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Corns and calluses are more common than you realize. You wouldn’t technically understand the discomfort it brings until and unless you yourself struggle along with it. While the counter medications are definitely one of the best options in the lot, opting for the natural ways to remove corns and calluses is yet another alternative.
If you have been time and time struggling with the overall issue of witnessing white and yellowish hardened skin along the underside of your foot, it is time to take it seriously and opt for the remedies for treating it effectively.
By the end of this article, you will have a fair share of knowledge on how to remove corns and calluses naturally and prevent it from recurring again.
What Are Corns And Calluses?
Corns and calluses are the hardened layers of skin that over pile one upon the other to make it appear like a distinct mass of dead skin cells in the foot region, predominantly.
It is predominantly caused when the skin itself tries to protect itself against the possible friction and pressure exerted on it.
If the previous history of this condition is to be looked into, it has been found that the condition predominantly occurs in the toes, hands, and fingers.
For the most part, if you are healthy and don’t have any kind of underlying health condition that could be making the condition worse, the treatment for corns and calluses is quite basic and doesn’t require you to take extreme measures.
What Is The Difference Between Corns And Calluses?
Owing to the fact that both corn and calluses are almost similar, they are often termed together. That being said, they do have some differences in them which are worth taking note of.
Callus
A callus is predominantly a section in the skin which becomes to form a tough layer because of the constant pressure and friction or even irritation caused.
They are often pale or yellow in color and have a very lumpy feel and texture to it because of the fact that the skin surrounding is quite thick. Often times, it is less sensitive in terms of tactility in comparison to the rest of the skin surrounding it.
Calluses are often a bit more widespread and bigger in comparison to the corns and appear predominantly in the area which undergoes the maximum friction because of the bones or even because of the shoes that you are wearing.
Corn
Corn, on the other hand, is a type of callus which is predominantly made up of dead skin cells. These are often witnessed along the area of the body where the hair growth is minimal, especially around the top or the side of the toes. They are often small and circular in shape and have a characteristic feel to it, given that the middle of the inflamed area is soft and squidgy.
Unlike the calluses, they are white in color and are not widespread, and smaller in size. It is often compared to have a rubbery texture to it. Moist and sweaty skin is also often regarded as the cause behind this condition.
To gist it out, corns and calluses aren’t technically harmful to your body if it is tended to in the initial stages itself. The problem arises when no care is taken at all, leading to the formation of ulcers and infections around the area altogether.
What Causes Corns And Calluses On Feet?
Even though we did mention the causes prior, it is best suggested to set out some of the facts straight with this so it is easier for you to understand what exactly causes the condition altogether.
Some of the causes include:
- Friction from the bones and the shoes
- Sweaty feet
- Trapped moisture in the feet
- Lack of proper foot care
- Manual labor
- Ill-fitted shoes
- Abnormal bone structure
- Bursitis
Signs And Symptoms Of Corns And Calluses
Coming on to the signs and symptoms of corns and calluses, the prospects aren’t that restrictive and some of them include:
- Hardened skin and a lump
- Thick skin around the affected area
- Flaky and dry skin
- Rarely feeling of pain and tenderness around the skin
Home Remedies For Corns And Calluses
When it comes to the ways to remove corns and calluses naturally, there are a number of home remedies that do come in handy for it. If you have been struggling to find a good and effective way to get rid of the problem altogether, doesn’t worry, we have got some amazing ways to share around with you.
1. Castor Oil
The very first natural remedy that does stand out of the rest definitely has to be castor oil The combination of castor oil as well as apple cider vinegar has been found to have amazing impacts in helping get rid of the corns and calluses effectively.
The beneficial moisturizing (R), as well as the combination of the antimicrobial properties (R) from the apple cider vinegar, helps in softening up the hardened layer of the skin which then can be scrubbed away with the pumice stone effectively.
What to do?
- Fill half the bucket with some hot water and soap
- Add a ½ cup of apple cider vinegar to the water
- Add 2-3 tbsp of castor oil to the water
- Mix everything and then soak your feet in the water
- Soak it for 15 minutes
- Use a pumice stone to scrub away the calluses once it has softened
- For the corns, just directly apply some castor oil on the affected area and leave it on
- It will wither away after multiple applications
How often?
- For the calluses, soak your feet once daily till it is treated completely
- For the corns, keep applying the castor oil multiple times.
Read: Skin Benefits Of Castor Oil
2. Salicylic acid
Yet another one of the natural ways to remove corns and calluses is with the application of salicylic acid on the affected area.
If you are wondering what and how it does remove the problem, it is mainly because of the fact that salicylic acid helps in breaking down the bond that has been formed between the skin cells accumulated in the area of the corn or the callus. It helps loosen the hardness and thus eventually gets rid of the lump formed there.
It helps in dissolving the corn or the callus from within and smoothens the appearance of the skin around the affected area of the feet or even the fingers as such.
