Callouses

[kimberlily]

I have really bad callouses on my poor feet. One is really horrible, right beside the ball of my foot, and I think is caused by my bunions. Anyway, what's the best way to get rid of them? I have one of those corn/callous shaver things, but I'm like Freddie Kreuger with it and almost always cut myself.

[eiyela]

I really don't like those callous shavers. Brrrr...

What have you tried doing with your feet? Like foot baths and sleeping with moisturizer on them. My grandma gets callouses a lot, and she likes foot baths with oatmeal to soften them.

[Pierre]

Have you tried a Microplane? It's an array of millimeter-sized blades, and they make them for woodworking, kitchen, and feet. I tried mine on my feet and it works well. Makes a nice pile of foot shavings ;) That reminds me, I have to wash my laundry. I use the thing to grate the soap.

[kimberlily]

Hmm, that thing looks really cool. I like that they make one that catches the shavings so you don't make a big mess!

[device]

An aspirin soak is also better than plain water... perhaps aspirin and oatmeal? If you do this just before bed, you can then slather your feet in lotion and put a plastic bag and socks over the lotion... think SMT for your feet! ;)

Cheers,
Device

[Carolyn]

I like the little callous shavey things. Sometimes I just use my razor I used for my legs and pits. Yes you do have to be careful and yes I've cut myself but I'm learning to be more careful. You can also get those rasp things and pumice stones. Sallys is a great place to get that kind of thing. There are also gel foot socks. You put your choice of lotion on you feet before bed and wear the socks overnight. I got some for heels at Sallys. They have open toes and the gel part is over the heel. Works great for me. I think once you get your callouses reduced you have to work at keeping them for building up again. Those nailfile-like rasps are great for that. I keep one in the bath all the time. HTH!

[BBGrrl]

I use a foot file every time I shower. I use the low grit side of the file. The smooth side makes my feet soft. The gritty side makes them more rough.

[LilyMunster]

I use the foot shaped wooden w green sand-paper on each side Thing, from the Body Shop. I use it every bath. Start w the rough side and finish with the fine side. Sometimes put a good coating of CVB soap on first. Loads of Cetaphil in the jar, right after bath.

LM

[Bonnie]

I know someone who uses a dremel tool on callouses. The sandpapery type bits.

Bonnie

[Steficurls]

I use one of those files once a week or so. I also try to sleep with Shea Butter on my feet a few times a week during sandal season.

[justgreen]

I soak my feet alot in epsom salts to absorb the magnesium. This is an excellent way to get the magnesium in your system faster if you have FMS. Anyway, after soaking I use a pumice stone on a couple of spots I have that get dry and flakey. In the winter time, I use a concoction on them and then wrap in saran wrap , put socks on and sit somewhere and read for at least an hour.

Winter concoction

4 ounces olive oil
3 Tablespoons wheat germ (health food store in the refrigerated section)
10 of peppermint oil.

The wheat germ helps slough off the dead skin. The peppermint envigorates and the oil softens.

[birdiefu]

I use this (http://ballbeauty.com/callus_eliminator_prolinc.htm) callous remover from ballbeauty. DH gets the *worst* callouses, but as he will not care for his feet himself I do it. I don't feel comfortable at all with a shaver on someone else's feet, so the callous remover followed by a pumice stone. Works wonders! Follow up with a nice, heavy cream overnight for smooth and happy feetsies. I dread seeing the condition of his feet when he gets home, after his last deployment it took me about 3 weeks to get his feet back to normal again :purplex:.

[kimberlily]

Justgreen, what is FMS?

I bought one of these and just finished using it a minute ago:
http://www.checi.com/702.html

They usually sell for $9.99, but if you have a Sally's card, they're $8.99 right now. You can use it on wet or dry feet, so I did it on dry feet since I don't feel like soaking right now. Wow. Just wow. The amount of skin that came off my feet is amazing. And they don't feel raw. I'm off to smear some shea on my feet and stick them into some wooly socks now :)

[Teacherbear]

I use the callous shaver when the callouses are really thick. I also use the cheese-grater lookin' thingy. I also have a pummus (sp) on a handle thingy that I use.

[Stephanie]

The thought of callous shavers make me gag and shudder. I'm a wuss. I stick to a baseball sized pumice stone with AmLactin lotion and just make sure to keep up on it.

FYI, it might be a good idea to keep some of that callous as it's likely protecting that part of your foot. Perhaps file a bit away and do your best to smooth it? :)

[unaspenser]

I use a pumice stone (it's actually a piece of pink pumice my mom brought back from Mount St. Helens) at the end of my shower when my feet are all soft. Then I put on a bit of oil (jojoba or sweet almond) and socks. It seems to work just fine, if I don't forget.

I agree with Stephanie, though, the callouses are there for a reason. I do a ton of walking and folk dancing and so my callouses are on the balls of my feet (weird, huh?). One time I got a pedicure and the lady completely scrubbed the callouses away. Oh my poor sore feet when I walked and danced the next day. They were very soft, but they couldn't really take my nearly-barefoot dancing.

[kimberlily]

I don't want to remove the callouses completely, since I have had the same experience with pedicurists removing too much. I just want smooth feet, and the callouses split and crack and get really rough.

The file I bought seems to be doing me a lot of good though :)

[furball]

I use sand paper. My feet get really dry and I also have bad callouses on my big toe. After I get out of the shower, I pat my feet dry then sand them with the sand paper (usually I just wrap it around my lotion bottle so I can get a grip on it...lol). My feet are smooth and soft when I'm through and it only takes a few minutes. I've found that it works a lot better than pumice stones. Revlon has some kind of exfoliating stone @ walmart now that looks like it would do the same. I just find the sand paper to be cheaper. I also don't have to worry about cutting my self or removing too much like I do when I use a callous shaver. HTH

[Stephanie]

You know...a long time ago I used a power sander and it worked beautifully. I used a really fine grit and was careful not to do it too long, but it really worked to polish down the little "grippers" that were fraying off my callouses.

[texasgal]

I use a pumice stone, foot file, slather on moisturizer, & put on a comfy pair of socks to sleep in. When I wake up in the morning my feet are so soft & smooth.

[FeetR2C]

Follow my routine at <Tbear deleted spam>
It's OK to use a callous shaver. I do it on the balls of my feet and the outside of my big toe. The soaking first is mandatory, lest you cut yourself if the skin isn't soft. A pumice stone is good too. Be sure to exfoliate regularly. Pedicure every 3-5 days until your callouses are minimized enough that you can accept it. Pedicure thereafter once every couple of weeks. Use your pumice stone every time you shower.

[kimberlily]

Hmm... might have to try some of those tips! Thanks :)