A corn is a small patch of thickened skin that can occur anywhere on the foot in areas of high pressure. This is usually due to ill-fitting footwear or overuse of the foot in sports or exercise. Pain occurs when the combination of constant pressure and friction causes the skin to thicken and form a corn in order to protect itself. Hard corns frequently occur as a thickening of the skin on the outer or upper surfaces of the toes, but can also appear between the toes.

Step 1

Decide if your foot soak should be in a basin or bathtub. Portable basins are more convenient if you wish to do other things during your foot soak, such as working, reading or watching television. There are many inexpensive foot soaking basins available online or at your local pharmacy.

Step 2

Fill the basin or tub with just enough warm water to cover your feet. Be careful not to make the water too hot since you need to be able to soak your feet comfortably for 15-20 minutes. Add peppermint, lavender and chamomile oils, all known for their excellent skin softening properties and success in eliminating corns. Perform this foot soak at least once daily until the corn is removed.

Step 3

Dry feet by patting gently. Use a pumice stone to gently scrub and further exfoliate the newly-softened skin and to help prevent new corns from forming.

Step 4

Massage your feet thoroughly with a lotion that contains skin-softening oils and moisturizers. Vitamin E oil can also be rubbed directly onto the corn.