Dr. Scholl’s Flexible Medicated Disc Callus Removers, 4-Pack

Foot problems can be challenging, especially if those problems cause discomfort when you’re standing or moving around. Of the many things that affect your feet, calluses are likely one of the easiest to deal with. No surgery is required to remove them. You’ll simply need the right tools.

Before you can treat calluses, it’s helpful to know what causes them. With calluses, friction is typically the culprit. It could be that you’re wearing ill-fitting shoes or perhaps you’re simply putting your feet through a hefty workout each day. Whatever the case, calluses can make your feet uncomfortable, eventually forcing you to deal with them.

Calluses are simply patches of skin that have become hardened. You’ll see them in high-impact areas of the foot, including the ball and heel. The parts of your foot that are most responsible for supporting your weight are prime candidates for developing calluses.

Although calluses can be relatively harmless, if left untreated, they can lead to more serious problems. They can expand, covering more of the surface area of your foot, and eventually, they can even become infected.

When it comes to calluses, the best course of action is to prevent getting them in the first place. Well-fitting, supportive shoes are the best prevention. Anything you can do to keep your foot from rubbing against your footwear as you walk will help. A good pair of socks or a padded insole can also provide that protective layer you need between your skin and the surface of your shoe.

Once you’ve identified calluses, soaking the foot in warm water will help soften the skin. You can then take measures to remove it. Pumice stones are useful for removing the loose skin after it’s been softened, but there are also tools specifically designed for that purpose. Once you’ve removed any excess skin, moisturizing creams and lotions can help keep the skin healthy.

• It’s important to avoid removing too much skin when you’re using a callus removal tool. If you go beyond the blister and cut into the skin of your foot, you could experience bleeding, and this might even lead to an infection.
• Adhesive pads can help cushion the foot, elevating the area around the callus and protecting it while it heals.
• If you have diabetes or poor circulation, avoid using over-the-counter callus removal tools. Consult your doctor for advice on treatment.
• For chronic calluses, surgical treatment may eventually become necessary. There could be something in the shape of your foot that’s promoting the development of calluses or corns.
• Before attempting to remove a callus, it’s important to first soften it. You can also purchase products that speed up the softening process when combined with a good soak in warm water.
• Avoid using products like bubble bath when you’re soaking a foot to soften calluses. You’ll want to steer clear of anything that can cause an infection.
• Some find that covering the foot in moisturizers or petroleum jelly can help soften the calluses. You can also try moisturizing your feet each night and covering them in socks, then treating the softened skin in the morning when you awake.
• Some socks are designed to help prevent the development of blisters for more athletic consumers. These wick away moisture and provide padding in certain crucial areas of the foot. It’s important to wear these cushioned socks sparingly, particularly if you’re using them while active. Sweat can build up during hours of wear and potentially lead to a fungal infection.
• Some callus removal tools use batteries to power turning rollers. If you opt for one of these, check how the batteries charge, how long it takes to charge those batteries and how many sessions you’ll get with each charge.