How to Get Rid of Callus on Toes Fast

If you are active, it is normal that you may develop corns on your feet and hands at some point of time. Although not dangerous, corns and calluses can make your life miserable. Not to mention, these hardened skin layers can take a lot away from the beauty of your feet and hands.

Thankfully, there are several home remedies for corns and calluses that you can use to reduce the associated pain and also get rid of them. Before we get into the home remedies, let's take a look at what exactly these corns and calluses are. This will help you understand how they develop and what measures you can take to prevent their recurrence.

What Are Corns And Calluses?

When the skin experiences excessive and regular pressure, it thickens in response to this pressure. This small area of the skin that thickens is called a corn. Corns are usually round and can be painful. When the corn is exposed to moisture (from sweat), it is soft to touch. Such corns are seen in between the fourth and fifth toes on the feet, and they can easily get infected. A harder corn is seen on the outer and upper parts of the toes and fingers (1).

Calluses, on the other hand, are larger than corns and don't have a properly defined outline. These are usually formed on the sole, i.e. the underside of your feet. When you walk, this part of your feet is under the pressure of your body weight. As a result, calluses can form and can or cannot be painful (1).Calluses can also form in the hands of laborers who handle hard-surfaced, heavy instruments.

Home Remedies For Corns And Calluses

There are numerous home remedies to remove corns and calluses from feet, but it is best to use multiple remedies simultaneously if you want to get rid of them quickly.

Castor Oil
Salicylic Acid
Pumice Stone
Apple Cider Vinegar
Epsom Salt Foot Soak
Baking Soda
Garlic
Turpentine Oil
Papaya
Licorice
Turmeric
Pineapple
Vitamin E
Aspirin
Lemon
Onion
Bread
Coconut Oil
Oatmeal Soak

1. Castor Oil

You Will Need

Castor oil

What You Have To Do

Apply castor oil on the corn thrice a day.

How Often Should You Do This

Repeat this every day until the corn disappears.

Why This Works

This home remedy has been used for centuries. The oil softens the corn and makes it disappear eventually (2). This method to treat corns is one of the best home remedies as it is quick. You will notice results in just three to four days.

Caution

Do not apply castor oil on broken skin.

[ Read: Benefits Of Castor Oil For Health ]

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2. Salicylic Acid

You Will Need

Salicylic acid liquid/gel
Pumice stone
Warm water

What You Have To Do

Soak the affected area in warm water for five minutes.
Pat dry and carefully rub a pumice stone over the corn/callus to remove the top dead layers of skin.
Apply a thin layer of the salicylic acid liquid only on the affected area and leave it on for five minutes.
Rinse the area with clean water.

How Often Should You Do This

Repeat this once or twice a day for about two weeks.

Why This Works

Salicylic acid breaks the bond between the skin cells that have accumulated at the site of the corn or callus. It slowly starts to dissolve the corn by increasing the amount of moisture in that area (3).

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3. Pumice Stone

You Will Need

Warm water
Pumice stone

What You Have To Do

Soak the feet or hands that have corns and/or calluses in warm water for five to seven minutes.
Gently rub the pumice stone over the corns and calluses for two to three minutes.

How Often Should You Do This

Do this every day so that the corn heals faster.

Why This Works

As corn is dead skin, it is best to try and remove it by rubbing the affected part of your foot or hand with a pumice stone.

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4. Apple Cider Vinegar

ou Will Need

Warm water
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1-2 drops tea tree oil
Cotton ball

What You Have To Do

After soaking your feet in a warm water bath for a few minutes, apply apple cider vinegar on the corn using a cotton ball.
Keep the cotton ball firmly pressed against the corn for about five minutes.
Let the vinegar dry. Then, apply tea tree oil on the corn. Do not rinse.

How Often Should You Do This

Use this home remedy for foot corns every day and you will notice that the corn will come off in two to three days.

Why This Works

Apple cider vinegar exfoliates the dead skin cells and softens the corns and calluses. It is also antibacterial in nature and will kill any bacteria that may be lurking around near the affected area (4).

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5. Epsom Salt Foot Soak

You Will Need

1 cup Epsom salt
Warm water
Small basin
Pumice stone or callus file

What You Have To Do

Add the Epsom salt to the warm water in the basin and soak your feet in it for 10 to 15 minutes.
Once the skin has softened, use the callus file or pumice stone to rub off the dead layers of skin present on top of the affected area.

How Often Should You Do This

Do this daily after your shower for a few days.

Why This Works

Epsom salt is commonly used as an exfoliant. It also soothes the skin and relieves pain. Its antibacterial properties are an added benefit (5).

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6. Baking Soda

You Will Need

1 tablespoon baking soda
1 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon lime juice (optional)

What You Have To Do

Mix the baking soda with water (and lime juice) to form a paste.
Apply this paste on the corn or callus.
Leave it on overnight.

If you are using this paste on your toes, place cotton balls between your toes to keep them separated.

How Often Should You Do This

Do this every night for five to seven days. It will help the corn to dry and flake.

