Introduction to Foot Corns
Foot corns are thickened and hard skin areas, which typically take place on your feet. These are similar to callus but are relatively smaller, and harder, and they cause more pain. Corns are not dangerous but they may cause irritation and they often affect women.
Types of Foot Corns
There are three different types of foot corns, which include the following-
- Hard corns are small and concentrated areas consisting of hard skin. They usually remain present in a wide area of your foot’s thick skin.
- Soft corns come with a rubbery texture and they are gray or whitish. They usually present between your toes.
- Seed corns are present on the bottom area of your foot and they cause pain as they become thick.
However, the positive thing is that foot corns are not skin diseases. Instead, they are body responses to friction or pressure on your skin. Luckily, many home remedies are available for foot corn removal, which you will know from this blog post.
Tips and Tricks for Foot Corn Removal at Home
Regardless of the type of foot corn, you have to follow a few tips and tricks for foot corn removal or treatment in a few days-
1. Soften Your Foot Corn
The first step associated with foot corn treatment/removal involves softening the thick and toughened bump of the dead skin. In this way, your raised skin will come up easily by applying skin files or fall with relatively less effort. You may make your foot corn soft by following either of the following methods-
2. Soak the Foot in Luke Warm Water
Fill your small footbath or tub in warm water. If possible, you should add Epsom salts with perfumes or oils to make your skin soft or relax it. After soaking your foot for 10 minutes, your corn becomes soft and prime for filing gently. However, if you have large and tough corns, you have to soak your foot for 10 minutes daily for at least 5 days to soften your bump gradually.
3. Application of a Scent-free Lotion
Lotions are effective ways to make your foot corn soft and nourish it. This step associated with foot corn removal is essential, as the corns imply dry accumulations of your foot’s dead skin. Hence, put a scent-free lotion after a bath or shower until you can file it off gently.
4. Application of Vitamin E Oil
Vitamin E works as a natural foot corn removal or treatment. It is also helpful for your hair and skin. The properties present in Vitamin E soften and moisturize your skin. Moreover, the antioxidants may heal your foot irritation in no time. You may rub vitamin E oil on your foot corn before sleeping. You may even buy Vitamin E oil in vial form to moisturize your skin for a long time after foot corn removal.
5. File the Foot Corn
Once your foot corn becomes soft, you may file down carefully by using an emery board/nail file or a pumice stone. File the corn by applying light pressure after soaking your feet or wiping the area with soap and water. Pumice stones are recommendable for corns on the top of your toes’ sides or bottom pads of your feet. In contrast, use a fingernail file to remove foot corns between your toes.
Whenever you go to file your foot corn, make sure to apply gentle pressure only. Aggressive filing may create micro-abrasions in the skin and make it susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections. Other than that, removing multiple skin layers may cause open wounds. These wounds may rub open and become worse with physical activity or walking.
Alternative Natural Home Remedies for Foot Corn Removal
A few sufferers of foot corn look for alternative natural remedies instead of filing the foot corn. These include onion juice, lemon juice, garlic, and related treatment options accessible at your home. The details related to home remedies for foot corn removal include the following-
1. Pad Your Foot Corn
You may get relief by padding the affected area using a few soft inserts. You may cover or wrap the bump before wearing sandals or shoes. By doing so, you may avoid painful rubbing and unnecessary pressure to heal the corn. You will get many corn pad options, like toe sleeves consisting of gel materials, corn cushions going around your bump, and many more.
2. Try a Few Over-the-Counter Medications
Visit your local pharmacy to get a few over-the-counter pads/products for foot corn removal at home.
3. Salicylic Acid Pads
Salicylic acid pads break down the skin cells accumulated in the bumps of your foot corn. These products make patients feel relatively less pain and reduce the corn size than simply shaving or filing it. Many exfoliating products, including scrubs, use salicylic acid. You may even find corn remover pads to place on your corn for 2 days or based on the instructions on their label.
In some cases, salicylic acid pads may show visible signs of burning and redness in your foot. Hence, a salicylic acid pad may never be an option for any person with sensitive skin. Corn removal pads contain urea or ammonium lactate in high concentrations that further irritate your feet.
4. Medicated Lotions
You will get many medicated lotions in the market to neutralize the effects of salicylic acid pads or reduce their potencies. They break down the corn slowly and nourish your skin.
Conclusion
Foot corn may cause further complications to your foot. If you identify or suspect corn, you should immediately follow the home remedies to remove or treat the corn efficiently.