Skin can vary in thickness, but when you notice very thick skin—especially on your feet—you may be dealing with calluses. Calluses form as the body’s way of protecting the skin. When skin is subjected to repeated friction and pressure, the skin becomes thick and hard as a way to protect itself from damage. Calluses aren’t a serious medical problem for most people (although diabetics should always be aware of changes to their feet), and in many cases, you can leave them alone. In some cases, they go away naturally or improve when the source of friction or pressure is removed. But sometimes, calluses can be a problem—if left untreated, calluses can become infected or turn into ulcers. That’s why it’s important to have a callus remover on hand.
When looking for a callus remover, look for chemical or manual abrasion. Chemical abrasion uses acid-based active ingredients like salicylic acid or urea to chemically exfoliate the skin. On the other hand, manual callus removers include handheld tools like pumice stones, foot files, brushes and electric devices. Both are effective, but podiatrists are partial to manual abrasion, which tends to be gentler and more suitable for at-home treatments. We researched dozens of callus removers—and even tested 17 of them at home—and evaluated them for effectiveness, ease of use, value and more. Here are the best callus removers on the market.
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Physical vs. Chemical Callus Removers
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The two main types of callus removers include physical and chemical abrasion. Both help to smooth out rough skin around a callus, but they work differently. Here’s what you need to know about each and how to choose between them.
- Physical Callus Removers: The podiatrists we spoke to prefer physical abrasion. These typically include pumice stones and foot files, which are often gentler on the skin. However, they’re not recommended for people with diabetes who may have nerve damage or nerve pain.
- Chemical Callus Removers: Like chemical exfoliants for the skin, chemical callus removers work by chemically dissolving dead skin cells. They also soften the skin, but podiatrists warn that they can be too harsh and irritating for some. However, moisturizing creams with chemical ingredients, such as salicylic acid and urea, may be a good compromise.
What Healthcare Providers Want You to Know
- Usage: It’s important to exfoliate frequently, but overdoing it can result in injury. You can use a callus remover up to twice per week.
- Corns: Both calluses and corns can appear on the feet, but calluses often occur on the soles of feet while corns tend to occur on the tops or sides of the toes. Callus removers can often help improve corns by helping to remove the dry, dead skin.
- Ingredients and materials: Natural stone is the best choice for manual abrasion, Julie Schottenstein, DPM, a double board-certified podiatrist practicing at the Schottenstein Center in Miami, Florida, says. For chemical abrasion, exfoliants like urea or salicylic acid are effective yet gentle.
- Strength: Pumice stones can feel hard and rough, but they’re surprisingly gentle. Podiatrists recommend staying away from anything too abrasive because this can cause damage and potentially infections if you break the skin.
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