Don't be So Calluses...

Tips on Tuesday :)

There are a variety of causes of calluses including your gait, wearing footwear barefooted and ill fitting shoes. When it comes down to it though, we mostly just want to get rid of them. You might be tempted by one of those callus shavers and while they do work the callus returns tougher and with alarming speed and they are dangerous to use particularly if you are diabetic and/or prone to infections.

Of course, there is the pumice stone which does work well if you are diligent about using it daily but we are more likely to use it once hoping for better results and then just let the stone sit in the corner of our showers and collect soap scum. Well rinse that stone off or go get yourself a new one and follow the advice below.

May I offer this remedy from Suzanne M. Levine DPM:

“An effective way to soften calluses involves crushing 5-6 aspirin tablets into a powder, mix into a paste with ½ teaspoon each of water and lemon juice. Apply this paste to all the hard skin spots on each foot, then put your entire foot into a plastic bag and wrap a warm towel around enabling the paste to penetrate the hard skin. Sit still for at least ten minutes (this is the hard part for me). Then unwrap your feet and scrub the entire area GENTLY with a pumice stone. All that dead, hard callused skin should come loose and flake easily away. Note: Because of the remote chance of an adverse reaction, however, those allergic or sensitive to aspirin should not use it on skin. Diabetics should be especially careful not to scrub too hard”.

Remember that a little bit of callus is natural for protection of your feet and shouldn't be eliminated entirely.

Love and soft Soles,

Abigail Dagmar