Health

How to reduce corns and calluses on your feet

Jun 23, 2015

You may have had them for years or might have just noticed them but one thing is for sure: calluses and corns on your feet and toes are uncomfortable and unsightly.

Calluses are a flattened area of dead skin while a corn typically refers to a circular thick, raised area. Corns can also be red and swollen.

You can find corns and calluses:

On the sole of the foot
On the “ball” of the foot
On the outside of the pinkie toe, where it rubs against the shoe
In between the toes, where they rub up against each other.

Here are some home remedies for getting rid of or relieving corns and calluses.

1. Pumice stone

Soak your feet to soften the skin, then rub a wet pumice stone on the corn using light pressure. Wash away the dead skin, and repeat until the corn is worn down.

2. Bi-carb soda and hot water

Soak your feet in a mixture of bi-carb soda and hot water to remove the tough, dead skin. Add three tablespoons of bi-carb to a bucket of warm water and pop your feet in. Massage the area with a bi-carb paste made up of three parts soda to one part water.

3. Vinegar

Soak a cotton ball with vinegar and attach it to the affected area, and leave overnight to soak in to the skin. The next day, use a pumice stone to rub the corn away.

4. Pineapple

Pineapple?! we hear you say. This tasty fruit can help to soften corns and calluses. It might sound silly, but attach a sliver of pineapple rind to your corn or callous and leave overnight. Your corn will disappear within days.

5. Chamomile

Dilute tea with water for half an hour. Your feet might be stained but you can wash it off easily after you’ve let it soak in.

6. Lemon

Secure a piece of fresh lemon to your corn of callous for 1-2 hours, then rub with a pumice stone. You’ll see the skin soften and it’ll come off easily.

7. Bread

This one is a bit unusual but stick with us. Pour apple cider vinegar on half a slice of stale bread and affix to the affected part of your foot with adhesive tape. Wrap with glad wrap and put a sock on – your corn or callus should be gone when you wake up.

8. Aspirin

Aspirin is great for thinning blood and restricting blood vessels. Crush five or six aspirin tablets and mix with equal parts apple cider vinegar and water to make a paste. Rub it onto a corn or callus for a few minutes, the scrub off with pumice stone.