Content

• Steps

Warts or calluses are hard, thick, dead skin that is caused by friction and irritation. The warts appear on the side of the toes or on the toes and can be quite painful. Calluses usually appear under the soles or sides of the feet, can be uncomfortable and ugly, but usually painless. Calluses may also form on the hands. You can usually treat warts and calluses at home, but if you experience pain, persistent persistence or if you have a medical condition like diabetes, you may need specialist treatment.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Treating warts and calluses at home

1. 

   Distinguish between warts and calluses. Warts and calluses are not the same, so treatments are different.
   • Warts can develop between the toes, have an inner core, and are quite painful. Warts can also develop on the face of the toes, usually above the joint.
   • The warts are classified into hard, soft, and peri-nail types. Hard warts usually grow on the top of the toes and on the joints. Soft warts grow between your toes, usually between the fourth and little fingers. Perivial warts are less common, appearing along the edge of the nail bed.
   • Not all warts have kernels, but more often than not you will see a nucleus in the center of the wart. The wart kernels are made up of thick and firm skin tissue.
   • The wart kernels inward and often presses on the bones or nerves, causing pain.
   • The calluses do not have a nucleus, spread evenly over a larger area and form from thicker tissues. Calluses are usually painless, although they can be annoying.
   • Calluses usually develop on the soles of the feet, just below the toe area. The hands may also appear calluses, usually on the palm of the hand, just below the fingers.
   • Both warts and calluses are caused by friction and pressure.

2. 

   
   
   Use over-the-counter drugs. Salicylic acid is the most common ingredient found in acne and callus products.
   • Over-the-counter medications can treat warts and calluses, but the effect is even better if combined with holistic skin care treatments.
   • Take immediate steps, but you also need to deal with the problem that is causing the friction or pressure.

3. 

   
   
   Use patches containing salicylic acid to get rid of warts. You can buy salicylic acid patches over the counter with concentrations up to 40%.
   • Soak your feet in warm water for about 5 minutes to soften the tissue. Dry your feet and toes before applying.
   • Take care not to stick to healthy tissue.
   • Most products are recommended to be applied 48 to 72 hours apart for 14 days or until the wart has been removed.
   • Salicylic acid belongs to the keratolytic agent, meaning it also helps to replenish moisture to the damaged area, while softening and dissolving the skin tissues. Salicylic acid can damage healthy tissues.
   • Follow the instructions printed on the product or the instruction paper inside the medicine box. Do not use this medicine if you are allergic to products containing salicylic acid.
   • Avoid getting the drug in your eyes, nose, or mouth, and do not use it on other parts of your body without the guidance of your doctor.
   • Use water to wash immediately areas that are accidentally contaminated with salicylic acid.
   • Store salicylic acid products in a safe place, out of reach of children and pets.

4. 

   
   
   Treat calluses with salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is formulated in many different forms and concentrations. You can use foam products, creams, gels and patches to treat calluses on your feet.
   • Each product has its own specific use. You need to follow the instructions on the product or the instruction paper that comes with the product to get rid of calluses in the best way.

5. 

   Use a topical product with a 45% urea concentration. In addition to products containing salicylic acid, a number of other over-the-counter products are also helpful.
   • Products containing 45% urea can be applied topically as a keratinizer to soften and remove unwanted tissue, including warts and calluses.
   • Use according to the directions printed on the product label or the instruction sheet inside the medicine box.
   • Topical 45% urea products are usually applied twice daily until they are gone.
   • Do not swallow topical urea and do not get it in your eyes, nose, or mouth.
   • Keep the product out of reach of children and pets.
   • If you do swallow a pill, you should immediately call the emergency number 115, poison control center or go to the emergency room as quickly as possible.

6. 

   Use a pumice stone. For calluses, you can use a pumice stone or a special foot file to remove hard areas.
   • The same applies to calluses on the hands.
   • Use tools such as pumice stones or files to remove dead skin layers. Take care not to file any healthy tissue. The skin gets more irritated and potentially infected if it breaks.
   • File thick and hard tissues before applying the medication.

7. 

   Declaim food. A foot bath in warm water can help soften thick areas of the wart and even calluses.
   • For calluses on the hands, you can also soak them to soften the tissues, just like with the feet.
   • Dry feet or hands thoroughly after soaking. Treat with a pumice stone or file while skin is soft.
   • If you don't have time to soak your feet or hands every day, you can use a pumice stone or file right after bathing.

