This is the best way to remove the cornea

Function of the cornea

The cornea (Horn (cell) layer, stratum corneum) is the outermost layer of the epidermis (epidermis). It consists of squamous cells (Corneocytes), which have actually already died and therefore have neither a nucleus nor other cell organelles.
Depending on how much the skin is exposed to mechanical stress at a certain point, the cornea can have between 12 and 200 layers of cells.

The horny layer is usually thickest on the soles and Palms. The cornea fulfills two very important functions:

1. On the one hand, it represents a protective layer against external influences. The horny layer has a water-repellent effect due to the sebum that is produced by the sebum glands in the cornea.
2. In addition, purely because of its thickness and strength, it represents protection against the effects of violence and against the penetration of pathogens. On the other hand, it prevents this Protein keratinthat (too much) water evaporates from the skin to the outside.

Injuries to the cornea

In order to noticeably injure the cornea, considerable external force is required. Since it is so thick and the cells in it have already died, injuries must go very deep or penetrate into adjacent, thinner areas of the skin before they are noticeable with pain.
The most common damage to the cornea occurs while trying to remove it. Many people feel disturbed by a too thick callus (or calluses or corns). You therefore often resort to various aids to get rid of the unwanted cornea.

There are some substances that treat the skin relatively gently. This includes, among other things, various lotions, pastes and creams that can be applied to the affected areas and also devices such as the pumice stone, with which the excess callus can be sanded comparatively gently. However, callus planes are still often used. These have a blade that is comparable to a razor that is supposed to plan off the callus. Since the cornea is not equally pronounced in all places, injuries to adjacent, thinner, healthy areas of the skin quickly occur. Such injuries can be dangerous, especially for patients with diabetes, as they are not perceived due to a limited pain sensation, therefore not adequately treated and can continue to spread.

Ways to remove the cornea

1. Avoiding callus-causing factors

First, one can try to get rid of the cornea simply by reducing the triggering conditions. Thick calluses on the feet are often caused, for example, by incorrect, tight shoes. Then you should switch to comfortable, loose shoes.

If calluses on the hands have been caused by some kind of manual labor, this work can be stopped if possible, or gloves can be worn. Regular care of the affected areas with creams or ointments can also be helpful. However, if such measures do not have a sufficient effect or cannot even be implemented, one goes a step further.

2. Mechanical removal of the cornea

There are various aids for corneal removal, such as

• Corneal rasps
• Callous planes
• Corneal sanding

However, one must be careful not to proceed too radical and even damage healthy skin or blood vessels when attempting to remove the cornea. You should completely avoid cutting off thick calluses! After that, it can also happen that the cornea grows back even stronger after the injury, practically as a compensation.

The gentler option in this area is sandpaper or pumice stones, with which the callus can be removed layer by layer and the risk of injury is much lower. Such measures work particularly well when the skin is softened, for example after a foot bath or a shower.

3. Chemical removal of the cornea

Various preparations are available for this purpose, the majority of which contain salicylic acid. On the one hand, this acid has a horn-loosening effect (keratolytic) and at the same time against some microorganisms (antibacterial). This is also used when removing the cornea, since the skin is often irritated by a mechanical removal from the cornea and germs can easily settle.

When applying it, however, you have to be careful that the salicylic acid does not come into contact too much with healthy skin, as this is strongly irritated and as a result reddening or itching can occur, in rare cases even manifest damage to the tissue. Another substance effective against the cornea is urea (urea), which is also a common ingredient in many callus creams. Urea (usually used in concentrations between 20 and 40% for this purpose) does not only have a horn-dissolving effect, but also has a moisturizing effect, which, as described above, also has a positive effect on the regression of the cornea.

4. Professional callus removal

A trained podiatrist (podiatrist) is suitable for this. However, if you suspect that the increased corneal formation is due to a disease (for example psoriasis) or that there is a chronic inflammation, it is best to consult a doctor directly so that he can examine the affected areas and initiate further treatments .

