Try these home remedies to get rid of corns and calluses naturally without expensive medicines or a doctor's visit.
7 Home Remedies to Remove Corns and Calluses on Feet Overnight
Updated on Jan. 28, 2025
While not always a cause for concern, corns and calluses may need to be removed if they’re causing persistent pain, says Nicole Nicolosi, DPM, a foot and ankle surgeon in the Orthopedic Institute at Cleveland Clinic. While this can (and sometimes must) be performed in a doctor’s office, experts say there are a few at-home hacks to help you start to remove corns on your feet overnight.
These thickened layers of skin develop to protect your feet from persistent pressure, rubbing, or friction—a process called hyperkeratosis. “They are both problematic in that they can lead to pain and discomfort when walking,” Dr. Nicolosi says. “In the diabetic population, if calluses are not removed, they may result in ulceration and infection.”
What is a corn?
“Corns have a small, circular shape and form on the top or side of the toe, often over bony prominences,” says Suganthi Kandasamy, MD, MPH, a podiatrist at UT Southwestern. A corn forms as a protective measure to prevent more serious skin ulceration, typically in response to repetitive friction or pressure. This could occur from:
- Wearing shoes that are too tight/don’t fit properly
- Not wearing socks with shoes
- Physical activity that puts heavy pressure on your feet
- Foot deformities
Hammer toes, bony deformities, and other foot irregularities can contribute to corns, explains John Giurini, DPM, the co-director of the Foot & Ankle Center of Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians and Associate Professor in Surgery at Harvard Medical School. Corns tend to look flesh-colored, dry, hard, and rough with a whitish center. It may not hurt when you touch it, but can be painful when walking or standing up—especially as it grows thicker.
There are three main types of corns:
- Hard corn: the most common type, a small buildup of dead skin with a packed center
- Soft corn: whitish, almost rubbery bump of skin that tends to form between the toes
- Seed corn: smaller and often painful, typically forming on the soles of the feet
Research published in StatPearls in 2023 says that certain people are more at risk of developing corns, including:
- People with darker skin tones
- Older age groups, due to the loss of protective fat cushioning
- Women, particularly due to wearing narrow shoes and heels
- People with diabetes
- People with foot deformities
What is a callus?
Calluses are also thickened areas of skin that develop in response to repetitive pressure or friction—again, this skin response aims to protect the area under stress. In contrast to corns, Dr. Kandasamy says, “Calluses can vary in size and form on the soles of the feet, particularly in weight-bearing areas like the ball of the foot or heels.”
Like corns, improper shoes, physical activities, and foot deformities can all contribute to callus formation. If you have a job that requires you to spend long amounts of time on your feet, that can increase your risk of calluses as well. People with diabetes are at a greater risk for problems associated with calluses, too. That’s because diabetes can cause nerve damage—and therefore loss of sensation in the feet—so individuals might not feel the initial pain and irritation.
Calluses tend to look like rough, yellowish patches of skin and are often less sensitive to the touch than the surrounding skin. According to the Cleveland Clinic, some degree of callus formation on the bottom of your foot is normal, but if an area thickens and hardens to the point of persistent pain, the callus should be removed, Dr. Nicolosi explains.
What’s the difference between a corn and a callus?
The most notable difference between a corn and a callus is that they tend to form in different spots on the feet.
Calluses are usually found on the soles of the feet. Corns are more likely to occur on the top of the feet and over the toes, Dr. Giurini explains. Corns can appear:
- On the top of the toes
- On the outer edge of your pinky toe
- In between your toes, including within the skin webbing
- On the soles of the feet (though this is less common)
While Dr. Giurini says you can use at-home treatments and over-the-counter meds to treat corns and calluses, they do often come back (unless you fix the structural or pressure-based problem). In the meantime, try these remedies to remove corns on feet overnight naturally.
How to remove corns and calluses naturally
Corns and calluses are fairly common—the StatPearls research suggests that up to 48% of people get corns on their feet, and nearly everyone experiences calluses at some point.
