Our feet work hard day in day out and so it does not come as a surprise when they develop, infection. Some people are prone to developing blisters or callus in their feet. You may find that you develop calluses more quickly if you wear tight-fitted shoes for long periods or if you rub against the skin. A callus is a thick portion of the skin which has developed over time as a way of protecting the skin from further irritation and damage.
For guitarists and gymnasts, you will often develop a callus on their hands and fingers, but the feet callus can happen to anyone. In fact feet, a callus is the most common. Usually, calluses are not a severe health issue for individuals, but they can cause pain, especially when walking. This article is going to look into calluses treatment if they can go away on their own and ways to speed up recovery.
Will callus go away itself?
Do calluses on hands or foot go away itself?
Since calluses cause discomfort, many people believe that getting rid of calluses is essential. There are several over the counter medications wimped for callus treatment which is fast and effective. But some of us want the callus to clear on itself without any home or medical treatments performed on the callus. Fortunately, calluses can go away without any oral or topical medications. The only thing you need to do is get away of whatever is triggering calluses on your hands or feet.
Women who have calluses problem on their feet, it most probably because of the fashionable type of shoes they wear. The heels put friction and pressure from the whole body on the feet, next to the toes. As one put all the weight, the skin around this area starts to build a protective barrier by forming the hard surface. To get callus resulting from shoe pressure, one has to stop wearing the high heels. One can replace this type of shoe with the ones who put even amount of stress all over the foot skin.
Similarly, if calluses appear on the hands as a barrier against the friction of a ring, put off the ring for some time to reduce friction.
How long does it take for calluses to go away?
How long does it take for calluses to clear?
Calluses usually go away after one to four weeks if the individual having callus:
1. Stop the activity which is causing a callus
2. Stop wearing shoes which are causing the problem
3. Start a plan to protect or soften the skin.
4. To ensure that the callus disappear in one to four things, below are the things you should do,
5. Wear comfortable and breathable shoes until the callus goes away
6. If your general health is okay, you could want to try the following measures
- Use a pumice stone to rub away excess skin and soften your skin. Pumice works best after bathing. Keep doing this every day until the calluses or corn disappear.
- Wear a shielding pad on the area to keep it from happening again.
- You can buy salicylic liquid to soften and remove dead skin.
7. Smear a skin softening cream to help the skin return to normal and to prevent cracking of the callus.
How can I prevent calluses from forming on feet and hands?
It may be challenging to prevent calluses from developing on your hands, depending on the type of activity that causes them. In some situations, it is good to have calluses since they prevent blisters formation causes by several activities. Calluses on the feet are usually the most uncomfortable. The good thing is you can avoid getting them or help prevent them from coming back. The following activities will help you prevent callus formation.
- Wear shoes which fit you well and are delineated for pleasant walking, running, or standing
- Wear a shielding pad where you had a callus before to keep it from coming back
- Use a skin ointment to keep the skin soft
- Have shoe custom made for you
- Have a corrective surgery if you have a challenge with the bones in your foot that causes calluses to develop
How do I permanently get rid of calluses on my feet?
Calluses Treatment
Often you do not need to see a doctor provider for treatment. But you may need to see a foot care nurse if:
- A callus does not fade away and is painful
- A callus tends to crack open and has high possibility get infected
In this case, a doctor may do any of the following to treat the callus:
- Trim or remove the thickened skin.
- Commend surgery if you have a fixable physical deformity, such as a prominent or misshapen bone that is causing the callus.
- Fit the individual with a special insert for their shoe.
If you have diabetes, it is essential to inform your doctor if you have a callus. This is because the infection can result in chronic sores and skin ulcers. Ask the specialist how you can prevent calluses in the future and how you can take care of your foot while at home. If you would like to remove your calluses because you do not like how they look, there are some natural home remedies you can try.
Warm water: Before you try any other treatment, you might want to treat the callused region to a twenty-minute bath in warm water. Try to gently rub a layer of the callus away with your finger after towel-drying your skin.Throughout various soaking sessions, you may be able to remove the callus one layer at a time altogether. A simple warm-water soak is the first treatment recommended by doctors.
