Localized thickening of the skin are called Corns. Thickening of the skin over a large area is called a callosity, and is usually protective, whereas corn is relatively small and painful.

Symptoms of Corns:
Corns are usually found over the joints of the toes and on the soles of the feet. They are shaped like a pyramid with the apex pointing inwards. They are tender when touched. Sometimes painful and infective warts that occur on the soles of the feet are mistaken for corns.

Causes of Corns:
Corns are usually formed as a result of pressure on the toes and skin surfaces of the feet, through incorrect footwear. The toes are malformed from the same cause. The modern craze for high-heeled shoes is the cause of an enormous amount of foot trouble.

Treatment of Corns by Nature Cure:
Home Remedies:
Several home remedies have been found beneficial in the treatment of corns. It is essential to first stop wearing the shoes, which causes the corns after that in most of the cases, the corns do subside, as the pressure is removed. Another method for the removal of corns is to soften them by soaking the foot in the hot soapsuds, and then check them down with a sharp scalpel, and carefully dissect out the corn without causing bleeding. The resulting cavity should be filled in with vaseline adding a drop of lemon juice.

Another method of treating corns is to cut it off with a sharp knife or razor and apply the sap of the papaya tree over it. It should then be covered with a cut lemon and bandaged. It will subside. One of the most valuable of the home remedies is the use of liquorice. A paste made by grinding liquorice sticks and mixing it with sesame oil or mustard oil should be rubbed into the hardened skin at bedtime. The skin gradually softens and the corn decreases in size. This remedy is especially useful for corns, which are just appearing.

Lemon is another valuable remedy for corns. A fresh slice of the lemon should be tied over the painful area at night and it should be allowed to remain there whole night. The juice of pineapple can also be applied externally over corns with beneficial results. Raw papaya is beneficial in the treatment of corns. Its juice is an irritant and is therefore a useful application in this condition. The juice can be applied three times daily. The pulp of raw potato is also useful in the treatment of this condition. It should be placed on the corn and secured with a bandage and allowed to remain for two or three hours.

The skin of ripe bananas has been found valuable in treating corns. This skin should be applied to the corns, before retiring to bed. It should be kept covered for the whole night and removed in the morning. This treatment may have to be continued for three or four nights. The oil extracted from the outer shell of the cashewnut being acrid and rubefacient, is valuable in corns. It should be applied externally over the affected parts in treating this condition.

Water Treatments:
Epsom-salt bath is highly beneficial in the treatment of corns. About 100 gms of Epsom-salt should be dissolved in bowl full of water. The feet should be bathed in the water from five to 10 minutes twice daily in the morning and night.

Treatment of Corns by Aromatherapy:
Add 3 drops lemon and 4 drops tea-tree in 30ml (1fl oz/6 tsps) olive oil and apply it to the affected area.