Calluses are one of the most stubborn skin problems to deal with and in this article, we’ll be discussing some of the ways that you can remove them.
A lot of people take pride in having soft skin as a result of moisturising it daily and altering their diet, but neither of these things can completely prevent calluses from arising. The fact is, if you’re constantly on your feet and you’re unknowingly wearing shoes which are bad for your feet, then it’s very likely that you’ll get calluses at some point in your life.
Fortunately, while they can be frustrating to deal with, it’s not impossible to get rid of them and in this article, we’re going to show you some of the ways to do so.
What are Calluses and What Causes Them?
Let’s start off by saying that calluses are not dangerous by any means, nor will they cause you any further health issues, but they can be very irritating to deal with and if you don’t deal with them, they’ll worsen over time.
Simply put, calluses are hard patches of skin which can be painful (although not always) and which can cause the skin around that area to be flaky and itchy. Calluses are caused by excessive amounts of friction on your feet, having sweaty feet, or wearing shoes that don’t fit right – they are not limited to your feet but can also be found on your elbows, knees, or hands.
Some people are able to avoid calluses by resting their feet for a few days and moisturising them, but the majority of people will have a more difficult experience. For this reason, we’re going to be digging into how you can remove them from home.
Removing Calluses
Below we have detailed some of the best treatments that you can use at home to remove calluses from your feet.
Soak Your Feet Daily.
Soaking your feet in warm water can go a long way not only for removing calluses but for preventing infections and keeping your feet clean. Take about 20 minutes out of your day to soak your feet in a basin full of warm water - mixed with baking soda or salt, if possible, as baking soda will help to remove any dead skin and the salt will help to prevent the exposed skin from becoming infected.
After you have soaked your feet, you can wash them using soap if you’d like, before soaking them for another few minutes and thoroughly drying them. Make sure to dry your feet properly otherwise you’ll risk a fungal infection (such as athlete’s foot).
Applying Lactic Acid Foot Cream.
Many people don’t use lactic acid food cream as they’re supposed to, which means they don’t get the results that they were hoping for. Apply lactic acid foot cream to the part of your foot with calluses on it before you go to bed. Many people use it first thing in the morning but when your body is asleep, your body can regenerate skin at a faster rate, making the cream more effective during this time.
After applying the cream, consider wearing a sock to make sure that you don’t get cream all over your floor. That being said, it shouldn’t take long for it to be absorbed by your skin, so you can put your feet up for a few minutes to let it dry in, before going to bed.
You should only use this cream on areas of your skin which has been affected by callus as if it is used on healthy skin, it will do more harm than good – however, if you notice the early stages of calluses then use it appropriately.
Use a Callus Removing Device.
Some callus removers are advanced and overly expensive, although you can get a reasonably priced electric callus remover to remove the outer layer of your foot’s callus. If you haven’t used one of them before then expect there to be a mess – the hard skin will be “sanded” off and there will be skin powder everywhere.
Don’t use this device excessively because if too much of the skin is removed at once, you might go too deep and harm your healthy skin, which can be pretty painful. Take off a thin layer every few nights, so that the skin has time to heal, until you have completely removed the callus. While it depends on how bad the callus on your feet is, it should take no more than a few weeks to eliminate.
After using a callus remover, either take a shower to clean your feet or have another foot bath. Again, make sure that you don’t use the callus remover for too long as you’ll risk breaking your skin and as a result, will be risking an infection.
Moisturise Daily.
Moisturising is a great way to keep not only your feet soft, but all of your skin. By moisturising daily (preferably after showering) you can prevent callus from occurring and if it has already happened, you can get rid of it over time.
Moisturising your feet to get rid of callus is a bit of a gamble which is why using a callus remover alongside lactic acid foot cream is your best approach. However, using moisturising to prevent callus has proven to be effective, so it’s definitely worth moisturising your feet once a day.
Contact a Podiatrist.
If you have recurring problems with your feet then it’s likely that something’s isn’t right. Whether it be a health problem, or you simply aren’t aware of something that you should be doing to take better care of your feet, contacting a podiatrist is going to be worth your time.
They will ask you some questions about how you take care of your feet, what types of shoes you wear, and will most likely examine them. After your appointment, you’ll be in a better place to take care of them and should it be necessary, they may provide you with treatment to help deal with your callus or any other issues that you’ve experienced.
Wear Cushioned Shoes.
Lastly, having cushions inside of your shoes can help to reduce the amount of pressure that is being inflicted onto the soles of your feet as you walk. As a result, it’s less likely for you to get calluses on your feet. On the other hand, if you already have callus and it’s been causing your discomfort, cushioned shoes can alleviate the pain and make it easier to go about your day until the callus is gone.
On top of all this, having cushioned shoes are generally much comfier than standard insoles, so it’s definitely worth investing in a high-quality set of cushioned insoles!
To Conclude…
While getting rid of your calluses is going to take a lot of work and you’ll need to get into a routine of taking care of your feet to prevent them in the future, it’s worth it in the long haul. The odds are that you’ll experience calluses on your feet at some point in your life and when the time comes, you can use what we’ve taught you in this article to get rid of them and enjoy having soft skin once again.
