No, corn removal is not usually painful. The thickened skin and the core are dead tissue with no nerve supply, so a sterile scalpel can pare them away without cutting into living skin. Most people feel pressure or a scraping sensation. If the tissue underneath is inflamed, it can feel tender for a day or two afterwards, and padding helps with that.

That depends on how quickly the skin rebuilds. Many people with an ongoing pressure point book maintenance visits every six to twelve weeks, while others need only one or two appointments once the footwear and offloading are right. If your corn returns within a fortnight, tell your podiatrist, because it usually means the load on that spot has not changed enough.

Squeeze it. A wart is usually more painful when pinched from the sides, while a corn hurts most when pressed straight down. Corns sit on weight-bearing pressure points and have a smooth, waxy centre. Warts can appear anywhere on the sole, often in clusters, and interrupt the normal skin lines. Your podiatrist can confirm which one it is by paring the surface.

Soft corns form when two toe bones press together and sweat keeps the skin damp. The moisture stops the skin hardening in the normal way, so it stays white, soggy and painful. They are most common between the fourth and fifth toes. Keeping the web spaces dry, using a small gel spacer and choosing wider shoes all reduce the rubbing.

Yes. If pressure continues, tissue under the core can break down and form a wound, which may then become infected. Warning signs include fluid, a dark or red halo around the corn, warmth, swelling or an odour. The risk is higher if you have diabetes, poor circulation or numbness in your feet, which is why self-cutting is not safe.

Yes, you can walk out and carry on with your day. There are no wounds, stitches or dressings with routine corn removal, though your podiatrist may apply padding you should keep dry for a day. If a deep corn has left the area tender, choose a cushioned shoe and hold off on long runs or hikes for a couple of days.