Calluses and Corns – Natural Home Remedies, Treatment, Prevention
Calluses and corns are thickened area of the skin and can occur anywhere in the body. It is largely found on your feet and in between the toes. Calluses are formed due to repeated friction caused on particular area of the skin. Your body prepares a thick layer of skin on any area of bruises as a matter of protective mechanism. Dead cells get accumulated on the weak area of bruises or injury forming a thick hard coating.
Calluses and corns can cause discomfort and pain on the affected area. Sometimes the sweat gets trapped inside the skin layers forming a soft core inside a hard covering. In medical terms calluses is known as hyperkeratoses and cons as helomas. Thick patches on the skin, bumps or blisters on the skin and flaky dry skin are some of the symptoms of calluses and cons. It can cause pain, discomfort and tenderness on the skin. Some people can feel the pain as though a pebble or small stone is trapped between the toes. Medically it can be treated with creams, lotions and by plucking.
Some of the home remedies available for removing calluses and cons are given below :-
1. Pumice Stone
Pumice stone is effective in removing dead cells of the skin. You have to gently apply pressure on the affected area to scrape away the dead cells. You can do this after soaking the feet in warm water for few minutes. The skin would be very soft when it is wet and hence you can easily scrape off the dead layer of the skin. Be patient and repeat this process daily for few minutes. The entire callus cannot be removed in one session since it is very thick and hardened part of the skin.
2. Emery Board
Alternatively, you can use the emery board for removing soft corns. You can use emery board to remove calluses and corns between the toes. Remember to scrape off the skin layer after taking bath each day so that dead cells can be removed.
3. Castor Oil
Castor oil is an excellent remedy for many ailments and pain in the body. It has anti-inflammatory property to reduce the swelling caused by calluses and corns. Castor oil can be used as softening agent of the skin.
4. Corn Pad
Over the counter corn pads can be used for removing calluses and corns. You can get small round shaped non-medicated pads from the pharmacies. After placing a pad around the calluses you can add 2 drops of castor oil on it and cover it with an adhesive tape firmly so that it remains intact. Moisture in the castor oil can protect the corns from pressure and soften the calluses or corns thus helping in getting rid of them. You can wear the corn pad for two or three days until the corns become soft in contrast to the hardened thick layer of skin. Remember to wear socks while using castor oil or corn pad since it can cause strains on your clothing.
5. Right Shoes
Once you have corns or calluses in your feet make it a point to wear the right fitting shoes. Avoid wearing high-heeled shoes which can worsen the pain. A right pair of shoe is one which has a small gap enough to insert a finger after wearing it. There should be breathing space between each toe so that calluses would not rub against your feet while you are walking.
6. Epsom Salt
Epsom salt is nothing but Magnesium sulfate which is effective in treating calluses and corns. You can manage the pain with this simple home remedy. Add 2-3 tsp of Epsom salt in warm water tub and soak your feet in this solution for 20-25 minutes. This therapy would make your feet soft reducing the pain caused by corns. Repeat this procedure daily until the calluses turn completely soft and wither off.
7. Aspirin Treatment
Aspirin can help you in removing corns for sure. Salicylic acid present in the aspirin is good enough to work on calluses or corns making them soft. Take 5 aspirin pills and crush them into fine powder. Now add few drops of lemon juice and little water to make a paste. Apply this paste on the affected area and cover it with an adhesive tape. Now cover the area with a hot towel for few minutes. After removing the towel, you can gently scrub the corn with emery board or pumice stone since it has become soft.
Often the calluses and corns are very small measuring less than an inch. In case you have developed bigger sized corns or calluses you can get it removed by your doctor. He may use a long scalpel for trimming away the corns easily. A fresh layer of skin would develop on the area in few days.
8. Simple Soaking
Just keep your feet or hand immersed in lukewarm water for few minutes daily. This simple remedy is enough for softening the skin layer of corns and calluses. After few days of soaking you can clear off the corns easily with a pumice stone.
9. Medication
Callus remover or other medications like “clear away” can be obtained from the medical shop. You can use such patches for removing corns and calluses. The patch should be kept intact on the callus for few days until it becomes soft enough to be rubbed off with a pumice stone.
10. Salicylic Acid Gel
You can apply the paste of salicylic acid on the corns directly and cover it with a tape. Repeat this process for several days which would gradually turn the callus or corns to soft layer of skin. Now you can gently scrub this extra layer with a pumice stone.