5. Electrical callus removal

Handheld devices are used to electrically remove the cornea. When the device is switched on, a grinding roller that is provided with either micro-granules or diamond particles rotates at high speed. The speed at which the grinding roller turns on its own axis is usually more than 30 revolutions per second. Depending on the pressure exerted by the user, the callus can be removed with the help of the rough surface of the roller and the areas become soft and smooth. If it is a good product, the devices also have a protective mechanism that ensures that the device switches off immediately if the pressure is too high in order to prevent injuries. The devices often contain different attachments, depending on the area from which you want to remove the cornea. For example, there is a fine attachment for removing slight keratinization, which also prevents injuries. On the other hand, there is a rough essay to treat severely calloused areas.It should be noted that before using the device, unlike other methods of corneal removal, a footbath to soften the cornea should not be used, as the affected areas must never be wet when using the electrical device. The feet should only be cleaned and dried well beforehand. The friction of the roller generates heat, which is why the roller should not remain in one place for too long, but should always keep moving. After application, it is advisable to apply a lot of nourishing cream to your feet. Thanks to the built-in safety mechanism, the use of an electric callus remover is very safe and there are fewer injuries than using a corneal rasp or plane. An electric corneal device costs an average of € 30, although there are also cheaper and more expensive devices.

6. Home remedies for the calluses on the feet

The pumice stone is mainly used as a home remedy for removing calluses. The pumice stone is a volcanic stone. The method of corneal removal using a pumice stone is a gentle variant that must be repeated regularly. If the corneal layer is very thick, the pumice stone may not be aggressive enough. Before using the pumice stone, a foot bath should be applied to soften the cornea. Various substances are suitable as additives for the foot bath, including apple cider vinegar, chamomile, tea tree oil or 100 percent aloe vera juice. The water should not be too hot for the application and the duration of the application should not be longer than 20 to 25 minutes. After the footbath, the superficial corneal layer can be removed very easily with the pumice stone. If the callus is thick, the foot can be rubbed with tea tree oil or apple cider vinegar several times a day. Certain Schüssler salts are also suitable for a foot bath, such as the Schüssler salt 1 Calcium fluoratum. This is dissolved in hot water and stirred. Baking soda can also be used in a foot bath, which requires about three teaspoons of baking soda. The curd soap bath, which has been used for a long time, is also used, which is also able to soften the callus. The feet should be soaked in it for fifteen to twenty minutes. Chamomile is also often used on the cornea. To do this, take about a tablespoon of chamomile flowers and wrap them in a cloth. Then the packet is soaked with a little boiling water. The packet is then pressed onto the affected area for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, a new chamomile package must be put on. After that, the callus should have become soft and can be removed with a pumice stone after a few days if the chamomile packets have been used daily. Some home remedies are also suitable for preventing the development of corneas. For example, rubbing the feet with marigold ointment, deer sebum ointment or a urea-containing cream helps every day. Another home remedy is putting on lemon wedges. Exfoliating two to three times a week can also be useful. This is made from sugar or, alternatively, salt with a little olive oil, with which the feet can then be rubbed. As a rule, the callus is not completely removed, but the feet are very soft as a result. In general, it is important that the affected areas are regularly moisturized in order to avoid drying out, because drying out makes it more and more difficult to remove the cornea. In most forms of callus removal using tried and tested home remedies, the pumice stone is usually used in combination. With all types of corneal removal, the following applies: it should only be removed in moderation and under no circumstances should too much be removed, as a little cornea is a natural component of our skin and serves to protect it. If the cornea is completely removed, it may cause pain when walking.

You can find more information on our website Home remedies for calluses.

7. Creams to remove the cornea

If you choose to use creams to remove calluses, you shouldn't expect immediate results like you would with a pumice stone or callus rasp. The use of creams takes time, but they are very effective. In particular, creams with the ingredient salicylic acid, which reduces the cornea, are used. Salicylic acid acts like a peeling and removes the superfluous horny layers. Products that contain salicylic acid are available from pharmacies. Another important ingredient in callus-reducing creams is urea (urea). The urea binds water and the thick horny layer becomes more flexible and softer. After the cream has shown its effect, we recommend using a pumice stone, which can then remove the softened callus. The Schüssler Salt 1 can be used as a foot bath as well as in the form of an ointment in addition to the application already described. With this ointment, too, it is true that no immediate effect is to be expected and the user has to be patient. An overnight cream pack is very promising. Before going to bed, the feet / affected areas are generously covered with suitable creams. Cotton socks are then put on overnight. This should be repeated daily over a longer period of time. Deer tallow ointment, marigold ointment or an ordinary fatty cream are suitable as creams for this purpose. In the case of strong callus formation, products from the pharmacy are more effective than those from the drugstore, since the products from the pharmacy are more high-dose and contain more active ingredients. In the case of less severe problems, the products from the drugstore are sufficient.

