Sea Salt: An Excellent Home Remedy For Corns And Calluses

Health & Medical Blog

Corns and calluses appear when a certain portion of the foot is repeatedly exposed to friction or pressure. Calluses are simply thickened portions of skin, while corns are somewhat more severe – they tend to have softer centers and hard, callus-like outsides. Minor corns and calluses don't usually require medical treatment. If you address them early, you can usually stop their development before they become too painful or require surgical removal by a podiatrist.

The first step in dealing with corns and calluses is to identify and amend the cause. In most cases, the cause is ill-fitting shoes. Switching to looser, softer shoes will help keep the corns and calluses from getting worse. In the meantime, you can use sea salt as a home remedy to scrub away your corns and soften the skin.

Why Sea Salt is a Great Choice for Corns and Calluses

Sea salt is a mild abrasive, but it dissolves slowly in water, so it does not have a "sharp" feeling that would irritate the sensitive skin surrounding your corns or calluses. Sea salt is all natural, and it won't irritate any cracked skin or open sores on your feet – in fact, it may help dry and heal them.

Making Your Own Sea Salt Scrub

To make a sea salt scrub to use on your corns, simply combine ¼ cup coarse sea salt, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and a few drops of a mild body wash. Then, use your hands to rub this mixture over your corns and calluses for about 5 minutes per day. Rinse the scrub away, and enjoy your smoother, less sore feet.

How to Proceed if Your Corns Don't Improve

After changing to more spacious, comfortable shoes (ladies, ditch your heels), and using sea salt to scrub your calluses and corns each day for about 2 weeks, you should notice an improvement in your corns. If they appear to be still growing or are still quite sore to the touch, you can:

• Try using a pumice stone to wear down the calluses or corns. Stop if this causes you any pain.
• Visit a podiatrist, like Pinker & Associates, to have your corns professionally trimmed. Don't attempt to trim them yourself, as you may damage the surrounding sensitive skin.

Corns and calluses can be quite a nuisance. Not only do they feel sore when you press on them, but they also look unsightly. Catch yours early, and start treating them with sea salt today. With any luck, you'll be back on your feet in no time.

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9 January 2015