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| Corns and Calluses Corns or calluses are areas of thick, hardened, dead skin. Prolonged pressure or friction on the feet or hands can cause patches of hard skin—corns or calluses—to form. Corns tend to develop over the toe joints or between toes, often as a result of badly fitting shoes. Calluses may occur on the soles, usually due to uneven pressure when walking, or on hands due to heavy manual work or playing a musical instrument. Corns and calluses protect the soft tissue beneath, so is not needed to remove unless they are painful.
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Home Remedies | - Apply half teaspoon of raw papaya juice thrice daily.
- Tie a fresh slice of lemon over the painful area at night and allowed to
remain there the whole night. - A small piece of chalk may be ground into a paste with water and applied
over the affected area. - A paste made by grinding three or four liquorice sticks and mixing it with
half a teaspoon of sesame oil or mustard oil should be rubbed into the
hardened skin at bedtime. The skin gradually softens and the corn
decreases in size.
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Do's | - Soak the corn or callus in warm, soapy water for 10 minutes each day,
then use a pumice stone to gently rub away the hard skin. - Wear comfortable shoes that fit properly.
- Wear padded gloves when using tools or machinery.
- While playing a stringed instrument, put adhesive bandages on fingertips
for protection. - Use moisturizer regularly to keep skin soft.
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Don’ts | - Avoid high heels, tight, and pointed shoes.
- Never cut or shave corns yourself.
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See Doctor | - Have diabetes.
- Corn or callus does not disappear with self-help measures.
- Skin is becoming painful, red, swollen, or weepy, or an ulcer develops.
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