Thickness of the cornea

The Thickness of the cornea is subject to considerable fluctuations from body part to body part and from person to person. Be considered normal Cell layers between 12 and 200 viewed. The horny layer is usually the thickest on the soles of the feet and palms, very thin for example on the Arm insides.

Under certain influences it can lead to a severe thickening of the cornea come.
Mainly by permanent strong mechanical loads, Friction or pressure makes the skin more Keratinocytes (so Horn cells) as usual. This phenomenon is known as Callus or as Corns. Sometimes these calluses can be desired (on the fingertips they can prevent pain in guitar players) or can also be perceived as very unaesthetic. This localized thickenings (Hyperkeratosis) can be done with the help of various tools (For example callus planers, pumice stones or certain horn-releasing agents such as salicylates) should be removed again in order to achieve a permanent result, but the causing external stimulus ceased or at least be reduced. It is not yet clear why some people are more likely to have a thick cornea than others.

Inflammation of the cornea

Of the Thickening of the Cornea ultimately lies a tiny inflammation of the skin underlying. It reacts to an existing mechanical load, friction or pressure at this affected area with a Protection mechanism.

It comes to chronic traumatic dermatitiswhich is noticeable by the fact that the corneal cells in the epidermis (Corneocytes or keratinocytes) are stimulated to an increased education. If a thickened cornea has existed for a long period of time, it can also happen that a bladder forms that with a correct, pronounced inflammation and thereby also with massive pain can go hand in hand.

Summary of corneal removal

More often the cornea “only” adjusts cosmetic problem which, however, often bothers those affected so much that they want to have the cornea removed. For that there are different possibilities. Which of these is ultimately used depends on how pronounced the thickening the cornea and on the other hand it, which method the "patient" prefers.

First of all, it is important to be clear about that the cornea is having none of the measures described can be removed overnight in the long term. In order to be able to get a rough idea in advance, one should assume that the removal of the cornea will be approximately takes as long as it takes to create, so possibly several weeks.

Cornea usually arises at dry skinthat is exposed to increased mechanical irritation. In the long term, the formation of calluses on the foot can result enough moisture be counteracted. Also the compensation of a possible incorrect load by a Foot malposition or through unsuitable footwear can already reduce the development of the cornea.

However, if the cornea is already formed, there are various options for removing it.

On the one hand can Foot baths give back some moisture to dry skin. Additions like certain Salts or Oils can have a supportive effect. For example, salt from a concentration of one tenth dissolved in water not only has a cleansing and germicidal effect, but also gives the affected one skin also return moisture. Different oils can also have this effect. You can also use a foot bath urea (urea) help the skin to retain moisture better in the long term.

However, foot baths should be no more than a quarter of an hour otherwise the skin will be softened too much and healthy skin can be easily injured when the cornea is subsequently removed. Particular caution applies Diabetics: you should the Dry your feet again after just a few minutes, because you generally have a increased risk of injury is available.

After the foot bath, the feet should be dried well. The spaces between the toes should also no longer be wet to prevent additional injuries from the subsequent rubbing.

There is one for the actual removal of the hornhau Variety of toolsthat are heavily courted by the respective manufacturers. Ultimately, the chosen instrument should not be too sharp-edged or coarse-grained, as the skin has been severely softened by the previous footbath and can therefore be more easily injured. A good option is usually the traditional one pumice. In this way, the callous skin on the ball of the foot or heel, which is perceived as annoying, can usually be sanded off. Callus planers can also be used. However, you should be particularly careful because of the curved blade to have. Diabetics should not use these. Also special Callus sponges are suitable for sensitive skin.

No matter which method is used, however, care should always be taken not too much cornea to be removed. This can lead to injury to the healthy skin underneath the one hand Cornea on the other hand, as a reaction of the body, the cornea will only develop more intensely on the affected area. It is best to remove just enough cornea so that there is no pain in the treated area. If this is the case, a little too much cornea has been removed.