Tips For Prevention :
Calluses and corns are thickened area of the skin and can occur anywhere in the body. It is largely found on your feet and in between the toes. Calluses are formed due to repeated friction caused on particular area of the skin. Your body prepares a thick layer of skin on any area of bruises as a matter of protective mechanism. Dead cells get accumulated on the weak area of bruises or injury forming a thick hard coating.
Calluses and corns can cause discomfort and pain on the affected area. Sometimes the sweat gets trapped inside the skin layers forming a soft core inside a hard covering. In medical terms calluses is known as hyperkeratoses and cons as helomas. Thick patches on the skin, bumps or blisters on the skin and flaky dry skin are some of the symptoms of calluses and cons. It can cause pain, discomfort and tenderness on the skin. Some people can feel the pain as though a pebble or small stone is trapped between the toes. Medically it can be treated with creams, lotions and by plucking.
Some of the home remedies available for removing calluses and cons are given below :-
1. Pumice Stone
Pumice stone is effective in removing dead cells of the skin. You have to gently apply pressure on the affected area to scrape away the dead cells. You can do this after soaking the feet in warm water for few minutes. The skin would be very soft when it is wet and hence you can easily scrape off the dead layer of the skin. Be patient and repeat this process daily for few minutes. The entire callus cannot be removed in one session since it is very thick and hardened part of the skin.
2. Emery Board
Alternatively, you can use the emery board for removing soft corns. You can use emery board to remove calluses and corns between the toes. Remember to scrape off the skin layer after taking bath each day so that dead cells can be removed.
3. Castor Oil
Castor oil is an excellent remedy for many ailments and pain in the body. It has anti-inflammatory property to reduce the swelling caused by calluses and corns. Castor oil can be used as softening agent of the skin.
4. Corn Pad
Over the counter corn pads can be used for removing calluses and corns. You can get small round shaped non-medicated pads from the pharmacies. After placing a pad around the calluses you can add 2 drops of castor oil on it and cover it with an adhesive tape firmly so that it remains intact. Moisture in the castor oil can protect the corns from pressure and soften the calluses or corns thus helping in getting rid of them. You can wear the corn pad for two or three days until the corns become soft in contrast to the hardened thick layer of skin. Remember to wear socks while using castor oil or corn pad since it can cause strains on your clothing.
5. Right Shoes
Once you have corns or calluses in your feet make it a point to wear the right fitting shoes. Avoid wearing high-heeled shoes which can worsen the pain. A right pair of shoe is one which has a small gap enough to insert a finger after wearing it. There should be breathing space between each toe so that calluses would not rub against your feet while you are walking.
6. Epsom Salt
Epsom salt is nothing but Magnesium sulfate which is effective in treating calluses and corns. You can manage the pain with this simple home remedy. Add 2-3 tsp of Epsom salt in warm water tub and soak your feet in this solution for 20-25 minutes. This therapy would make your feet soft reducing the pain caused by corns. Repeat this procedure daily until the calluses turn completely soft and wither off.
7. Aspirin Treatment
Aspirin can help you in removing corns for sure. Salicylic acid present in the aspirin is good enough to work on calluses or corns making them soft. Take 5 aspirin pills and crush them into fine powder. Now add few drops of lemon juice and little water to make a paste. Apply this paste on the affected area and cover it with an adhesive tape. Now cover the area with a hot towel for few minutes. After removing the towel, you can gently scrub the corn with emery board or pumice stone since it has become soft.
Often the calluses and corns are very small measuring less than an inch. In case you have developed bigger sized corns or calluses you can get it removed by your doctor. He may use a long scalpel for trimming away the corns easily. A fresh layer of skin would develop on the area in few days.
8. Simple Soaking
Just keep your feet or hand immersed in lukewarm water for few minutes daily. This simple remedy is enough for softening the skin layer of corns and calluses. After few days of soaking you can clear off the corns easily with a pumice stone.
9. Medication
Callus remover or other medications like “clear away” can be obtained from the medical shop. You can use such patches for removing corns and calluses. The patch should be kept intact on the callus for few days until it becomes soft enough to be rubbed off with a pumice stone.
10. Salicylic Acid Gel
You can apply the paste of salicylic acid on the corns directly and cover it with a tape. Repeat this process for several days which would gradually turn the callus or corns to soft layer of skin. Now you can gently scrub this extra layer with a pumice stone.
Tips For Prevention :
- There is actually no way to prevent formation of calluses or corns. But you can always keep your skin soft and well moisturized.
- Apply moisturizing cream on your hands and feet generously before retiring to bed. This habit would help in keeping the skin soft indirectly preventing calluses and corns.
- Wear right size of cushioned shoes that does not exert pressure on your toes.
- Change your socks daily since there is chance for bacterial growth present on it.
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