What are Corns?
Corns are abnormalities of the foot that are caused by increased use of the feet. Because walking places pressure on the feet, it can lead to foot problems such as corns. Corns are calluses that develop on the toes because the bones inside the feet push next to a person’s shoe and place pressure on the skin.
The surface of the skin thickens and irritates the tissues of the foot. A hard corn is normally found on the top of a toe or on the side of the smaller toe. If the corn is soft, it appears to be an open sore and develops between the toes as they rub against each other.
While walking causes you to place pressure on your feet that is about three times your weight, the real reason for corns is the footwear. The wrong shoes will cause corns to ultimately form. By switching your footwear and using certain essential oils, you can get rid of the distress that is associated with corns.
Signs and Symptoms
You have a corn on your feet if you notice the following:
- A raised and hardened bump on the foot
- A rough or thick area of skin
- Skin that is flaky, dry, or waxy in appearance
- If the corn becomes painful or noticeably inflamed, you should consult with a foot doctor right way. Any patient who suffers from fragile skin, poor blood flow, or issues with numbness should speak to his or her doctor before treating a corn with an essential oil or a home remedy.
Some doctors may cut away some of the corn with a scalpel to relieve the pressure. Never cut off a corn yourself as it could become infected.
Causes of Corns
Calluses develop wherever there is continued friction. A soft corn is thinner and normally develops between the fourth and fifth toe.While corns form at pressure points at the sides or the toes or bottom of the feet, calluses are usually painless and thick.
Seed corns are very tiny and also extremely tender. They are often located on the weight-bearing area of a foot.
Corns develop for the following reasons:
● The person’s shoes do not fit right. If shoes are too tight, they place pressure on the foot and cause calluses or sores. If the shoes are too loose, they cause the feet to rub against the shoe, which leads to foot problems.
● Deformities of the foot, such as a claw toe or hammer toe, can increase the development of corns.
● Shoes with high heels increase pressure on the front of the foot, which leads to corns.
● If socks do not fit right, corns may develop.
● Corns may develop if the feet rub against a stitch or seam inside the shoes.
● Seed corns, which normally appear on the bottom of the feet, result from sweat ducts that are plugged.
● Walking barefoot or jogging in a certain way may cause a corn to develop.
● Older people may develop corns because they have less fatty tissue or less padding in the foot area.
Some Facts about Corns
A corn is a type of callus except it is made up of dead skin cells. Corns typically develop on hairless skin surfaces or on the side and top of toes. They are circular and small in appearance and have a center that may either be soft or hard.
Hard corns usually appear at sites where the skin is hard and firm or where the skin is thickened. They may also develop in areas that display calluses or in the bony areas of a foot.
Soft corns look whitish in hue and display a rubber-like texture. They usually form in between toes or at sites where the skin tends to perspire more.
While a corn is not considered harmful, it can get infected or trigger skin ulcers. This is especially true for people who have poor circulation in the feet or who are diabetic.
Regular Treatment for Corns
There are a number of regular treatments to help you get rid of your corns or calluses. Most over the counter corn treatments work by paring down the thick dead skin. They all contain salicylic acid as the active ingredient which is also used to treat warts.
Salicylic acid works by dissolving keratin, a protein which makes up the bulk of the corn as well as the dead layer of skin on top. These products are considered safe for topical use but they can irritate the surrounding areas of skin and can cause a reaction in some people. Salicylic acid based treatments come in various forms including pads, plasters and drops.
These over the counter remedies turn the skin a white color and allow you to peel away or trim off the thick tissue meaning the corn or callus protrudes less and causes less pain.
Diabetics should not usually use a salycilic acid treatment and it should not be used on areas of the skin that are frail or have poor circulation. There are concerns about the skin healing process and alycilic acid may lead to ulcers forming beneath the skin.
If your corn or callus has become infected, antibiotics may be prescribes. In extreme cases where the corn is very severe or too advanced, the doctor may recommend it is surgically shaved.
The good news for anybody that is worried about using chemicals on their skin is that essential oils provide a more gentle solution with far fewer risks of side effects.
Essential Oils for Corns
Corns can be treated by one or more various essential oils. When essential oils are used for treatment, the patient should also switch his or her shoes. Because the shoes are the cause of most problems with corns, it is important to wear the right footwear.
Besides wearing the right footwear, certain essential oils, as noted, are recommended for use. These oils are described below. By applying certain oils, you will be able to walk without a problem and take on a whole new stride.
Why Use Essential Oils?
While the regular treatments for corns and calluses are effective, not everyone will want to apply salycilic acid to their skin or take antibiotics leave alone undergo intrusive removal surgery. As well as being unsafe for diabetics and pregnant women, many people will suffer the adverse effects from the pharmaceutical treatments on offer. If you looking for a safer and more gentle way of treating your corns, essential oil can be equally as effective.
Essential oils have an amazing range of benefits both internally and externally and are known to help treat a diverse range of physical and emotional conditions. When it comes to treating corns, calluses and warts, there are a number of potentially effective essential oils. Many are rich in antibacterial, antiseptic and anti-fungal compounds that work extremely well on the skin.
