Information on foot and lower body health conditions like planter warts provided by The Podiatry Institute, dedicated to advancing the standard of care in podiatric medicine and its effects on muscoskeletal health.