How to get rid of corns permanently

In this article we will talk about how to get rid of corns permanently, both medically as well as naturally.

Corns and calluses are often clubbed together, this is because they are both caused due to uneven pressure on the skin. And while they both cause pain and discomfort to the affected region, the methods used to treat them differ.

Corns develop in areas where there is a lot of mechanical trauma to the skin. They are normally found on hairless parts of the skin that are in contact with heavy friction.

How to get rid of corns on feet

That is why you will commonly find corns on the feet, where ill fitting shoes cause friction. This can cause a lot of pain and discomfort during running and walking.

Corns are small and circular calloused areas of the skin, caused by local pressure irritating the tissue over a bony prominence.

Gross fact: The word corn comes from the Latin word ‘cornu’ which means horn or hoof.

Different types of corns

While our feet are susceptible to both both hard and soft corns, there are different types of corns that form on the body. Although rare, it must be noted that corns can form on the hands too.

Sometimes people also mistake warts for corns. Warts are usually darker in color, softer and can bleed when scrapped.

The different kinds of corns are:

  1. Hard Corns A hard corn is also known as Heloma Durum. They are found over the top and sides of the toes.It has a horny dry appearance with thick dead skin.
  2. Soft Corns A soft corn is also known as Heloma Molle. It has a more moist and soft structure that is elastic to the touch. The skin on these corns is thinner and appears whitish in color. Soft corns generally grow between the toe and are (rather not surprisingly) called, kissing corns.
  3. Seed Corns – Seed corns form in clusters of hard spots. They grow on the soles of the feet due to walking on hard, uneven surfaces and stepping on rough objects or stones.
  4. Fibrous Corns –  Fibrous corns grow when the other corns on your feet have been left untreated for a long time. They are usually more painful as they are deeply embedded in the tissue.
  5. Vascular Corns – The last type of corn is the vascular corn. These develop as hard or soft corns, but they can bleed and can be very painful if cut open or scraped.

Of these different types of corns, the hard corn is the most common.

Although not harmful, corns are often prone to infections especially among people with diabetes.

Causes for developing corns:

While there can be several causes for the formation of corns, the main cause is excessive friction. The following are some of the reasons for the formation of corns

  • Some foot problems can alter the mechanics of the foot and put constant pressure on one part of the foot. For example people with flat feet, plantar fasciitis, hammer toes and high arches are all more prone to the formation of corns.
  • Walking barefoot on uneven rocky surfaces causes uneven pressure on the feet, this can cause the formation of corns as well.
  • Jobs that require walking up and down slopes or inclined surfaces can cause corns to appear on your toes.
What Causes Corns On Feet Infographic

FEEL FREE TO SHARE THIS IMAGE ON YOUR WEBSITE USING THE LINK BELOW

Statistics have shown that women suffer more from corns. The culprit here is the infamous high heels and long toe nails.

  • High heels, place a lot of unnecessary pressure on the forefoot. While straps around the little toe can cause a lot of friction in these areas, causing the formation of corns.
  • Long toe nails are likely to force the toes to bend against the shoes, causing corns on top or on the side of them.
  • Ill fitting shoes are one of the main contributors of corns. A tight fitting shoe can force the stitches to cause friction around the skin. This causes a lot of friction, consequently leading to the formation of a corn.
  • On the flip side, a loose fitting shoe allows the shoe to slip around, causing unnecessary friction in the slippage area.
  • Failure to wear socks and even tight fitting socks can cause corns. It is important for all your gear to fit properly.

How to get rid of corns naturally (INFOGRAPHIC Below)

Luckily for us, nature also provides multiple natural corn removers that can be used as home remedies for corns. We’ve listed some of these natural corn removers below:

  1. Using lime to remove corns

    Lime contains citric acid. Apply the juice of the lime to the affected area and let it dry. You can do this often. While it is a slow healing method, it surely works by softening the upper layers of the corn till it disappears.

  2. Chamomile tea and Epsom Salt can be used to remove corns

    Soak your feet into warm water to which chamomile tea and Epsom salt has been added. After soaking the feet for a while, you can use a pumice stone to slowly remove the corn. This needs lot of patience and might require multiple sittings.

  3. Using Baking Soda to remove corns

    Baking soda is a natural exfoliating agent. It also has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. To use baking soda to naturally remove corns, make a paste of baking soda and lime. Apply the paste to the corn and bandage it at night before you retire to bed. Alternatively, you can also soak the feet in warm water to which baking soda has been added. The corn should fall out over time.

  4. White Vinegar to remove corns

    White vinegar too has anti-fugal and anti-bacterial properties. It is highly acidic as well and is a great home remedy for corns. This acidic quality of the vinegar can be put to good use to remove your corns by soaking cotton balls in the vinegar. Squeeze out the extra vinegar and stick it to your corn. Leave it on for a couple of hours and repeat the treatment till the corn falls off.

  5. Using pineapple peels to remove corns

    Another effective natural treatment for corns is by using pineapple peels. First, bandage the peel to the corn and keep it on for a while. After removing the peel, rub a little coconut oil on it. Repeat the process till the corn drops. The pineapple has some powerful enzymes that help dissolve the corn. The coconut oil will help soften and eventually dry it out. The combination of these two procedures together is an effective way of removing painful corns.