What to do?
- Fill a bucket with some warm water, enough to soak the feet
- Soak the feet for 10-15 minutes
- Once done, pat dry with a towel
- Use a pumice stone to scrub off the dead skin cells off of the affected area
- Clean the area off completely
- Apply a few drops of the salicylic acid layer
- Leave it on for 5 minutes
- Rinse the area with some normal water again
How often?
- Once or twice daily till it cures completely
Read: How To Remove Skin Tags? 13 Easy Ways for Skin Tags Removal
3. Lemon
When it comes to getting rid of corns and calluses, lemon is actually an amazing remedy for the condition altogether.
It is especially effective for corns in which the hard center of it has been found to have negative impacts on the overall healing process, inflicting pain and discomfort a lot.
Lemon juice has been found to have natural antioxidant as well soothing properties which help in softening the hardened center of the skin, helping in bringing the appearance of the area back to normal without many issues at all.
What to do?
- Squeeze out the juice of one lemon
- Using a cotton pad, apply the juice to the affected regions of the body
- Leave it on for 10-15 minutes
- Wash the area with some cold water
How often?
- 1-2 times daily till it completely heals
Read: 12 Baking Soda and Lemon Benefits That You Definitely Can’t-Miss
4. Onions
When it comes to treating corns and calluses, onions do have an amazing impact altogether. If you are here wondering why and how, it is mainly because of the fact that onions contain powerful acids as well as nutrients (R) in it which helps neutralize the impacts on the infection and the appearance of the hardened skin cells surrounding the affected area.
Eventually, when the skin softens up completely, it does become a lot easier to get rid of the dry and the flaky skin cells altogether.
What to do?
- Cut a big circular slice of onion
- Apply it on the affected area and wear a sock to keep it there
- Leave it in for 1-2 days consistently
- At the end of the 2 days, remove the onion slice and use a pumice stone to rub away the rest of the hardened dead skin cells
How often?
- Every two days till it completely cures
5. Vitamins
Vitamins like Vitamin A and E have been found to have beneficial impacts in improving the skin condition. Just the mere application of the oil from the capsules can be beneficial in softening up the hardened skin and preventing any further issues altogether.
It is important to be consistent with the application because that is what helps in paving off beneficial results altogether.
What to do?
- Cut open a capsule of Vitamin E
- Pour the contents on your palm
- Apply this on the affected area of the corn or callus
- Cover your feet with some socks
- Leave it on overnight
How often?
- Every night before bedtime till it’s cured completely
6. Pumice stone
Pumice stone is a universal remedy to treat corns and calluses quite effectively. If you have been struggling with the hardened skin around the corn or callus, it is time to opt for the pumice stone to get rid of it for good.
Rubbing the stone has been found to have beneficial impacts in getting rid of the hardened and dead skin cells layer effectively. What this does is help in getting rid of the problems altogether for effective recovery.
What to do?
- Fill a bucket with some warm water
- Add some soap to it and mix well
- Soak your feet in the warm water
- Leave it in for 15 minutes
- Lightly tap dry the excess water with a towel
- Using a pumice stone, rub off the excess dry skin cells around the corn and callus
- Rinse off the dry skin cells underwater
How often?
- Once everyday
Read: 10 Simple Ways to Get Rid of Foot Odor Without Much Hassle
7. Baking Soda
Yet another of the amazing natural ways to remove corns and calluses is with baking soda. Baking soda is an amazing exfoliating agent which helps in getting rid of the excess dead and dry skin cells from the affected area.
The antimicrobial (R) and the pH maintaining the property of the baking soda further helps ensure that you can easily ward off the presence of these problems altogether for smoother feet altogether.
What to do?
- Fill a bucket with warm water
- Add a ½ cup of baking soda into the water
- Soak your feet in the water for 10-15 minutes
- Once done, use a pumice stone to rub off the excess dead and flaky skin cells
- Rinse off the remnants underwater
How often?
- Once-daily
Read: Benefits and Warnings of Baking Soda Bath
8. Garlic
Much like onions, even garlic comes in handy when it comes to the treatment for corns and calluses. The main reason why it is best suggested to opt for this is because of the beneficial antimicrobial (R) as well as anti-inflammatory (R) property it imposes.
The natural antioxidative (R) property has been found to be quite amazing in helping treat the condition altogether. It is also amazing in warding or fungal and bacterial infections that could happen because of this condition.
What to do?
- Crush some garlic cloves in a mortar and pestle to make a paste
- Apply a thick layer of the same on the corn or callus
- Cover the area with a bandage
- Leave it on overnight
- Next morning, get rid of the bandage and wash your feet under running water
How often?
- Every night till it heals completely
Read: Amazing Health Benefits of Garlic
9. Chamomile Tea and Epsom Salt
The combination of chamomile tea along with Epsom salt makes for one of the most healing and therapeutic examples for the treatment of corns and calluses. If you have been struggling with the hard lump around your feet, it is always best suggested to ensure that you do opt for this treatment.
