Callouses are accumulations of dead skin cells; if they develop a hard core, they become painful corns. According to Neal Kramer, D.P.M, a podiatrist from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, callouses are actually your body's way of protecting you from pressure. "When the pressure gets extreme, the callous gets thicker and thicker." Doctors agree you should never play foot surgeon; don't pare or cut callouses or corns. If you are diabetic or have severe corns, you should see a doctor.
Epsom Soaks
For temporary relief of pain, soak your feet in a solution of 1/2 cup of Epsom salts in a pan of warm water. According to Susan M. Levine, D.P.M., clinical assistant podiatrist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, this can reduce the size of the bursa sac--a fluid-filled sac between the bone and the corn--and take pressure off neighboring sensory nerves.
Chamomile Tea Soaks
You can soak calloused feet in very diluted chamomile tea for soothing and softening. Although the tea may stain your feet, this washes off with soap and water. According to herbwisdom.com, chamomile's volatile oils contain bisalbolol, a therapeutic substance that may have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities. Consult with your physician before using chamomile, and don't use it if you are allergic to ragweed, daisies or chrysanthemums.
Aspirin and Lemon Juice
You can employ aspirin and lemon juice to combat callouses and corns. According to Dr. Levine, you can crush five aspirin tablets into powder, and add 1/2 tsp. each of water and lemon juice to make a paste. Apply to callouses, put your foot in a plastic bag, and wrap a warmed towel around it. Leave on for 10 minutes to allow the paste to penetrate skin. Unwrap and gently scrub your foot with a pumice stone; hard skin should now flake away easily. However, be careful not to use abrasive action on hard corns; this could make the area more painful than before.
Hydrocortisone Cream
Large and cracked callouses may respond to the treatment suggested by Marvin Sandler, D.P. M., chief of podiatric surgery at Sacred Heart Hospital in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Mix equal amounts of Whitfield's Ointment and over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream, then apply to the callous at bedtime, covering your foot with a plastic bag and then a sock. Leave in place until morning, then rub off as much of the callous as you can with a coarse towel. For best control of callouses, perform this treatment regularly.
Papaya
Enlist fresh papaya juice to help you soothe callouses and corns. According to the Free Health Care website, apply 1/2 tsp. of the juice to callouses and corns three times a day. However, this method has not been scientifically tested for efficacy.
Chalk Powder
Grind up a piece of ordinary white chalk and mix it with water to form a paste, then apply to affected areas. According to the Free Health Care website, chalk can be beneficial in treatment of corns. Again, this remedy has not been rigorously tested.
Green Figs
Stubborn corns may be softened by the application of the juice from fresh green figs. According to the Free Health Care website, you can apply 1/2 tsp. of the juice three times a day, although this is an untested method.
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