When your feet have to carry extra weight or pressure, they increase skin growth in the areas where the pressure is greatest, creating thick spots on your skin. In addition to rubbing painfully against your shoes, calluses can break down and turn into open sores called ulcers if left untreated. Often, a doctor will need to trim calluses when they get too thick, but you can keep calluses from getting too thick in the first place by regularly treating them with a pumice stone.
Step 1
Wet your foot with warm water, or use a pumice stone after your bath or shower when your feet are still wet.
Step 2
Sit in a chair or on a surface where you can comfortably reach your foot. Hold the pumice stone in one hand.
Step 3
Scrape the callus with the pumice stone--gently--moving in one direction so that you lift the stone to bring it back to the starting point rather than scraping it back and forth, which can tear or injure your skin. Rub gently across each callus three or four times.
Step 4
Rub moisturizing lotion on your feet after you use the pumice stone. If you need to, put on socks to prevent falls since your feet may be slippery after you apply lotion.
Tips and Warnings
- If you have diabetes, you may be more likely to develop calluses and other foot problems than people who don't have diabetes. If calluses are an ongoing problem for you, talk to your doctor about wearing special shoes that can reduce friction and pressure on your feet.
- Never use razors or chemical products to remove calluses. You could cause infection or ulcers and burn your skin.
Things You'll Need
- Pumice stone
- Lotion
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