How To Remove Calluses: DIY Yogurt & Vinegar Recipe
Calluses can be unsightly, but also uncomfortable and downright painful. Being one of the most common ailments, knowing how to remove calluses is very useful information to have.
This condition appears due to the constant wear and friction of the feet against shoes or the ground. When the soft skin gets damaged, your body produces even more skin cells, forming a “cushion” that will protect your skin. Although there are several radical treatments for feet calluses, today we’ll be sharing an easy, at-home DIY recipe to nourish the skin in your feet and help remove calluses. Keep reading!
Now that we’ve established that calluses appear when the skin is damaged or hurt, you can take measures to prevent and fix the problem. Calluses are more than an aesthetic issue: their presence tends to be painful and increase the risk of some infections. Learning how to remove calluses is essential to keeping your feet healthy and soft.
Preventing the appearance of calluses
The key here is simply avoiding damage and excessive rubbing. Many times, it comes down to the kind of shoes (or lack thereof) that you usually wear. A good rule of thumb is swapping shoes: it will rotate the points of friction and avoid too much damage to a single spot in your feet. Besides, it looks better!
On the other hand, several research groups have found a correlation between smoking and feet calluses. Although not definite, it’s another reason to lower your nicotine intake!
How to remove calluses
So, what happens if it’s already too late and you have calluses? Fear not: it’s such a common condition that there are lots of options for you. You can go to a dermatologist or podiatrist and get it surgically removed, you can also have them filed or you can go the natural route.
We’d rather have calluses slowly fade away than have them cut, so we’d come up with a great DIY recipe that will soften the skin and help fight off calluses.
Using vinegar and yogurt, this recipe has natural acids and hydrating substances that soften the hard skin while regulating the natural PH when absorbed. In addition, their anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties help to prevent infections. After a time, regulating your skin’s pH levels and avoiding excessive friction will improve the appearance of your feet and soften calluses.
The benefits of yogurt for the feet
The main benefit of yogurt for the feet is the high concentration of lactic acid. This compound regulates the natural PH of the skin (which is acid instead of basic), inhibits the growth of fungus, and at the same time facilitates the elimination of dead cells.
On the other hand, yogurt also contains important quantities of vitamins, minerals, and other hydrating substances. When absorbed, these soften the skin while accelerating the recovery process. All of these elements help to improve the look of feet in a matter of days!
Benefits of apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is one of the products which has been used the most in treating feet. Thanks to its acetic acid, it helps to soften calluses and prevent fungus growth. Acetic acid easily penetrates the skin, removing the impurities that accumulate on its surface and balancing the pH to control excess dryness.
Because of its acidity, the skin is better equipped to fight germs, which in turn helps to avoid some infections and the presence of unpleasant odors. Moreso, antioxidant properties apple cider vinegar has been reported to have that help keep your skin young and supple.
You might also want to read: Apple Cider Vinegar Beauty Secrets You Should Know
Recipe: DIY Yogurt and Vinegar foot mask
The ingredients used should be 100% organic. Flavored yogurt and refined vinegar do not have the same properties as the organic versions. Because of this, when purchasing these products, make sure that they are of the best quality in order to get the best results.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup of unflavored, unsweetened plain yogurt
- 1/4 cup of organic apple cider vinegar
Preparation
- Thoroughly mix the yogurt and vinegar in a bowl.
- Apply.
How to use
- At night before going to sleep, clean your feet well with unscented soap and water.
- Apply the mixture.
- Be sure to cover your feet generously, especially in the area of the calluses.
- Leave this on for 30 minutes.
- Afterward, soak your feet in warm water for 20 minutes.
- Then, rub your feet with a pumice stone to complete the effects of the treatment and remove dead cells.
- Soak your feet in the water once more, and dry well.
- Repeat daily until your feet have an improved appearance.
This mask will restore your skin’s pH levels, soften the skin and slowly remove calluses. They won’t completely go away with just one application, so you should keep using it several times until you notice healthier and more aesthetic feet.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
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Yeom G, Yun DM, Kang YW, Kwon JS, Kang IO, Kim SY. Clinical efficacy of facial masks containing yoghurt and Opuntia humifusa Raf. (F-YOP). J Cosmet Sci. 2011;62(5):505-514.
- Yagnik, D., Serafin, V., & J Shah, A. (2018). Antimicrobial activity of apple cider vinegar against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans; downregulating cytokine and microbial protein expression. Scientific reports, 8(1), 1732. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-18618-x