But if they cause pain, it’s important to remove corns and calluses before they develop into a bigger problem. “In general, we recommend removing the source of pressure to decrease the development of corns or calluses in the first place,” Dr. Kandasamy says.
However, corns and calluses generally don’t go away on their own. So while you can take steps to prevent them from coming back, here’s what the experts say you can do to get rid of them first.
1. Exfoliate with a pumice stone
Dr. Giurini says the simplest thing to do with corns and calluses is to shave them down. Here’s what to do:
- Soak your feet in warm water for about 10 minutes.
- Then take a wet pumice stone to the infected area and gently rub the callus or corn in a circular motion.
- Rinse and dry your feet.
- Apply lotion, preferably one containing vitamin E, to your feet.
- Repeat a couple of days a week until you’re happy with the results.
Here’s how to use a pumice stone to get the best results.
2. Apply apple cider vinegar
Most over-the-counter creams include an acid (typically salicylic), which dissolves the thick skin and helps the extra layer fall off, Dr. Giurini explains. Apple cider vinegar works similarly.
- Dab apple cider vinegar on a cotton ball (if you have sensitive skin, dilute the apple cider vinegar with water).
- Apply the cotton ball to the corn or callus, securing it with medical tape.
- Leave in place for at least an hour.
- After removing, gently exfoliate the area with a pumice stone or emery board.
In the case of a larger callus, it might be easier to use a foot bath instead. “Soak your feet in a mixture of apple cider vinegar and water for 15 to 20 minutes daily,” says Dr. Nicolosi.
One important note: “[Acids] don’t discriminate between thickened skin and normal skin,” says Dr. Giurini. “That means this can lead to irritation. Patients with diabetes shouldn’t use these, as it could cause a sore that may not heal.” Be careful when you apply any acid; try to maintain it only in the affected area.
If your skin gets red, becomes irritated, or burns, stop using the treatment.
3. Use a lemon peel
The acid in lemons can help get rid of corns. Before going to sleep:
- Cut a slice of lemon peel about an inch long and the width of your toe.
- Place the pith over the corn.
- Secure the pith with a bandage and cover with a white cotton sock overnight.
- Continue each night until the corn disappears.
4. Use castor oil
Here’s how to get rid of corns with castor oil, specifically on the toes:
- Soak your foot in warm water for about 10 minutes to soften the skin.
- Place a non-medicated, O-shaped corn pad around the corn.
- Use a cotton swab to dab a few drops of castor oil onto the corn.
- Cover the cotton swab with adhesive tape to keep it from moving.
- Wear old socks in case the castor oil leaks through.
You can leave this castor oil on overnight until the corn softens significantly, at which point you can gently exfoliate dead skin away with a pumice stone. If you’re treating a larger callus, adding castor oil to a nightly foot bath can be more convenient.
Note that castor oil is not recommended to use on broken skin. Like apple cider vinegar, castor oil has an acid that can irritate normal skin, says Dr. Giurini. It can cause skin irritation, redness, dryness of the skin, or even an allergic reaction, adds Dr. Kandasamy. If you experience any irritation, discontinue use.
5. Crush aspirin and apply the powder
You can get rid of corns naturally overnight with a pain reliever.
- Crush five or six uncoated aspirin tablets.
- Mix the aspirin powder with equal parts apple cider vinegar and water until you create a paste.
- Rub the paste onto a corn or callus.
- Cover the treated area with a bandage.
- Wait 10 minutes.
- Gently rub off the corn or callus with a pumice stone.
This is one of the stronger acid combos, so make sure you keep it to the corn or callus and avoid applying it to your healthy skin.
6. Soak your feet in Epsom salt baths
“I personally recommend using Epsom salt soaks to soften the thickened skin,” Dr. Kandasamy says.
Here’s what to do:
- Toss a handful of Epsom salts into a basin of warm water.
- Then soak your feet for about 10 minutes.
- Once the dead skin has softened, use a callus file or pumice stone to file down the layers.
- Continue to rub the callus down a bit each day after a bath or shower.