Why This Works

Like Epsom salt, baking soda also exfoliates the dead skin cells from the corn and callus (6). It is an antiseptic and will keep the area infection-free (7).

Caution

Ensure that the paste should not touch any other part of your skin. Otherwise, it will dry up your healthy skin.

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7. Garlic

You Will Need

A garlic clove
Crepe bandage

What You Have To Do

Cut the clove of garlic in half. Rub one half on the corn for about a minute.
Place the other half of the garlic clove on the corn and cover it with the crepe bandage.
The following morning, wash the area as you normally do.

How Often Should You Do This

Do this every night. Within a few days, your corn will disappear.

Why This Works

Garlic is used as a home remedy for a number of ailments, including corns. This is one of the most effective home remedies to remove corns that can be best used at nights. A recent clinical trial showed that garlic causes effective removal of the corn tissue from the body (8).

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8. Turpentine Oil

You Will Need

Turpentine oil
Clean cloth
Ice cube

What You Have To Do

Rub the ice on the corn for two to three minutes.
Soak the cloth in turpentine and wrap it around the corn for a couple of minutes.

How Often Should You Do This

Do this several times a day. Eventually, the corn will dry up and flake off.

Why This Works

Use rectified turpentine oil for this particular home remedy. This oil is a rubefacient, i.e., it increases the blood circulation. It also soothes the skin and reduces irritation (9).

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9. Papaya

You Will Need

Papaya

What You Have To Do

Apply a small piece of papaya on the affected area and leave it overnight. If you find it difficult to apply the piece of papaya, you can dab fresh papaya juice on the corn.

How Often Should You Do This

Repeat every night until the corn falls off.

Why This Works

Papaya has long been known for its healing properties. It also has the ability to slough off skin. This is due to the enzyme papain that is found in papaya (10). So, it makes perfect sense to use it on the corn.

[ Read: Benefits Of Papaya For Skin, Hair And Health ]

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10. Licorice

xou Will Need

4 licorice sticks
Mustard oil

What You Have To Do

Take the licorice sticks and make a paste using some mustard oil.
Apply it on the corn just before retiring to bed.
The following morning, use warm water to wash off the paste.

How Often Should You Do This

Do this every night for a few days to remove calluses and foot corns.

Why This Works

Licorice is known to have healing properties. Its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial attributes prove to be beneficial in treating corns and calluses (11, 12).

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11. Turmeric

You Will Need

1 tablespoon turmeric powder
1-1 1/2 tablespoons honey

What You Have To Do

Make a thick paste of turmeric powder and honey.
Apply it on the corn and let the paste air dry. Rinse once it has dried.

How Often Should You Do This

Apply this paste twice a day. You will notice the corn reducing in size in about two to three days.

Why This Works

This is an Asian home remedy to heal corns and can be quite effective. Turmeric's healing and antimicrobial properties, along with the soothing properties of honey, will heal the corn in just a few days (13, 14).

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12. Pineapple

You Will Need

Pineapple
Bandage

What You Have To Do

Take a piece of the pineapple and place it overnight on the corn.
Use the bandage to secure it in place.

How Often Should You Do This

Do this every night. You will notice the corn disappearing in a week or so.

Why This Works

This tropical fruit can prove to be an effective home remedy for corns on feet. Not only will it help to alleviate the pain, but will also hasten the healing. The enzyme bromelain present in pineapple will dissolve the corn/callus (15).

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13. Vitamin E

You Will Need

Vitamin E capsule
A cotton sock
A needle

What You Have To Do

Carefully make a hole in the vitamin E capsule using the needle.
Rub the oil present in the capsule on the corn.
Let it get absorbed for a few minutes. Then, cover the foot with the sock.

How Often Should You Do This

Repeat this every night before going to bed until the corn naturally heals.

Why This Works

The oil softens the corn and aids in its fast removal (16).

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14. Aspirin

You Will Need

A few aspirin tablets
Water
Gauze or bandage
Pumice stone

What You Have To Do

Crush the aspirins and make a thick paste with a few drops of water.
Apply the paste on the corn and seal it with a gauze or a bandage. Leave it overnight.
Scrub the affected area with the pumice stone in the morning.

How Often Should You Do This

Repeat the process every day until the corn disappears. You should see results in about two weeks.

Why This Works

Besides curing headaches, aspirin can also help in removing painful corns and calluses. This home remedy is a simple corn and callus softening agent (17). The salicylic acid present in aspirin will dissolve the corns and calluses easily (3).

Caution

Do not use this remedy if you are allergic to aspirin.

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15. Lemon

You Will Need

A lemon slice
Bandage

What You Have To Do

Apply the slice of lemon on the corn and secure it with a bandage.
Leave it on overnight.

How Often Should You Do This

Continue the application of lemon until there is no trace of the corn.

Why This Works

The acidity of lemon is a great home remedy to get rid of corns. It helps to alleviate the discomfort, and you will also notice the corn reducing in size in a few days (18).

