Calluses, which are flatter than corns, are usually formed on heavily used areas of the foot, such as the heel or ball of the foot, and sometimes on the hands during heavy physical work (such as chopping wood or construction work). They are a protective mechanism with which the skin reacts to recurring strong pressure in the same places over and over again. Calluses usually cause a burning pain. A number of home remedies that were successfully used by our ancestors are presented here.
What helps against calluses?
Calluses on the feet can also be treated with a nettle foot bath. To relieve pain when walking, it is recommended to pad the shoes to equalize pressure and thus cushion the weight that rests on the calluses. To do this, cut strips of foam rubber or felt and stick them into the shoe on both sides of the pressure point. Another pad is glued behind the pressure point. Ladies who have calluses or corns should also avoid wearing shoes with high heels. In general, care should be taken to ensure that the footwear worn fits well and is comfortable. If the shoes are too big, shuffling the foot back and forth will cause the skin to become irritated, which can lead to calluses. Likewise, footwear that is too tight leads to pressure points, which can result in corns or calluses. If calluses occur on the heels, shoes that are open at the back should not be worn. Also taboo are shoes made of synthetics or with plastic soles as well as stockings made of synthetic fibers. They additionally stimulate the production of sweat glands. In combination with friction, this can also lead to skin irritation and, in the medium term, to callus formation. To prevent this, you should walk barefoot more often in the summer and harden the soles of your feet through contact with different ground structures.
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Foot care, also called pedicure, involves shortening the toenails and removing calluses (including corns). On the other hand, medical foot care or podiatry includes direct treatments of the feet. |
The treatment or removal of foot ailments and diseases, such as corns, nail fungus and are included in medical foot care. |
Quick help
To eliminate calluses, folk medicine likes to use a nettle foot bath. To do this, soak fresh nettles (stems and leaves) for twelve hours in a container with five liters of cold water. Then this cold mixture is carefully warmed, leaving the herbs in the water. In the warm foot bath, the feet are bathed for about twenty minutes, softening the calluses. Mixing the bath with a little olive oil and a few teaspoons of sugar creates an exfoliating effect that aids in the subsequent removal of calluses. A foot bath of highly diluted chamomile tea also softens the hardened skin areas and has a soothing effect. Boil a teaspoon of dried chamomile flowers in a quart of water and steep for ten minutes. Strain and add to the warm bath water. Brown tea stains can then be removed with warm water and a mild soap. Dry feet carefully and massage in a moisturizing cream.
Alternative remedies
Alternatively, an onion compress has proven effective. To do this, boil half an onion in a little vinegar until soft. Then drain the vinegar and allow the soft onion to cool. Pound it to a pulp with the smooth side of a meat tenderizer. Apply the paste to the calluses, cover with a cotton cloth and fix with a gauze bandage. Cover with a sock made of natural fibers and leave overnight. The next day, remove the remains of the dried paste with a damp cloth and remove the softened callus with a file. A coarse callus rasp is less suitable, as it can actually boost callus production, especially if used improperly. After treatment, wash the feet and apply cream. To remove the hard, dead skin of the calluses more easily, the application of an aspirin paste also helps. For this mixture, powder 5-6 aspirin tablets and mix them with a tablespoon of lemon juice. The mixture is then applied to the callused areas, the foot is wrapped with plastic wrap and a warmed towel and left for ten minutes. Due to the heat, the paste can penetrate more intensively into the tissue and loosen the calluses.After the end of the exposure time, the remains of the mass are removed with a damp cloth and the affected skin areas are treated with pumice stone. However, people with an aspirin allergy should refrain from this form of treatment.