7. Grab the baking soda
Baking soda is a natural exfoliant, and research shows that the alkaline nature of baking soda can help reduce hyperkeratosis.
To use baking soda, follow these steps:
- Mix a tablespoon of baking soda into warm water.
- Soak your feet in the foot bath for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Gently exfoliate with a pumice stone.
You can do this daily until the corn or callus is removed.
However, Dr. Kandasamy warns that baking soda, like castor oil, can cause adverse skin reactions. It’s also important to not use baking soda if a corn is infected, you have broken skin, or you have an open wound.
When in doubt, go OTC
If you’re having trouble seeing results with home remedies, try an over-the-counter cream meant to specifically treat corn and calluses. Just remember, as Dr. Giurini mentioned, keep the solution to the spot of the thick skin itself—don’t rub it all over.
Dr. Nicolosi says to look for products such as salicylic acid pads or gels, urea or lactic acid creams, or pre-made foot soaks containing ingredients such as Epsom salts.
In addition, the experts say that products are available to help reduce the pressure on your corn or callus, helping it to heal faster and keep you out of pain during the process. “I recommend using gel toe protectors to help reduce or prevent the development of corns over bony prominences,” Dr. Kandasamy says.
“I also recommend using an offloading U-pad to help displace pressure away from a painful callus to the cushioned pad,” she says. U-pads are adhesive pads shaped to surround the callus or corn, absorbing any friction. Toe sleeves work similarly as flexible coverings that protect your toe from friction and pressure. “Both toe sleeves and offloading U-pads can help make walking more comfortable.”
How not to remove corns on feet
“If you have diabetes or peripheral vascular disease, it is recommended to avoid self-treating a corn or callus given the increased risk of infection or development of ulcers,” Dr. Kandasamy says.
It’s also important that you don’t try to cut off corns or calluses yourself. This can increase the risk of infection, or you could damage healthy tissue, causing further problems.
If possible, take measures to prevent extra irritation on your corn or callus as well. Until it’s fully healed, avoid wearing tight shoes, walking barefoot, or walking or standing for long periods.
When to see a doctor
If at-home treatments aren’t helping, your pain or discomfort is increasing, or you have diabetes or neuropathy, make a medical appointment to remove a corn or callus.
“It’s recommended to see a podiatrist for corn or callus removal,” explains Dr. Kandasamy. “In the office setting, corns and calluses can be debrided using a sterile scalpel.”
The StatPearls research explains that other treatments are available through your doctor as well, especially if corns or calluses are a recurring problem. These include:
- Prescription-strength topical medications
- Ablative laser therapy
- Surgical treatment of foot deformities, such as bony prominences
How to prevent corns and calluses
While corns and calluses can be recurring issues for some people, they often go away for good when the cause behind the friction or pressure is fixed. In some cases, this requires surgery to address foot deformities.
“A surgeon can perform surgery to offload high-pressure areas and prevent [corns and calluses],” Dr. Nicolosi says. “A doctor can also prescribe a custom foot orthotic and recommend supportive shoes to offload high-pressure areas.”
Proper foot care can help prevent corns and calluses as well. Dr. Kandasamy says that this can include:
- Wearing well-fitting socks
- Using supportive, properly fitting shoes
- Keeping your nails trimmed
- Frequent moisturizing
- Using offloading U-pads or silicone toe sleeves as needed (especially at the first sign of a corn or callus)
- Maintenance foot soaks followed by gentle use of a pumice stone
About the experts
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Sources
- Nicole Nicolosi, DPM, a foot and ankle surgeon in the Orthopedic Institute at Cleveland Clinic
- Suganthi Kandasamy, MD, a podiatrist at UT Southwestern
- John Giurini, DPM, the chief of podiatry at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, MA
- StatPearls: “Corns”
- Cleveland Clinic: “Corns and Calluses”
- Indian Dermatology Online Journal: “Bathing Practices in Dermatology: Uses and Implications for Patient Management”
- American Academy of Dermatology: "How to Treat Corns and Calluses."
Medically reviewed by 
