Feeling a bit itchy near fingers or feet? If you are, then check for any signs of skin thickening around those areas. In case if you find the latter, then there is a possibility that it might be callus or corn you are suffering from. Callus is a thick layer formed around your skin owing to continuous friction or pressure. Hence, they are widely evident in fingers and feet. Generally, calluses are painless and can be cured by applying inflammatory creams. However, there also exists a form of callus which causes excruciating pain when the thickened skin is exposed to friction again. For example if you have a callus or corn developed near your feet then walking or wearing shoes may endear sustainable pain.
Causes
Calluses as aforementioned are a result of repeated pressure or friction on a particular area of skin. Due to the constant pressure skin dies forming a hard protective surface called callus.
- Sweat plays a rather significant role to cause callus. Those areas of skin where sweat gets trapped supports formation of soft callus tissue. Sweat mostly causes callus on bottom of feet or in toe.
- Repeated activities such as gardening or using hammer can cause excessive pressure and friction around skin areas of hand leading to soft or hard calluses.
- Calluses in feet are mainly caused due to wearing of tight footwear. Also walking or running barefoot makes your feet prone to calluses.
- Some specific bone structures are inclined towards formation of calluses. These are flat feet or bone spurs (small bony growth along joints).
- Musicians and guitarists tend to play instruments by the medium of their hand or mostly via their fingers. Therefore, they often fall prey to calluses.
Symptoms of Calluses
- Calluses are hard, dry, thick and yellowish. So just by looking one can easily determine whether it is a callus or not.
- If your skin is less sensitive to touch and often feels bumpy then it is a definite sign of calluses.
- Calluses have an appearance of gray center and yellow colored outer ring. Hence, they are easy to spot if one is looking for them.
- While calluses are painless, applying pressure or friction in areas where calluses are developed causes extreme pain. If you suffer pain while wearing shoes, walking or running then you can assume that you have developed a callus.
- Calluses cause blisters and reddening of skin especially if they are soft calluses.
You can deem yourself lucky if the calluses you have developed are still in the beginning stage. So if you are already wondering about how to remove calluses here’s what you need to know –
1. Epsom Salt
Callus on foot can be easily treated by soaking the infected area in boiled water mixed with Epsom salt. Following this remedy for 10 minutes will soften the area where callus is developed so that you can easily scrub off the hard skin. Once done remove your feet and clean it with fresh water to wash away the dead skin cells.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
Another easy treatment for calluses includes taking help of apple cider vinegar. Due to its acidic properties apple cider vinegar softens the hard skin caused by callus. It also aids in speeding up the healing process post removal of callus. Before sleeping tape a cotton ball soaked in vinegar to the callus infected area and the next morning you can ward off the dead skin by cleaning it under water.
3. Baking Soda
The crystals in baking soda make up for an excellent ingredient to exfoliate the callus induced hardened skin. Owing to its natural exfoliating properties, Baking Soda is one of the easiest home remedies to get rid of calluses. The best method to apply baking soda around callus is by creating a paste of three parts baking soda and one part water.
4. Aspirin
Creating a paste of aspirin powder, lemon juice and water is a good method for dealing with calluses. Applying this paste daily softens the already hardened skin which can later be scraped off by means of water and pumice stone. Aspirin does not only help you get rid of calluses but also alleviates the pain caused by them.
5. Pumice Stone
Pumice stone rubbed daily upon callus infected areas works fine to remove naturally the callused skin. It is also essential to dry the exfoliated skin and regularly clean the pumice stone for effective and better results.
6. Chamomile Tea
Soaking your feet in warm water mixed with chamomile tea is one of the best home treatment to get rid of calluses. Chamomile tea offers a soothing effect by changing the pH value of your infected skin in turn softening it.
7. Cornstarch
Sprinkling corn starch is an easy method to prevent and treat corns and calluses. Cornstarch dries the moisture caused by sweat on your skin thereby restricting the growth of bacterial and fungal infections that lead to calluses.
8. Pineapple
The skin of pineapple is a rich source of enzymes that softens the thick and bumpy skin caused by calluses. By wrapping pineapple peel around the calluses in a towel you can easily remove them. As an alternative pineapple juice can also be used to treat the calluses.
9. Lemon
Acidity is an important factor to treat calluses and corns. Hence, lemon juice or lemon peel works best to rapidly get rid of calluses. Another added benefit of using lemon is that it reduces the risk of skin infections.
10. Bread
Of the many home remedies to get rid of calluses and corns, a mixture of bread and vinegar is deemed as the most effective one to treat calluses. A paste prepared by mixing bread and distilled vinegar softens the callused skin reducing the chances of infection.
11. Castor Oil
Dip a cotton ball in castor oil and gently massage the callused area. After a while the callus softens and can be easily washed off. Meanwhile, don’t forget to dry your feet with towel afterwards. Also, you can place a swab of cotton immersed in castor oil around the callus, wrapped in a towel or an old sock for some time to get efficient results.
12. Onion
Another effective remedy on how to get rid of calluses is to cover your callus with an onion dipped in vinegar and leave it overnight. In the morning you will find your callus soft and easy to remove using pumice stone. However, if the callus doesn’t soften repeat this method for a few nights and you will see the change in some days.
13. Emery board
Often pumice stone doesn’t fit right in between the fingers of your toe. Hence, one can consider emery board as a substitute for pumice stone because they possess near similar properties and are equally effective.
14. Raisins
Cut raisins in half and place them onto the affected areas with the cut facing the skin. Wrap the covered skin using a towel or a plaster overnight. Repeating this procedure daily will eventually remove the callus.
15. Garlic
Moisturizing the callus infected skin with a thick paste of water, lemon and garlic is an effective remedy to deal with calluses on finger.
Precautions
- Dry your feet regularly to prevent entrapment of sweat.
- Moisturize your feet and toes using quality creams.
- Wear comfortable footwear.
- Try to pad your shoes or footwear.
- Use gloves while gardening and hammering.
- Daily wash your hands and legs.
By trying the above mentioned remedies you can only cure a certain level of calluses. Thus, if you are suffering from chronic calluses and none of the above methods work for you, in that case a professional or a dermatologist must be consulted immediately.