How to Use Bread & Lemon to Remove Calluses and Corns
The pictures of smooth pampered skin that surround us on TV, in magazines, and throughout movies just aren’t realistic. Reality is that the majority of people use their bodies (you know, walk around, garden, and what not) and eventually our daily routines start to wear on our skin. After a while this repeated friction forms a hardened patch of skin, known as a callus (or a corn, if it is shaped/behaves a certain way.) While not generally much of a problem, if you want to get rid of this tough patch of skin for some reason, try using these simple methods instead of purchasing store bought creams.
Bread & Vinegar “Bandage”
This “bandage” (or paste, if that’s how you decide to make it) sounds strange and off-putting, but works well!
Why bread: The bread is mostly a means of application, and has become the preferred method thanks to it being embedded in natural remedy lore. Using bread also means you have the option to make a paste as well, and you don’t have to waste a sponge!
Why vinegar: Vinegar is anti-fungal and antibacterial properties, and the liquid with its high acidity level helps to soften the callused skin.
You will need…
-A piece of bread
-1 cup Apple cider vinegar or white distilled vinegar (roughly)
-gauze or thin fabric
-adhesive tape
-pumice stone (optional)
Directions
If you have one, file the callus slightly with a pumice stone. Pour 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar (or white distilled vinegar) into a bowl. Drop in a half slice of bread and let it soak.
When it is thoroughly soaked through, rest directly on your callus and wrap in gauze, before securing the gauze with adhesive or medical tape. You can also mash up the bread and form a paste to smear on and then wrap gauze over that. The size of bread and the amount of vinegar can be varied depending on the size of the area you want to cover.
Lemon Paste
Rub this simple paste on a callus or corn to soften it as often as needed.
Why lemon juice: The high acidity of the lemon juice works to soften the hardened skin that makes up your callus/corn. It’s a way to soften it other than simply soaking it.
Why olive oil: The olive oil will moisten your skin and counteract the astringent properties of the lemon juice to ensure your skin does not dry out.
Why baking soda: The crystals in sodium bicarbonate will exfoliate your skin, scrubbing away dead cells, while it also has antifungal and antibacterial properties. It also helps the paste retain consistency and stay moist.
You will need…
-several tablespoons of lemon juice
-2 teaspoons of olive oil
-Baking soda
Directions
Mix together 2 or 3 tablespoons of lemon juice and 2 teaspoons of olive oil.
Add baking soda until a paste thick enough to stay in place forms.
Store in a container with a tightly fitting lid away from direct sunlight, and apply as often as needed. Cover with gauze or another thin fabric if you don’t want to get the paste on anything.
Sometimes a callus is a useful thing, and sometimes we want to get rid of it. If you decide you don’t want that little tough patch of skin any longer, these remedies are a simple and easy way to get it to go away. Not only are these methods simple and effective, but they cost much less than store-bought stuff as well.
We Want to Hear from You! Let us know which remedies work and do not work for you, ask a question or leave a comment:
great ideas guys really enjoy your site…..way to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i just tried the lemon paste…. it started foaming so much >,< that it got dry and crumbly again ^^" but a little water did the trick ^^ i'm curious about the results… last time i got rid of a corn using lactic acid and freezing it nitrogen…. took weeeeeks of going to the docs x.x and watching that i don't get the acid on healthy skin -.- anyway thx for the recipe xoxox
Good thinking with the water bit! I haven’t had mine get dry and crumbly that quickly, but sometimes after its been stored it needs a little re-hydrating, which I usually do with a tad more lemon juice. I hope it works out for you 🙂
How long do you leave the vinegar bread on? Come to think of it, I didn’t see how long to leave any of these recipes on the skin.
I did this last night. It really does work. I soaked the bread leaving it whole like a vinegar soaked sponge. Apply it to the heals of my feet wrapping it plastic wrap to hold in place. Left it on for about two hours. I used the foot file with blade to remove the softened callus then a pumice stone to smooth the skin… Thank you everydayroots for sharing this home remedy 🙂
I am enjoying the fresh simple root recipes!
Hi, Can you plz tell me whats the end result of baking soda and lime mixture. Does the corn come out automatically or do we need to remove it by cutting. Also for how many days shall we repeat this procedure and for how many days can we store the mixture.
just wanted to know how long do I keep the paste on ? I have been trying everything for calluses on my heels and they come back harder..So embarrassing ..
I tried the soaked bread in apple cider vinegar for two days. It took the pain away but not the callus.
Then I went to a podiatrist and he removed it, he said it will be back. :*(