Calluses form on the hands and feet due to dead skin or excessive friction in a specific area. They can cause a lot of discomfort and are sometimes extremely annoying. Read on to find out how to make skin soft and smooth again.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: The Standard Approach
Step 1. Soak your hands, feet or elbows in warm / hot water for 10 minutes
The skin should immediately begin to soften. You can add magnesium sulfate, bath oils, or even tea, although it's not essential.
Add 1 cup of apple cider vinegar if the corns are very hard. Warning: do not add vinegar if you have diabetes or poor circulation
Step 2. Scrub the corns with the pumice stone
Remember to clean it often and soak your feet again if they start to dry out. Don't rub the skin of your feet or hands too much. Stop immediately if you start to feel some pain after removing a few layers of skin.
You can also use a file for calluses on the feet
Step 3. Wash your hands and feet thoroughly
Make sure you get rid of all dead skin.
Step 4. Pat your skin dry and apply a moisturizer
Use a specific hand or foot cream so that the skin stays hydrated for a long time.
- Wear socks or gloves before going to bed so that the cream continues to work on your skin.
- Repeat the entire operation every weekend.
Step 5. Keep the skin on your feet and hands soft
Always use the cream on calluses after showering. Choose a thick cream to get a good result.
Method 2 of 3: Home Remedies
Step 1. Use aspirin to soften calluses
Crush five or six aspirin tablets to mix them with half a teaspoon (3 grams) of lemon juice and water. You will get a paste to spread on the callused area, then wrap the skin in a warm towel and cover it with a plastic bag. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then remove everything and scrub the callus with the pumice stone.
Do not use this method if you have diabetes or are allergic to aspirin
Step 2. Try baking soda
The best results are obtained by soaking the feet to soften the skin and promote healing. Put 3 tablespoons of baking soda in the water before soaking your feet: baking soda is alkaline, it has a pH corresponding to 9 which can destroy the skin's barriers.
Alternatively, massage the corns with a paste made of 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water
Step 3. Put some chamomile tea in the water before dipping your feet in the basin
It helps soothe the skin and will temporarily change its pH to make sweaty feet dry faster. Chamomile may leave stains on your feet that are easily removed with soap and water.
Step 4. Use cornstarch
Spread some between your toes to keep the area dry and prevent the skin from opening. Humidity worsens the situation and promotes the development of fungal infections.
This is a preventative method and should be used to eliminate the discomfort
Step 5. Try using vinegar
Wet a cotton ball with vinegar and tape it onto the callus and leave it overnight. In the morning, scrub the area with the pumice stone.
Make sure the cotton wool covers only the callus, as the vinegar can irritate the surrounding healthy skin
Step 6. Take advantage of the properties of the pineapple
Its peel is useful for softening calluses and eliminating them. Place a fresh piece of pineapple peel on the area to be treated, then wrap it with a clean cloth. Repeat this every night for a week. If you want, you can also wet your skin with pineapple juice.
Method 3 of 3: Products to Try
Step 1. Change your shoes
The most common cause of corns is using the wrong footwear. Calluses are likely to form if they don't fit your foot, so always choose shoes that fit well. They need to be the right length, snug and shouldn't hurt you.
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When possible, avoid heels because they tend to concentrate your weight on a specific area of the foot, favoring the formation of calluses. Wear flat shoes, which are also more comfortable.
If you have calluses on your hands, wear padded gloves to relieve the problem. Make sure they fit well, as if they are too loose they can make the situation worse and irritate the skin due to constant friction
Step 2. Put orthotics in your shoes
Corns and calluses are very common, so many companies have started producing specific orthotics to eliminate the problem. Many are made of moleskin and come in different shapes, so they fit easily into various types of footwear.
Try donut-shaped pads that sit over the callus to relieve pressure and friction. It is an inexpensive remedy that can be purchased in all pharmacies
Step 3. In addition to the orthotics, try specific medications
You don't necessarily have to go to your doctor to alleviate the problem. Ask your pharmacist for advice, who will explain the various types of insoles, pads, patches, or over-the-counter medications. Some of them contain salicylic acid as an active ingredient, which could however cause irritation or infections that are more annoying than the original problem. After considering your options, tell your doctor or pharmacist in the following cases:
- If you have diabetes;
- If you have reduced sensation in your feet, due to poor circulation or a neurological problem
- If you have vision or flexibility problems, for which the application of the product could be problematic.
Advice
- If you have diabetes, be very careful when treating corns and calluses. Wounds on the skin, even the smallest, can turn into sores that heal slowly and risk becoming infected
- Do not use water that contains too much chlorine or other chemicals because they make the skin dry.
- If you have no other choice, use bottled water.
Warnings
- If you have diabetes, don't get your calluses off yourself. You risk worsening the already poor circulation.
- Do not use acidic substances to remove calluses, as they make the skin even drier.
- Don't overdo the exfoliation. The skin could break and become infected.
- Don't cut corns on your own, at home. Contact a podiatrist!
