When your skin is exposed to too much friction or pressure, it has the tendency to develop corns and calluses. These corns and calluses refer to the areas of the skin which have become thick and hard. The thickening and hardening of the skin is known as hyperkeratosis in medical terms. Corns and calluses are yellowish in color, usually protruding, and have cracks and a dry feature. They are frequently brought about by ill-fitting footwear, activities which cause excessive pressure to the skin, deformations on the bones, and damaged sweat glands.

Corns are a little bit smaller compared to calluses. Also referred to as helomas, corns have hard centers with mass inside. They are more likely to grow on the sides of the toes or on the sole of one’s foot, more specifically on the boney parts. However, aside from developing on the feet, these helomas are also capable of growing in any part of the body.

On the other hand, calluses are areas of the skin which are more diffused and flatter in contrast to corns. Like corns, calluses may exist on several portions of the body that are frequently placed under extreme pressure or constant rubbing; and they also have a greater possibility of growing on the foot, most especially on the heels or the balls of the feet.

Corns and calluses are not serious conditions but they can bring discomfort when walking and, sometimes, they are also painful. Even if they are minor cases, it is still better to get rid of these skin illnesses to avoid aching and the feeling of uneasiness. Enumerated below are 6 home remedies which are very effective in treating them.

• Lemon. Lemon is a yellow citrus fruit which has an egg-shaped appearance and offers various health benefits. It contains calcium, vitamin C, magnesium, and antiseptic and antimicrobial properties. Its ability to treat certain kinds of illnesses or wounds is directly attributable to its antiseptic and antibacterial properties. Corns and calluses are just two among a number of other diseases which can be remedied by lemons. Application of lemon is done through taking a fresh lemon peel, placing its insides over the affected area and knotting a plaster on it to secure that the lemon rind will be in close contact with the corn or the callus. Let it stay overnight. Do this regularly every night for a week or two, until the corn or callus becomes thin. Another way of applying is through making a lemon paste. Pound a few tablets of aspirin and mix it with lemon juice to create a paste. Rub it on the heloma or callus.

• Papaya. Papaya, also called as papaw, is an oblong-shaped fruit with pinnate lobes coming from a tropical tree with palm-like leaves. Similar to a number of fruits, papayas provide a number of vitamins and minerals, and antioxidant compounds like the flavonoids. For treatment of corns and calluses, one must take a fresh papaya and have it done as a juice. However, the juice won’t be drunk; instead, half a teaspoon of it will be applied on the thickened, yellow area. It must be applied thrice a day. The papaya juice is an irritant; hence, making it a great help in curing corns and calluses. An alternative would be soaking cotton on the papaya juice, applying it on the affected area and leaving it overnight. Naturalists recommend that raw papaya should be used since its nutrients are still intact and it will be more effective in treating such conditions.

• Baking Soda. Used as a leavening in baking cookies and other pastries, the bicarbonate of soda, widely known as baking soda, is also a good remedy for corns and calluses. For 5 to 10 minutes, soak your feet or hand – whichever has corn or callus – on a basin of lukewarm water mixed with 3 tablespoons of baking soda. A different way of using the bicarbonate of soda in treating corns and calluses is through making a baking soda paste. It is made through combining a bigger amount of baking soda to a lower amount of water. Baking soda is a great aid in getting rid of dead skin cells.

• Aloe Vera. Aloe Vera is a mucinous gel compound present in most households. It is due to the reason that various therapeutic properties are being claimed with regard to this plant. It is said that aloe veras contain anti-fungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. They are popularly known to treat wounds and skin disease; which is why, this is included as a remedy for corns and calluses. After washing the corn or callus with soap, the gel of the plant should be rubbed over the affected areas and must be massaged for not less than 15 minutes.Repeat the process two to three times a day for better results.

• Apple Cider Vinegar. Apple cider vinegar, also tagged as ACV, is a kind of vinegar extracted from apple cider. The contents of apple cider vinegar provide a lot of health benefits which are very essential for one’s body. ACV, more especially the raw ones, are effective in thinning – if not fully removing – the corns and calluses through its exfoliating and cleansing properties. Apply apple cider vinegar on corns and calluses using a cotton ball. Do it several times a day until it dries up.

• Epsom Salt. Epsom salt, most commonly referred to as magnesium sulfate, are natural minerals obtained from water. These are inexpensive salt which may be bought from drugstores. The most widely known application of Epsom Salt is through salt baths. Put a number of tablespoons on a basin of lukewarm water and soak the affected area for more than 10 minutes.

Calluses and corns are not really painful and do not necessarily need the advice of a doctor, unless the pain becomes unbearable. Conversely, people who are suffering from diabetes, neuropathy or lack of sensation, and those who have poor blood circulation should seek a physician’s treatment as soon as corns and calluses appear even with the absence of pain.

Sources
home-remedies-for-you.com
altmedicine.about.com
guidetohealth.com