8. 

   Moisturizes the skin. Apply moisturizer to hands and feet to keep tissues soft.
   • This can help you get rid of thick, hard skin more easily with a pumice stone or file, and also prevents the formation of warts and calluses.
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Part 2 of 3: Seeking medical attention

1. 

   Continue to treat the disease. People with diabetes are at a higher risk of problems in their feet, partly due to a change in blood circulation to the extremities.
   • Conditions such as diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, and everything else that interferes with normal blood circulation require medical attention to treat warts and calluses. You should talk to your doctor before treating warts and calluses at home.

2. 

   Consult your doctor if the affected area is large and painful. While warts and calluses rarely fall into the emergency category, sometimes the affected area is very large and painful.
   • Seeking your doctor's help is the safest and most effective way to treat an illness.
   • Some warts and calluses do not respond to over-the-counter medications. Ask your doctor about prescription strength products or other treatments.
   • Your doctor can help you by performing a number of procedures in the clinic to improve your condition.
   • Your doctor may use a scalpel or other tool at the clinic to filter out large, hard skin.
   • Do not try to cut thick, hard skin yourself at home, as this can lead to irritation, bleeding and potentially inflammation.

3. 

   Pay attention to the warts. In addition to warts and calluses, sometimes warts are also part of the problem.
   • Your doctor can determine if you have warts or other skin conditions and recommend the best treatment.

4. 

   Watch for signs of infection. Although very rare, warts and calluses can become infected.
   • Seek medical attention immediately if the wart or callus is swollen, red, warm, or painful than usual.

5. 

   Consider foot problems. Some people with foot defects often experience repetitive problems, including warts and calluses.
   • You may be referred to a podiatrist by a doctor.A number of medical conditions can contribute to warts and calluses, including hammered toe deformities, bone spines, flat foot syndrome, and deformed big toe.
   • Many of these diseases can be cured by wearing special equipment or specially designed shoes.
   • A few rare cases require surgery.

6. 

   Pay attention to complications on the hand. As calluses form from friction and pressure on the hands, the skin can tear and infection begins.
   • In some cases, blisters form just below or next to the callus. When this happens, the fluid inside the blisters slowly seeps back into the skin. If the blister ruptures or oozes, the healing tissues around the blister and callus are susceptible to infection.
   • Contact your doctor if your hands show signs of redness, swelling, or warmth.
   • You may need to take topical or systemic antibiotics if you have an infection.
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Part 3 of 3: Prevent future problems

1. 

   Eliminate the source of friction. The most common cause of warts and calluses on the feet is irritation, pressure, or rubbing in the same area.
   • You can prevent warts and calluses from forming by removing the source of friction.

2. 

   Wear shoes that fit. A shoe that doesn't fit can rub the toe or cause the foot to move inside the shoe.
   • Make sure the shoe has enough space inside for the toes to move.
   • Warts usually form on the face of your toes and on the edge of your toes, and may be because your shoes don't have enough room for your toes to move.
   • Repeated rubbing or irritation caused by poor wearing of shoes is the main cause of warts and calluses.
   • Tight shoes and high heels that cause your foot to slide forward can cause warts and calluses.
   • Calluses form when the soles of the feet and the edge of the foot move and touch a part of the shoe resulting in irritation, or slip inside the shoe too wide.

3. 

   Wear socks. Wearing socks without socks can also cause friction and pressure in your feet.
   • Always wear socks to resist friction and pressure, especially with shoes designed to wear socks, such as sneakers, boots, and workwear.
   • Make sure the socks fit your feet. Tight socks can constrict your toes, causing pressure and friction. Loose socks can slide down the feet when wearing shoes, creating extra friction and pressure on the foot.

4. 

   Use protective pads. Use pads to place warts, between toes, or along areas where calluses are present.
   • Pads, wool pads or a toe cup can help reduce friction and pressure on your toes or areas with warts and calluses.

5. 

   Use gloves. Calluses form on the hands in the areas where friction is the most.
   • In many cases, calluses on the hands are beneficial. Some musical instrument players, such as guitarists, prefer to have calluses on their fingertips so that they don't hurt when playing.
   • Weightlifting athletes are another example. The calluses on their hands can help them grasp and control the bar.
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