Starting Point

If home remedies don't help in easing corns and calluses, and they continue to cause discomfort or pain, it's best to consult your doctor. This is especially important for individuals with diabetes or poor circulation due to the higher risk of infection.

Normally, corns and calluses don't require immediate medical attention. However, certain conditions warrant a visit to the hospital's Emergency Department or a healthcare professional:

• Redness spreading around the affected area
• Fluid draining from the area or nearby
• Increased pain and swelling
• Fever
• Changes in the color of fingers or toes
• Signs of gangrene (tissue decay)

Self-Care at Home

Use protective coverings or bandages over the affected area to reduce friction on the skin until it heals.

• Apply moisturizers like lotions to dry calluses and corns.
• Gently smooth out hardened, thickened areas with sandpaper disks or a pumice stone.
• Protect your hands or feet from excessive stress by wearing gloves or changing footwear.
• Soak your feet or hands in lukewarm soapy water to soften corns and calluses.

Follow-up Care

Regular monitoring is crucial for persistent corns and calluses that don't improve with treatment, as well as for signs of infection or severe pain.

Prevention Strategies

Wear gloves to protect your hands.

Make sure your shoes and socks fit well and don't cause friction.

Use felt pads over bony areas prone to increased skin friction.

Consider corrective surgical procedures for bony abnormalities.

Keep your hands and feet adequately moisturized.

Outcome

Once corns and calluses are treated and the underlying causes are addressed, complete recovery is possible.