What are the effective remedies for calluses on the feet and hands?

Not only cracked skin, calluses are often a complaint of many people because they feel they interfere with appearance. Although it is not dangerous, you should not underestimate this condition. Do some treatment using calluses medicine.

How to treat calluses at home

Calluses indicate thickening of the skin. Calluses can occur on the hands, elbows, knees, but most commonly affect the soles of the feet. This condition occurs due to friction and excessive pressure or skin irritation on the soles of your feet.

In addition to feeling thickened when touched, calluses also make the skin turn pale yellow. This condition not only causes the feet to feel uncomfortable when rubbing against the footwear or the floor, pain can sometimes occur.

Since this skin disease is caused by thickening of the skin, the solution is to scrape the thickened surface of the skin. Luckily, you can do this step yourself at home.

Start by soaking the affected foot or hand in warm water. This method can help get rid of calluses on the feet by softening the buildup of the skin, making it easier to clean.

Also prepare tools scrubbing like a pumice stone or brush. Then, soak your feet for 10 minutes in the solution. After that, rub the soles of your feet with a tool that has been dipped in water so that the accumulated skin comes off.

After scrubbing, rinse your feet with clean water and pat dry using a soft towel. Apply a moisturizer to make the skin soft.

You can also use foot files . Foot flies is a special tool to help exfoliate accumulated dead skin cells.

Shaped like a comb vent brush brushless, but equipped with metal and rubber or rubber grips. You can use this tool like rubbing a pumice stone.

However, beforehand you need to soak your feet in warm water. Use after you shower, rinse thoroughly, and apply with a moisturizer so that the skin does not dry out and remains smooth.

Medicines and medical treatment for calluses

If after treatment the calluses on the skin show no change and instead cause discomfort, the doctor will prescribe some medication or perform other procedures that can help get rid of the calluses. Here are the various options.

Salicylic acid drugs

Creams or lotions containing salicylic acid are one of the most commonly prescribed medications for calluses. Sometimes, salicylic acid drugs are also given in the form of a plaster.

Salicylic acid is a keratolytic drug used to treat problems that make the skin thick, scaly, and dry.

These drugs work to soften keratin, the protein that makes up the bulk of the skin's structure. Using this medication can help loosen scaly skin so that it is easy to remove.

The dose of use will be adjusted to your skin condition. To be sure, you should use the medicine in accordance with what has been recommended by the doctor.

Antibiotic drugs

Sometimes, when calluses have become infected, the doctor will give antibiotics to kill or inhibit bacterial growth. The types of drugs given can vary, depending on your condition.

When undergoing treatment with antibiotics, remember to take the medication at the specified time. Do not skip taking medication or stop medication without consulting your doctor.

Operation

A new operation will be performed if you have deformities in your feet and toes that are causing repeated calluses, or if they are so painful that it is difficult for you to walk.

Surgery is the last procedure to be performed after other treatments have failed.

Usually this procedure involves removing or repairing the bone tissue structure. Although effective, this procedure does not guarantee that calluses will not recur.

Natural remedy for calluses

There are several natural ingredients that can be used to help treat calluses. However, keep in mind, natural remedies may not work effectively for everyone.

You should make sure that you don't have an allergic reaction to a particular ingredient before deciding to use it. These natural ingredients include.

Baking soda

Baking soda or baking soda, is often used as a natural remedy for several skin problems, one of which is calluses on the soles of the feet. The method is quite easy, namely make a baking soda paste and apply it on the legs.

Mix 2 tablespoons of water with baking soda in a container. Then, stir evenly to form a paste. Add a few drops of lime juice and stir again until blended.

Clean the feet first and pat dry. Apply the paste on the soles of the feet, cover with a sock or gauze bandage so that the paste does not contaminate the surrounding objects. Perform this callused foot treatment every night regularly and clean it the next day.

Epsom salt

Also called magnesium sulfate, Epsom salts are made from chemical compounds containing magnesium, sulfur, and oxygen. This salt has a function as a natural exfoliator that can help exfoliate skin cells.

To use this ingredient as a calluses medicine, you just need to mix 2-3 tablespoons of salt into a basin of water. Then, soak the calloused feet and hands in the solution.

Tea tree oil

This essential oil contains natural antifungal, antibacterial and antiseptic components. By mixing it in a bowl of water, skin that was rough will be softer.

Remember, don't soak your hands or feet for more than 15 minutes. Because, the content tea tree oil (tea tree oil) is very strong and can damage the skin layers if exposed to it for too long.

To be more effective, pay attention to some of these things

So that the healing process is faster and calluses no longer recur, follow some of the tips recommended by Nada Elbuluk, MD, FAAD, an assistant lecturer in dermatology at NYU Langone Medical Center.

• Don't be too hard when rubbing thickened skin. This can cause the skin to become thin and prone to injury, bleeding, and infection.
• Always apply moisturizer after treatment so that the skin does not dry out.
• Use socks or pads in your shoes so that you don't put too much pressure on your feet and cause calluses.
• Use shoes that fit the right size and are suitable for the activity. This is done to avoid friction on the feet.