The combination of the chamomile tea with the Epsom salt helps in ensuring that it softens the layer of the skin, thus helping in getting rid of the hardened layer of the skin for good which you can then rub off using a pumice stone.
What to do?
- Fill a bucket with some warm water
- Add 3-4 tbsp of Epsom salt and a few teabags of chamomile tea
- Let it steep and then soak your feet in the water
- Soak for 10-15 minutes
- Once you find that the skin has softened quite a bit, use a pumice stone to get rid of the hard skin cells
How often?
- Once-daily till the condition cures completely
10. Bread
Who would have thought, right? Well, bread has actually been found to have amazing impacts in getting rid of corns and calluses overnight. If the pain and the discomfort have been eating away at you, it is always best suggested to try this remedy out because it does work like a charm.
Soaking the bread in apple cider vinegar and then applying it to the affected area has been found to get rid of the callus overnight.
What to do?
- Cut a slice of bread and then dip it in some apple cider vinegar
- Apply the soaked bread piece on the affected area and cover with a bandage
- Leave it on overnight
- Wash everything off the next morning
How often?
- Do this every night till it gets cured completely
11. Turpentine Oil
Yet another one of the effective natural ways to remove corns and calluses is with turpentine oil. This specific essential oil has been found to have properties that not just impose soothing effects on the skin but also help in boosting the overall blood circulation around the body. This itself has been found to have beneficial impacts in helping get rid of the problem altogether.
Make sure that you always patch text and mix it with some carrier oil to avoid any kind of repercussions or side effects altogether.
What to do?
- Start by rubbing the affected area of the corn and calluses with an ice cube
- Once it softens down by a bit, using a cotton pad, apply the turpentine oil on the affected area
- Leave it on
- If it stings or causes any kind of discomfort, just ensure that you rinse it off immediately
How often?
- Once-daily
12. Massage
You won’t technically realize this but massaging the area on the foot can also help in getting rid of the overall prospect of blood circulation throughout the body. What this does is further help in preventing the accumulation of the dead skin cells around on the foot and the area around.
It is believed that the boost to the overall oxygenated blood circulation around the feet can definitely help in shedding off the unnecessary dead skin cells, thus helping get rid of the problems associated with corns and calluses. Massaging with essential oils often tends to help soften the hard layer of the skin as well.
What to do?
- Get a professional massage
- Or if that is not possible, get some oil in your palms and massage through the foot in circular motions
How often?
- 1-2 times daily
13. Pineapple
Pineapple is yet another one of the effective ways to remove corns and calluses naturally. If you are here wondering why the same is because of the fact that it does possess beneficial healing properties. The mild acidic properties further help in neutralizing the hardened texture of the skin around and get rid of the problem for good.
What to do?
- Cut a thin slice of pineapple
- Apply it over the affected area of the corns or the calluses
- Secure it around with a bandage
- Leave it on overnight
How often?
- Once every night till it heals completely
14. Papaya
Raw papaya is one of the best natural ways to remove corns and calluses. The main reason why it is deemed beneficial is mainly because of the fact that papaya does consist of a wide range of enzymes in it which acts on the problem and breaks down the bonds amidst the dead skin cells.
It also helps in softening up the hard layer of the skin and thus gets rid of the problem for good with its amazing natural properties.
What to do?
- Peel the papaya and make it into a paste
- Apply it on the affected area of the feet or the hands
- Leave it on for 15-20 minutes
- Wash off the excess with some water
How often?
- 1-2 times daily
Read: 10 Incredible Health Benefits Of Papaya Leaf Extract
15. Aspirin
Last but not least on the list definitely has to be aspirin. Aspirin has salicylic acid in it which has been found to have beneficial impacts in getting rid of the hardened skin because of the corns and calluses. If you have been struggling along trying to find a good treatment for getting rid of corns and calluses, this is actually a good enough way to do so.
What to do?
- Crush 4-5 aspirin tablets in a mortar and pestle
- Mix it with water to make a smooth paste
- Apply the same to the affected areas
- Leave it on for 10 minutes
- Wash off the excess underwater
How often?
- Once every day till it cures
How to Prevent Corns And Calluses?
There could be a number of causes behind the condition of corns and calluses and while the natural ways to remove corns and calluses are actually effective enough, it is also best assured that you do take in some precautionary steps to help prevent the condition altogether.
Some of them include:
- Wear well-fitted shoes
- Wear socks to prevent moisture
- Treat if you have any form of infections forming
The natural ways to remove corns and calluses actually show amazing results in recovering from the condition. If you have been struggling with this quite frequently, it is always best suggested to ensure that you take out the time to do the needful to get rid of this discomforting condition altogether. We have suggested 15 varying ways and we hope these come in handy for you.
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