Non-medicated callus pads: Callus pads, comprising of feeling, silicone, and gentle adhesive, can be applied to the affected area and worn below socks, gloves, shoes, and shirts. These pads will prevent your callus from being irritated while it heals. According to medical advice, one should avoid medicated callus pads, which has salicylic acid- an ingredient that can irritate and break through your skin.
Apply apple cider vinegar: The acid property of apple cider vinegar can soften the hard skin of a callus. Combine a solution of four parts water and one part apple cider vinegar and soak your callus for about twenty minutes. After removing your skin from the soak, you might be able to peel better a layer of callus off. Do not pull the layer of callus too hard, and be patient with your callus. Tearing the skin around or on top of the callus can cause an infection.
Castor oil: Castor oil has properties that make it a natural skin lubricant. This can be helpful when you are trying to condition your skin to rub the callus off. Soak your callus in warm water mixed with five tablespoons of castor oil to lubricate the tough skin and soothe the affected region.
Calluses on feet won’t go away
If you have a callus which goes away but keeps coming back again and again, it is about time you consider a permanent cure so that it does not bring issues in the future. In this case, identifying the root cause of the callus will not help, but you need to see a doctor for proper treatment.
The doctor will then do a thorough foot examination can prescribe corrective orthotics to reduce the pressure from the callus, and thus allowing the patient to walk and move without pressure on the callus. If the doctor thinks that your callus is caused abnormal foot structure then medical graded corrective orthotics to correct the foot and lower limb or deformities helps resolve the challenge.
How do you get rid of calluses at home?
Callus home treatment
An individual can get rid of callus at home. Whereas it may take time and patience, regular exfoliation and moisturizing will help. One should refrain from using sharp objects to remove a callus. As doing this can injure the skin and cause bleeding and even infection. Below are the most common and effective home remedies for callus.
Use Epsom salts to treat feet or hands callus at home
Epsoms salts can soften callus in preparations for other treatments, such as manual exfoliation with a pumice stone. Put in a handful of Epsom salt to a warm foot bath, then soak the affected skin for 10 minutes. You can buy Epsom salt in a chemist or supermarket.
Exfoliate foot callus with a pumice stone
A pumice stone is a light porous stone which people use to exfoliate dead skin and callus. Immerse the feet in warm water for at least five to ten minutes then use the stone to remove dead cells. Repeat the procedure severally until the callus is gone. You can shop a pumice stone online or buy in a drugstore.
Exfoliate your feet with foot files to treat callus
A foot file is usually has a rubber or plastic handle. Soak your feet in warm water before filling. After filling down the callus, use a moisturizer to keep the skin soft. Foot files are available in online pharmacies.
Exfoliating creams as a callus treatment
Instead of exfoliating the skin manually, one can remove the dead skin cells with exfoliating creams or lotions.
Most of the products which work on callus usually have ingredients such as salicylic acid, urea or ammonium lactate.An individual may have to smear these every day to encourage the exfoliation of build-up skin cells.
The skin will soften with time, and the callus will eventually become unnoticeable. You can buy exfoliating creams online or in a supermarket. It is essential to check the labels first, as some of these products could contain harsh ingredients that may have an irritating effect on the skin. A doctor can recommend the best exfoliating cream.
How to use a baking soda paste to treat a callus
You can use baking soda paste instead of commercial exfoliating creams. To prepare one, mix two tablespoons of water with adequate baking soda to create a paste, then add some drops of lime juice. Apply the paste to the callused areas, and cover them with socks, gloves, or a gauze bandage. Repeat this measure every night until you get rid of callus completely. You can buy baking soda online or in a drugstore.
Using skin softening creams to treat foot callus
Apply heavy moisturizing creams or petroleum jelly such as vaseline on the calluses areas and leave it on overnight. Moisturizing will soften the calluses and prevent the skin from drying out. Wearing cotton gloves or socks after moisturizing will also help protect the area and lock in moisture while sleeping. A range of petroleum jelly is available for purchase in stores.
Buy protective cushions to help you remove feet callus
Minimizing the friction of pressure responsible for causing callus can pressurize the area to heal naturally. Calluses pads are a type of cushioned bandage that can protect or prevent callus. Calluses pad come in a range of sizes and shapes and many have been designed for the feet. If the callus is on the hand, wear protective or padded gloves to help protect calluses and allow them to heal over time. You can buy most calluses in the shop.