  6. Using Garlic to remove corns

    Garlic is also used to treat many skin ailments naturally. The healing process using garlic is a bit faster since garlic contains certain powerful antioxidants. These powerful antioxidants are capable of fighting the fungal and bacterial infection in order to remove the corn faster. Squeeze garlic pods till the juice just about starts to seep out. Tape this pod on the corn and leave it there overnight. Repeat the process till the corn falls off.

  7. Using Raw Papaya Pulp and Pumice Stone to remove corns

    Papaya is a wonder fruit in skin treatment and is excellent for foot care. Cut a piece of raw papaya. Crush it, remove the juice and apply the pulp along with the skin to the affected area. Leave it over night to act on the corn. The following day, remove the pulp from the corn. Using a pumice stone scrub over the corn to remove the dead skin.

  8. Licorice and Mustrad Oil can remove corns

    Licorice provides fast healing because of a powerful estrogen like substance that it contains. Powder some licorice and mix this with mustard oil. Apply a thick paste on the corn and leave it overnight. The Estrogen penetrates the corn and aids in the healing process

  9. Smearing Castor Oil is a quick fix for removing corns

    Smearing castor oil on the corn can be quite effective as well. Cover it with a cotton ball and bandage it. Repeat the process thrice a day till the corn heals.

  10. Onion and Vinegar to remove corns

    Cut apiece of Onion and soak it in vinegar. Remove it from the vinegar and bandage it to the corn. Repeat the treatment for a couple of days, the corn should dry up and fall off.

  11. Using Vitamin-E Oil as an antioxidant to remove corns

    Vitamin E oil is very helpful in softening and moisturizing the corn. The antioxidant present in the oil will aid healing. Apply a drop of the oil on the corn before bedtime. Rinse and repeat the process till the corn falls off.

  12. Using Turpentine oil to remove corns

    Turpentine oil is very effective in removing soft corns that appear between the toes. Place a cotton ball soaked in the oil between both the toes and bandage it. The oil will penetrate the skin and the antiseptic properties of the oil will minimize infection. Repeat it till the corn falls off. Make sure not to inhale the fumes of the turpentine.

  13. Using a mixture of Turmeric and Mustard Oil can remove corns

    Mix Turmeric and mustard oil. Heat it and apply this hot paste to the corn. The anti inflammatory properties of the turmeric will hasten the healing process. The treatment has to be repeated a couple of times till the corn disappears.

  14. Tea tree oil to remove corns

    Tree tea oil is an essential oil that helps in getting rid of corns. It has both antibacterial and anti fungal properties. Place a cotton ball soaked in the oil. Keep it overnight, wash it off with a mild soap the next day. This process takes about to weeks and has to be repeated every night till the corn falls off the foot.

Permanently destroy corns with these 13 natural remedies

FEEL FREE TO SHARE THIS INFOGRAPHIC ON YOUR SITE USING THE LINK BELOW

Dermatological Treatment and Cure for corns

These are some of the best treatments for corns, recommended by dermatologists:

  1. Soak your feet in warm water for about 10 minutes to soften the corn.
  2. Take a pumice stone, dip it in warm water and gently file the corn using circular movements to remove the dead skin. You must be careful as removing too much skin could lead to bleeding or skin infection.
  3. Use creams or moisturizers contain salicylic acid, ammonium lactate or urea as they help soften hard corns and calluses
  4. Using donut shaped corn pads which are available at the drug stores can help prevent the corn from touching your foot wear.
  5. Medicated corn plasters too are available at the drug store. These can be used to remove small corns that are not too deeply embedded in the tissue

How to prevent corns

Prevention is better than cure, so how can we prevent corns from appearing on our feet?

  • Buy proper fitting shoes – Even if you have your foot measured. Make sure the shoe you wear fit comfortably both on the long side and broad side.
  • Don’t punish your feet by constantly pushing them into pointed shoes.
  • You should be able to wiggle your toes in your shoes and the shoes should not cramp your feet.
  • Nowadays, you can order shoes online and send them back if they don’t fit. So make sure to try different sizes before you settle on a pair of shoes that you like.
  • Ladies who wear high heels could alter between high heels and well fitted flat shoes. try to reduce the height of your heels whenever possible.
  • Replace your shoes often. The rule of thumb is that your shoes cannot carry you beyond 500 miles. After this the shoes get worn out at the heels and become uneven. The padding at key points get worn out. This leads to you adjusting your feet according to the shoes, leading to the formation of corns at the pressure points.
  • Remember to visit your shoe store in the evening to buy shes. Shoes bought as the day progresses fit better as your feet tend to swell at this time. If you buy shoes in the earlier part of the day, your shoes may feel tighter on your feet, thus causing friction.
  • A pedicure done at regular intervals can help maintain your toenails. Badly Kept nails that are long tend to push up against the shoe causing friction to the skin below the nail leading to corns and even bunions.

Leave a Comment