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Calluses are patches of thick skin caused by friction and they can be a literal pain. They often occur on hands and feet and, while normally harmless, can become infected if not treated. While doctors can treat calluses with specialty shavers, acids, or a pumice stone, there are also home remedies people have used to treat calluses using simple items found around the house.
We at Herbs+ are letting you in on some of the various home remedies that people have used over the years to treat their calluses and soften their skin.
1. Crush some aspirin.
Simple drug store aspirin can help clear up your calluses. Crush around 5 or 6 tablets of aspirin and mix the powder with lemon juice and water. Make a paste that can be placed on the callus. Wrap the area with a warm towel and cover with a plastic bag. After around 10 minutes, scrape the callus with a pumice stone. If you are a diabetic or have an allergy to aspirin do not use this method.
2. Use a baking soda paste.
Adding baking soda to a foot bath can help heal calluses, but there is a less messy way. Mix baking soda with water to make a paste and apply it to your calluses regularly until they heal.
3. Soak in some tea.
Nice, warm tea is always comforting, but it can also be good for the skin. When soaking your calluses, mix chamomile tea or tea tree oil into the water. This will help dry out your skin. If the tea stains your skin, this can easily be fixed with soap and water.
4. Rub with cornstarch.
Calluses can be easily prevented. Rub your feet with cornstarch to help keep them dry, which prevents calluses from getting irritated and other possible infections. This method can also soothe painful calluses and corns.
5. Make a vinegar wrap.
Soak a cotton ball in vinegar and tape it to your callus. Leave it on the area overnight and then rub it with a pumice stone. Make sure the vinegar touches the callus and not the surrounding skin.
6. Rub down with pineapple slices.
Pineapple peels have enzymes that can help soften and remove calluses. Place a small piece of fresh pineapple peel over the callus and wrap it with a piece of cloth to keep it in place. This should be done once a night for a week. Applying pineapple juice to the area can also help before and after wrapping.
7. Tape stale bread to the area.
Stale bread might not be good for eating, but it can help soften your skin. Soak half a slice in apple cider vinegar and tape it to your callus before going to bed. Wrap with plastic wrap and put on a cotton sock. The callus should be treated within a few hours.
8. Use aloe overnight.
You can use either an aloe leaf or pure aloe gel for this trick. Apply the fleshy part of the plant or the gel to the callus and cover with a bandage. The callus should now be soft enough to file down.
9. Draw the oil from vitamins A and E.
Vitamins can help treat your skin, even when used topically. Take a needle and prick either a vitamin A or E capsule. Collect the oil and apply it to your callus. Do this before going to sleep and continue until the callus is healed.
10. Wear socks (or gloves) with special creams or petroleum jelly.
Exfoliating creams or lotions can help treat calluses, especially if they contain salicylic acid, urea, or ammonium lactate. In addition, skin-softening creams or petroleum jelly can also help soften the callus. Wearing socks or gloves after applying the creams can help seal in moisture for the callus on your feet or hands.
Shea butter can also help cracked skin.
If your feet are rough or cracked as well, one tip you can use is to rub your feet with shea butter. Not only can this add moisture and heal damaged feet, the shea butter can also help take the sting out of sore feet.
We at Herbs+ are letting you in on some of the various home remedies that people have used over the years to treat their calluses and soften their skin.
1. Crush some aspirin.
Simple drug store aspirin can help clear up your calluses. Crush around 5 or 6 tablets of aspirin and mix the powder with lemon juice and water. Make a paste that can be placed on the callus. Wrap the area with a warm towel and cover with a plastic bag. After around 10 minutes, scrape the callus with a pumice stone. If you are a diabetic or have an allergy to aspirin do not use this method.
2. Use a baking soda paste.
Adding baking soda to a foot bath can help heal calluses, but there is a less messy way. Mix baking soda with water to make a paste and apply it to your calluses regularly until they heal.
3. Soak in some tea.
Nice, warm tea is always comforting, but it can also be good for the skin. When soaking your calluses, mix chamomile tea or tea tree oil into the water. This will help dry out your skin. If the tea stains your skin, this can easily be fixed with soap and water.
4. Rub with cornstarch.
Calluses can be easily prevented. Rub your feet with cornstarch to help keep them dry, which prevents calluses from getting irritated and other possible infections. This method can also soothe painful calluses and corns.
5. Make a vinegar wrap.
Soak a cotton ball in vinegar and tape it to your callus. Leave it on the area overnight and then rub it with a pumice stone. Make sure the vinegar touches the callus and not the surrounding skin.
6. Rub down with pineapple slices.
Pineapple peels have enzymes that can help soften and remove calluses. Place a small piece of fresh pineapple peel over the callus and wrap it with a piece of cloth to keep it in place. This should be done once a night for a week. Applying pineapple juice to the area can also help before and after wrapping.
7. Tape stale bread to the area.
Stale bread might not be good for eating, but it can help soften your skin. Soak half a slice in apple cider vinegar and tape it to your callus before going to bed. Wrap with plastic wrap and put on a cotton sock. The callus should be treated within a few hours.
8. Use aloe overnight.
You can use either an aloe leaf or pure aloe gel for this trick. Apply the fleshy part of the plant or the gel to the callus and cover with a bandage. The callus should now be soft enough to file down.
9. Draw the oil from vitamins A and E.
Vitamins can help treat your skin, even when used topically. Take a needle and prick either a vitamin A or E capsule. Collect the oil and apply it to your callus. Do this before going to sleep and continue until the callus is healed.
10. Wear socks (or gloves) with special creams or petroleum jelly.
Exfoliating creams or lotions can help treat calluses, especially if they contain salicylic acid, urea, or ammonium lactate. In addition, skin-softening creams or petroleum jelly can also help soften the callus. Wearing socks or gloves after applying the creams can help seal in moisture for the callus on your feet or hands.
Shea butter can also help cracked skin.
If your feet are rough or cracked as well, one tip you can use is to rub your feet with shea butter. Not only can this add moisture and heal damaged feet, the shea butter can also help take the sting out of sore feet.
