Hammer toes. Top view of a foot showing severe hammer toes and corns. The main joints of the second, third, fourth and fifth toes have become fixed in the bent position. In this deformity of the toes a corn (clavus) often develops on the joint. Corns can be seen clearly on the second and third toes as areas of brown scaly skin. They are areas of hard, thickened skin that develop because of pressure from the overlying shoe. They press down into the foot causing pain. In this case it is believed severe neglect caused hammer toes to develop to this extreme.