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Corns are thick, hard areas of skin most commonly found on the joints of your toes and the sides of your toes. They are small and painful.
They are different from calluses, which are thick, hard areas of skin that typically form on the soles and sides of the feet.
According to Dr. Oz:
If you were to saw the skin in half and look inside, you would see a big difference between a Corn and a Callus. With a Callus, you would just see a buildup of Epidermis Tissue, which generally does not hurt and can be cut off. A Corn though looks like a deep triangle that goes into your skin and can touch your nerves, which is what causes a lot of pain. Source
See how corns and calluses look different.
What Causes Corns?
Corns can be caused by:
- Shoes that do not fit properly — such as shoes that are too tight or the wrong size to begin with.
- Feet that experience prolonged pressure inside shoes — such as high heels and pointy-toed shoes.
- Bad posture habits — such as walking on the side of your foot.
Following are 3 natural cures for corns…
#1 Epsom Salts
Epsom salts can help to loosen the dead skin that hardens and forms into corns.
How To Use It: Add 1 cup of Epsom salts to a bowl of warm water and soak your feet in the liquid for 20 to 30 minutes. Once the Epsom salts have softened and loosened the dead skin, use a pumice stone to gently remove the skin. Alternatively, you can try using 1 cup of baking soda instead of Epsom salts.
#2 Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is known for its many health and beauty benefits. One of the many uses for this natural product is in the treatment of corns.
How To Use It: Soak a cotton wool ball in apple cider vinegar and gently squeeze out any excess liquid. Apply the moist cotton ball directly to the corn and hold in place using surgical tape. For maximum benefit, apply the compress before going to bed and leave on until morning.
#3 Castor Oil
Castor oil is an old remedy used for treating many different ailments, including corns. It is inexpensive and can be bought at most pharmacies and health food stores.
How To Use It: Apply a thick layer of castor oil directly to your corn. Cover the treated area with a piece of gauze and hold it in place with surgical tape. Reapply the dressing 2 to 3 times a day, adding an extra-thick layer before going to bed at night.
More Foot Corn Treatment Options
Who knew that I'd be writing about feet for a living?!… Or even that a website devoted solely to feet, shoes, and foot care issues would be successful? But as it turns out, many people have questions and concerns about their feet — and we do our best to provide the most helpful answers here. Myself and a handful of others who happen to have some rather unique foot issues share our firsthand experiences with everything from ingrown toenails, bunions, calluses and rough feet to trendy shoes and helpful foot modeling tips. When I'm not writing about all things below the ankle, you will find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites).