These oils have a very long history of topical use for a wide variety of skin issues. They can help restore your skin’s natural tone and beauty as well as treating various inflammatory skin conditions, rashes, injuries, bruises and of course corns and calluses.
As well as helping to treat and heal the corn, essential oils can also reduce the thickening of tissue, reduce pain and tenderness, fade any discoloration and soften and soothe the skin. Their antiseptic and antibacterial properties also helps clean the area of your corn and prevents infection from taking hold.
The Best Essential Oils for Corns
If you have corns or calluses, the following essential oils are some of the best oils to help treat you and speed up the skin’s recovery.
Tea Tree Oil
This oil, which is extracted from the leaves of the tea tree in Australia, is regarded highly for its ability tom treat the skin. Many studies have demonstrated that tea tree oil has excellent antiseptic, anti-fungal, and antibacterial properties. (1)
The oil is widely acclaimed for use in treating and disinfecting scrapes and other skin abrasions. Whether you have corns or calluses, tea tree oil is an excellent treatment and remedy. It should never be ingested and should be diluted with a carrier oil before applying it to the affected area.
Garlic oil is considered a great antioxidant and is used for an array of disorders and diseases. The oil has been used since ancient times in the production of Asian medicines.
Scientists can confirm that the oil from the garlic plant contains a number of vitamins and antioxidants that can treat corns admirably. Any oil with antioxidant qualities can be used to fight fungal and bacterial infections, both of which are related to the later phase of a corn’s development.
While most people are surprised that turpentine can be used to treat corns, it does contain benefits that are undervalued. Turpentine essential oil can clear both corns and calluses. When it is absorbed into the skin, it reduces pain and prevents infection. Usually, corns or calluses weaken and eventually shed.
Peppermint essential oil is derived from the leaves of the peppermint plant and is known for both its therapeutic and medicinal abilities. The stimulating effects of the oil make it an ideal oil to use to treat pain, bruising, or inflammations. The oil, which contains menthol, provides sedative effects that soothe any joint or muscle pain.
Roman Chamomile Oil
This aromatic oil can treat various diseases and conditions. Because the oil has inflammatory qualities, Roman chamomile essential oil can be used to soften and soothe calluses and corns. When the oil is applied directly, a corn ultimately vanishes.
Clove Essential Oil
Clove essential oil is another very powerful treatment for corns and calluses. It has excellent antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties as well as noted antiviral properties that can help treat corns very effectively. (2)
Clove essential oil is also unique when it comes to treating corns because it actually numbs the skin making it a great choice for painful corns, calluses or even warts. You should dilute your clove oil before applying it to the affected area twice each day. Alternatively, add 20 drops of clove oil; to a tub of warm water and use it as a daily foot bath.
This oil is great to use for getting rid of corns. You can apply a couple drops of oregano oil daily until the corn gets smaller and eventually fades.
This powerful oil also contains anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal and antioxidant properties as well as being an effective natural pain killer. Oregano oil also contains a compound called carvacrol which researchers have analyzed for its antiviral uses. (3)
You must dilute oregano essential oil before applying it to your skin and it is not recommended for pregnant women.
When used directly on a corn, lavender essential oil can get rid of the growth in a relatively shirt amount of time. You need to apply the oil about three times each day for the best results. Use a dropper when applying the oil.
How to Use Essential Oils
When treating corns, you can apply the essential oils directly to the site. You should first dilute them with a carrier oil but many people use them in their pure form to treat corns more quickly. You can also create recipes that can be used as a foot soak to treat both calluses and corns.
For example, you can add seven drops of chamomile essential oil with five drops of garlic oil and include nine drops of oregano oil with three teaspoons of Epsom salt. Place all the oils in warm water in a foot spa or bath and add the Epsom salts. Soak your feet about 20 minutes while massaging them.
You can also create a recipe for corns that includes the following ingredients:
- 2 drops of myrrh oil
- 7 drops of oregano oil
- 4 drops of basil oil
- 2 drops of blue cypress oil
- 1/4 teaspoon of jojoba oil
After you have blended the ingredients, apply a drop to the corn two to three times daily. After a while, the corn will eventually dissolve. Undiluted lavender oil or tea tree oil can be applied directly two to three times per day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best oil to use to treat corns?
Any essential oil that is recommended to get rid of corns will treat the growth and cause it to dissolve. You just need to be patient during the process. You can obtain great results by using any of the above-listed oils or recipes. Whether you use the oils in a foot bath or apply them directly, they will give you the results you need.
What type of shoes should be worn to prevent future corns?
Do not wear high heels or shoes where the foot is squeezed in at the top. Make sure that you have room at the top of the shoe and that you are comfortable when you walk. While some shoes are stylish, they also cause foot conditions that are painful and disruptive to a person’s daily life.
Essential carrier oils can be used to get rid of corns and calluses. You just need to experiment a little and make sure that you switch your shoes. You do not have to suffer from foot problems when you learn the proper way to walk or jog or wear footwear that is comfortable. Essential oils can be applied directly to a corn or they can be used together in a recipe for a foot bath.
Apart from essential oils, there are also a number of other home remedies for corns and calluses. Check out the following link if you would like to learn more. Natural remedies for corns and calluses.