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Podiatrist Toronto, ON Sheldon H. Nadal D.P.M.
586 Eglinton Avenue E. Suite 501 Toronto, Ontario M4P1P2
Local: 416-486-9917 Toll free: (877) 456-3338

Home Remedies for Corns and Calluses

Home Remedies for Corns and Calluses



Home Remedies for Corns and Calluses

If you go online and search for 'corns and callus home remedies,' you will find a list of cures promising fast and effective results with just a few tries. But how effective are these remedies against corns and calluses? Patients will be pleased to know that some of these cures work with time. But others are not as effective, as this brief article explores below.

What do you need to treat corns?

Corns are small lumps of hard skin, while calluses are large patches of rough, thick skin. They often appear on the hands and feet. Underlying medical conditions can trigger corns and calluses, but it is usually due to poorly fitting shoes, walking barefoot, and friction on the affected areas.

Foot specialists treat corns and calluses by trimming the dead skin off. You can also receive patches to apply to the affected areas, while some treatments may include anti-inflammatory medications.

Corn and callus removers work by increasing the skin's moisture, dissolving the substances that cause the skin to harden and stick. Thus, patients shed their skin cells quickly. Anti-inflammatory medications reduce swelling and stimulate healing.

So, for home remedies to work, they need to increase the moisture on the skin, making it softer and easier to remove the hard rough skin. Also, it would be good to reduce any swelling in the affected areas.

How Effective Are Various Home Remedies?

Popular home remedies for removing corns and calluses include:

Soaking your feet

Soaking your feet in warm water for ten minutes makes the skin soft, so you can scrub the callus or corn with a pumice stone to remove the hardened cells. Gentle rubbing is best because excessive filing can cause bleeding. The process is effective as it adds moisture to the skin, making it easier to remove the hardened skin.

Castor oil 

This remedy works by applying castor oil to the affected areas or adding it to a foot bath before filing the affected areas with a pumice stone. It can be effective since castor oil seeps into the skin, adding moisture to the skin and softening the hardened skin.

Additionally, castor oil has properties that soothe the affected areas. After filing the corns and calluses, you can use castor oil as a moisturizing agent.

Wearing fitting shoes

Since corns and calluses appear in people who wear tight, uncomfortable, or ill-fitting shoes, getting better-fitting shoes can treat them. The idea is to reduce friction and pressure on the skin.

Unfortunately, wearing fitting shoes is more preventative than curing, and you should wear well-fitting and comfortable shoes to prevent corn and callus forming.

Garlic 

The idea behind applying garlic paste on corns and calluses comes from the antioxidant nature of garlic. Garlic has natural antioxidants that fight bacteria and infections that could be triggering hard, dead skin formation. Therefore, this treatment may be best reserved for those with underlying conditions.

The Bottom Line

Some remedies work, while others are more preventative. If you develop corns and calluses quickly, it is worth trying these and other therapies. However, if you have diabetes or low circulation, do not attempt to treat yourself. These conditions are complex, and you could risk extensive damage by self-treating. Instead, visit a podiatrist for further help.

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