Anyone who has corns knows how unpleasant and annoying they are, right? In addition to not being aesthetically beautiful, they are really uncomfortable to the touch, making you feel irritated when you notice them.
According to orthopedist Gustavo Borgo, a member of the medical team at Hospital Samaritano de São Paulo and Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, calluses are a “thickening of the skin resulting from increased pressure or friction in that specific region where they formed”.
But why does this thickening form? He also explains that it is a reaction of the skin to some type of trauma, in order to protect the site that is constantly subjected to small injuries.
They usually appear, according to the doctor, on the smaller toes, on the heel and on the soles of the feet. In the hands they appear more in the fingers and in the palm region, as they are places that are often exposed to aggression.
But after all, is there a way to soften and even get rid of calluses at home? Yes he has! See treatments that you can easily do and that can help you reduce this discomfort easily.
1. Onions
Onion has anti-inflammatory and healing properties that help reduce and eliminate corns. And the recipe is very simple: use half an onion and apply it to the callus area every day, before going to bed, letting its juice enter the area well. If it’s on your feet, cover it with socks.
2. Sodium bicarbonate
Place hot water and 3 tablespoons of baking soda in a bowl. Leave your feet still for at least 10 minutes. Its exfoliating properties will make the skin soften. After that time, wash your feet and rub them with a pumice stone.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar, due to its acidity, helps to improve the healing process and prevents the formation of more calluses, in addition to reducing the existing ones. Before going to bed, apply a cotton ball soaked in vinegar to the affected area. The next day, exfoliate with a pumice stone.
4. Castor oil
Castor oil is great for softening the skin, reducing roughness and helping to smooth calluses. Soak your feet in warm water and then exfoliate the skin with a pumice stone. After removing dead skin, use a cotton ball with castor oil and secure in place with duct tape. Apply the oil to the area every day until the callus disappears.
5. Nettle
This plant has important healing properties and helps a lot in the removal and healing of calluses. Blend some leaves and stems of the plant together with a spoon of water in a blender. The objective is to form a paste that you will place on top of the callus, making a bandage with a gauze. Only remove the paste and gauze after three hours of application.
6. Chamomile tea
Chamomile has the property not only to soothe the skin, but also helps to soften and improve the healing of the site. Make a liter of tea with the herb. When the drink is already warm, put it in a basin and let your feet soak. Then exfoliate with a pumice stone.
7. Garlic with olive oil
Garlic has healing and anti-inflammatory properties, while olive oil helps soften and hydrate the skin in the callus region. Crush a clove of garlic and mix it with olive oil. Put the mixture on the spot and bandage it with gauze, leaving the substance in place overnight. Repeat this every day until the callus is gone.
8. Green banana peel
Take a green banana peel and rub it over the callus area, making the juice released stay in the area. Or, if possible, attach the bark over the callus and leave it on while you sleep. Do this for 5 days or until the callus is gone.
9. Ice
When the callus injury is recent (that is, when the area is still red), using ice can help ease the situation by reducing swelling and pain. Wrap an ice cube in a cloth or napkin and apply to the area.
10. Talc
The emollient properties of talc help to treat and prevent corns. Sprinkle the area and cover with a sock (feet) or gauze (hands) and you will see that over time they will reduce until they disappear.
11. Glycerin
Glycerin also has important emollient properties that can be used to soften and remove corns. Mix 100 g of pasty glycerin with 20 drops of lemon and apply to the area. Without rinsing, let the mixture act all night, however, when you wake up, remove the substance, as the lemon, when exposed to the sun, can stain the skin.
How to prevent corns from forming
As a preventive clinical treatment, the orthopedist Gustavo Borgo recommends that the pressure in the region is reduced, reducing the constant lesions in the place. The doctor emphasizes the importance of always hydrating the skin well with specific creams to avoid the appearance of calluses. In addition, you should always wear comfortable shoes that are suitable for each foot and, whenever one comes up, consult a doctor.
This is because, according to Gustavo, “there are some cases of callus formation resulting from small bone deformities”. Some cases he cites are those caused very close to the index finger and the middle of the feet, common in women who wear a lot of high heels, flat feet (flat feet), bunions or even the case of diabetics who need constant monitoring in relation to these injuries due to loss of sensation in the feet.
Did you see how simple it is to prevent and treat your corns at home? Share this text on your social networks and take this information to your friends and family!