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16. Onion

You Will Need

Onion slice
Gauze

What You Have To Do

Place a slice of onion on the corn and secure it with the help of a gauze.
Leave the onion slice overnight and discard it the following morning.

How Often Should You Do This

Do this every day and you will notice results in a week's time.

Why This Works

Onion is a simple home remedy to treat calluses and corns. Its antioxidants enhance the healing process of these annoying growths on the skin (19). It has been shown to reduce the appearance of scars on the skin, and this property will be beneficial when the callus or corn has healed (20). It will ensure that no marks or scars are left behind.

[ Read: Health Benefits Of Onions ]

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17. Bread

You Will Need

A piece of bread
White vinegar
Gauze

What You Have To Do

Soak the bread in the vinegar and place it on the affected area.
Secure it with the gauze. You can also cover with a plastic wrap.
Leave it on overnight.

How Often Should You Do This

You will notice a substantial difference in the corn or callus by the morning. Repeat this for a night or two more to completely remove the corn.

Why This Works

The vinegar in the bread softens the calluses and corns, and they can be simply rubbed off in the morning (21).

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18. Coconut Oil

You Will Need

Coconut oil

What You Have To Do

Apply it on the affected area, ensuring that you massage it well into your skin.

How Often Should You Do This

Reapply thrice a day.

Why This Works

Coconut oil is a wonderful skin moisturizer (22). Once your skin turns supple and soft, it will be easy to remove the corn with a pumice stone.

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19. Oatmeal Soak

You Will Need

1/2 cup oatmeal
Water

What You Have To Do

Boil the oatmeal in plain water for about five minutes.
Strain and apply the boiled oatmeal on the corn.
Leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing it off.

How Often Should You Do This

Repeat this twice a day.

Why This Works

We all know that oatmeal works as an excellent exfoliating agent and can be soothing for the skin (23). So, using it to treat the corn should produce desirable results.

Caution

Make sure it is not too hot or you may end up scalding your skin.

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Don't let the hardened skin of corns and calluses mar the beauty of your hands and feet. Take care of them with the right home remedies to keep the skin soft and supple.

Here are a few frequently asked questions regarding corns and calluses.

FAQs

1. Preventing Corns And Calluses

Follow these tips to prevent corns and calluses from forming on your feet:

Buy well-fitting footwear that does not put excess pressure on any part of your feet. An insole made of micro-cellular rubber (MCR) would be especially beneficial if you get frequent corns.
Avoid shoes that have pointed toes or high heels if you are prone to getting corns and calluses.
Discard old shoes from time to time.
Use protective covering, such as pads, on areas on the foot where corns and calluses are likely to form.
For hands, use padded gloves while handling tools.
Make it a point to wash your feet and hands with soap and water every evening.

These measures will prevent the recurrence of corns and calluses.

2. What Are The Causes Of Corns?

There are many reasons for the development of corns on your hands or feet. Usually, they form due to pressure on the skin's surface. Corns are more prevalent on the feet than hands, and often develop due to incorrect footwear.

Some of the causes of corns include:

Wearing Footwear Without Socks – If you have a habit of wearing sandals or shoes without socks, it's time to change. Socks protect your skin from the rough and firm materials that sandals and shoes are made from, preventing friction and thus corns.

Badly Fitting Shoes – If your shoes are too tight, they will exert pressure on certain parts of your feet, leading to the development of corns. On the other hand, if your shoes are loose, your feet will move around inside the shoes, causing friction. High heels are a major cause of corns among women as they exert uneven pressure on the feet

Manual Labor – If you are the kind of person who uses hand tools or lifts heavy materials regularly, you are at a higher risk of developing corns on your hands due to friction.

Participating In Athletic Events – If you regularly participate in athletic events, you will develop corns due to excessive pressure on certain parts of your feet as well as hands.

Abnormal Structure Of Bones – If you have an abnormal bone structure, it can cause pressure or friction when wearing shoes, resulting in corns.

Imperfect Functioning Of The Feet – Certain health conditions, such as scoliosis, result in flawed working of the feet, causing uneven distribution of weight. This can lead to the development of corns.

3. What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Corns And Calluses?

If you notice small, hard, and thick areas on or between your toes, they definitely are corns. If the corn occurs on a nerve or exerts pressure on the surrounding nerves, you will also experience pain. Some of the symptoms of corns include:

Hard rough areas on the skin
Tenderness under the skin
Dry or waxy skin
Elevated, thick bumps on your skin

Corns usually have a firm, hard center and can be painful. If you are diabetic or experience pain, it is best to consult a doctor rather than opting for home remedies. You may require specialized treatment.

4. Are Corns And Calluses The Same Thing?

No, they are not. Calluses are larger in size than corns and are found in areas on the foot that bear the weight of the body. Corns also have a hardened center, which is not seen in calluses.

5. When Should I See A Podiatrist About It?

If you are experiencing a lot of pain and discomfort because of the corn or callus, it is recommended to visit your podiatrist so that he/she can surgically remove the corn.

So, these were some home remedies for corns and calluses that you can use if you or a loved one is suffering from them. Use several home remedies together for best results.

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