Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: The standard approach
• Method 2 of 3: Home remedies
• Method 3 of 3: Other things to try
• Tips
• Warnings

Calluses can form on your hands and feet because the skin is dry there, or because of too much friction in certain areas. And that can be very painful and annoying. Here's how to get your skin soft and smooth again.

To step

Method 1 of 3: The standard approach

1. Soak your hands, feet or elbows in warm / hot water for ten minutes. The skin should become soft. You can add some Epsom salt, bath oil, or even tea to the water, but you don't necessarily have to.
   • Add a cup of apple cider vinegar if your calluses are very hard (warning: don't add vinegar if you have diabetes or if your blood flow is not good).
2. Use a pumice stone to exfoliate your calluses. Make sure to clean the stone in between, and soak your hands or feet again if they dry. Don't scrub your hands or feet too much. If it starts to hurt, or if you've already removed a few layers of skin, you should stop.
   • A foot file also works well for your feet.
3. Wash your feet or hands. Make sure to rinse off any dead skin.
4. Pat the skin dry and rub your hands or feet. Use an oily foot or hand cream to provide extra moisture to the skin.
   • When you go to bed afterwards, put on socks or gloves to help the cream soak in even better.
   • Repeat this treatment every week.
5. Keep your hands or feet soft. Always put a lotion or cream on the areas where you get calluses after showering. A greasy cream works best.

Method 2 of 3: Home remedies

1. Soften the callus with aspirin. Crush five or six aspirin tablets and add half a teaspoon of water with lemon juice. Apply the paste to the calluses, wrap a warm towel and then a plastic bag around it. Leave it on for about ten minutes and then take the towel off. Now scrape off your calluses with a pumice stone.
   • Again, if you have diabetes you should not do this. Even if you are allergic to aspirin, you should not try this method.
2. Try baking soda. One of the best ways to treat calluses is to soak in warm water. This loosens dead skin cells and allows the skin to recover better. Add 3 tablespoons of baking soda to a bowl of warm water and soak your hands or feet in it. Baking soda has a pH level of 9, which makes it basic and able to penetrate the skin.
   • You can also exfoliate the calluses with a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water.
3. Add chamomile tea to your bath. Soak your feet in chamomile tea; this temporarily changes the skin's pH level. The tea can stain the skin, but you can easily get it off with soap and water.
4. Use cornmeal. Sprinkle some cornmeal between your toes to keep them dry so that the skin doesn't break. Moisture can make calluses feel very uncomfortable and can cause athlete's foot.
   • This is more preventive than treatment, and it makes it feel a bit more pleasant.
5. Try vinegar. Soak a cotton ball in vinegar and tape it to the calluses. Leave it on overnight. The next morning, scrub the areas with a pumice stone.
   • Make sure you only apply the cotton to the calluses. You shouldn't irritate the skin around it.
6. Use pineapple. Pineapple peel contains certain enzymes that can soften calluses and loosen them from the skin. Place a piece of fresh pineapple on the callus and wrap a clean cloth around it. Do this every night for a week. You can also smear pineapple juice on it.

Method 3 of 3: Other things to try

1. Wear different shoes. One of the most common causes of calluses is wearing the wrong shoes. If your shoes don't fit properly, you're more likely to get calluses - so make sure they fit properly. They should fit snugly around your foot (but not hurt) and be wide enough for your feet.
   • Prefer not to wear high heels; your entire weight rests on the ball of your foot, so that you quickly get calluses. Wear flat shoes as much as possible; they are actually the best.
     • If you have calluses on your hands, wear padded gloves that fit well. If the gloves are too big, you will get friction that can irritate your skin and cause calluses.
2. Soften the inside of your shoes. You're not the only one with calluses; that's why there are special insoles and pads on the market to prevent calluses.
   • If you suffer from corns, you can use donut-shaped pads. They fit over the corn and reduce pressure and friction. They are very cheap and you can find them at the drugstore.
3. Immerse yourself in medical solutions. You don't necessarily have to go to the doctor for medical solutions; there are all kinds of plasters, pads and other solutions available at the drugstore. However, most products contain salicylic acid, which can cause irritation in some people. If you suffer from the following conditions, it is better not to use these products:
   • If you have diabetes
   • If you have reduced sensation in your feet, for example due to poor circulation or nerve damage
   • If you have poor eyesight or are not flexible enough to apply the products

Tips

• If you have diabetes, you need to be extra careful when treating calluses. Damage to the skin, however minor, can cause slowly healing wounds that can become infected.
• Make sure the water you use is clean.
• You can also use filtered or spring water.

Warnings

• If you have diabetes, have a pedicure to remove the callus.
• Do not use products containing acids; this will dry out your skin even further.
• Don't over-exfoliate your skin. You can get inflammation if the skin breaks.
• Do not remove calluses yourself. Go to a pedicure.