Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

Callus is an accumulation of dead skin layers with a hard inner core that usually appears above the toe or between the toes. Calluses can also form on the brim of the foot. The formation of calluses is the body's defensive response to friction or pressure, but they can also be painful. Fortunately, most calluses are easy to treat with home remedies. If calluses cause a lot of pain or if you have diabetes, it's best to seek treatment from a medical professional.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Treating calluses at home

1. 

   Soak the stain in warm water for 10 minutes. This method of soaking calluses will soften the thick layer of skin and make it easier to remove. Fill a basin with warm soapy water and soak your feet for 10 minutes or until calluses start to soften.
   • The foot bath should be warm, but not so hot, that it burns the skin.
   • Some people find that a little apple cider vinegar, lemon juice or baking soda added to warm water is helpful.

2. 

   
   
   File soft foot calluses with a pumice stone. After soaking calluses in lukewarm water for a while, you can take a pumice stone soaked in water and gently rub the stain with a small circular motion or rub it aside.
   • You can also use nail files, nail file covers, even rough towels or scrubs.
   • Be careful not to rub your hands too hard or file too much skin, as this could lead to irritation or infection.
   • Don't use a pumice stone if you have diabetes, as this can take a long time to heal and become infected. You should see a podiatrist for treatment and guidance.

3. 

   
   
   Moisten callus areas daily. Moisturizer can soften the skin on hard calluses, making it easier to remove. Creams or lotions containing salicylic acid, ammonium lactate or urea can be very helpful in softening calluses.

4. 

   Use pads to prevent irritation. Find bottle pads online or in drugstores. You can either buy a patch specially designed for calluses or a moleskin patch that can be cut to the right shape and size for calluses.

5. 

   
   
   Try over-the-counter medications to treat persistent calluses. Carefully follow the instructions on the packaging and use these products with caution. Most calluses contain salicylic acid, which can cause irritation or burning in the feet.
   • If you have diabetes, do not use these products without first consulting your doctor as they can lead to irritation and inflammation.
   • Most over-the-counter patches contain 40% salicylic acid, so this is also a powerful medicine. However, your doctor may still suggest that you file dead skin on calluses before applying.
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Method 2 of 3: Medical treatment

1. 

   See your doctor to assess calluses. Although over-the-counter medications are also helpful, you should still see a doctor with experience with a variety of treatment options. This is especially important if you have diabetes. In addition, if calluses cause a lot of pain or do not respond well to home remedies, you may need to see a doctor for a referral to a podiatrist.
   • A medical professional can help you determine the cause of calluses to help you deal directly with the problem. Calluses are mainly caused by inappropriate wearing of footwear, excessive wearing of shoes, deformed toes, postural or gait problems that put pressure on the foot.
   • Your doctor will usually decide to get rid of your calluses, but they will recommend that the calluses reappear if you don't resolve the cause of the callus.
   • If an abnormality (such as a deformity of the big toe or bone spikes) is suspected that is contributing to calluses, your doctor may recommend x-rays or other imaging tests.

2. 

   Follow your doctor's instructions to control calluses. These include changing footwear, using patches to protect the foot from friction or pressure, orthotics of the foot to change distribution of pressure on the foot, foot corrective surgery. or toe problems.

3. 

   Talk to your doctor about using antibiotics to treat infected calluses. In some cases, calluses can become infected. Make an appointment with your doctor right away if you notice a painful, inflamed, or discharge (pus or clear fluid) callus.
   • If you are prone to infection, your doctor may also recommend antibiotic creams as a precaution.
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Method 3 of 3: Prevent calluses from forming

1. 

   Choose shoes that fit. Shoes that squeeze or rub against the skin of the feet can cause calluses. Next time when shopping for shoes, make sure to measure your feet and choose shoes that are neither too wide nor too tight.
   • Look for shoes that fit, are soft, and have wide toes.
   • Take your shoes to a shoemaker to widen the toe where there are calluses.
   • Going to buy shoes late in the day. Our feet are usually more swollen by the end of the day.This means that shoes bought in the morning may not fit your feet in the afternoon.

2. 

   Choose thick socks to absorb the pressure on your feet. Remember that socks should fit comfortably, and don't make shoes too tight. Also, make sure the sock does not have brush seams or other possible calluses.

3. 

   Keep your feet clean and moisturize your feet. Washing your feet and applying moisturizer every day will help soften your feet and prevent new calluses from forming. Take a few minutes each day to gently scrub your feet with a brush and warm soapy water. Apply moisturizer to your feet after you wash them off.
   • Change socks daily and use a pumice stone to scrub your feet often after washing them. Be careful not to rub too hard.
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Advice

• Do not try to peel the skin on the calluses. This will only hurt you more and make you more painful.
• Wool, moleskine or cotton wool can help smooth calluses between your toes.
• Switching to running shoes and thick socks regularly can reduce the risk of callus recurrence thanks to material differences.
• Use a donut-shaped pad to reduce the pressure on the callus until it clears. These products are advertised to help remove calluses and are available in pharmacies.

Warning

• Because certain medical conditions increase the risk of infection, people with diabetes or circulation problems should see a podiatrist for care. A diabetic patient should never remove callus on his own.
• People with diabetes should never use salicylic acid drops to treat calluses. Skin sores can lead to serious problems.
• Even a small cut on the foot can become infected and cause a condition so serious that an amputation is required. Be very careful when removing calluses at home. Never use razors, scissors or other sharp objects to cut calluses.