Depending on the intensity of your daily activities, your feet or hands may develop patches of hardened skin that, if cracked, may get painful. This condition is referred to as callus.
Fortunately, managing calluses can be as simple as using an effective callus remover that clears away these hardened patches in a short time. For this, you can choose between using creams, files, and pads.
So, are you looking for the best callus remover? In this post, we’ll assist you make a more informed decision regarding the best option for you by providing you with tips for buying callus removers.
Additionally, we’ll list six of the best callus removers available on the UK market today.
Table of Contents
Factors to consider when choosing the best callus remover
a. Ease of use
When shopping for a callus remover, always ensure that the product at hand comes with clear usage instructions, is easy to apply, and offers quick results.
b. Suitability
Some callus removers may not suit everyone and thus, it’s important for you to understand whether a particular product is for general use or comes with some usage limitations.
c. Performance
Some removers offer faster results than others while some require that you apply them severally before they can remove the callus. Consider this as well.
d. Price
Like anything else, callus removers are available at different prices. As such, you will need to strike a balance between getting a product with a reasonable price yet offers great results.
e. Comfort
Go for removers that do not harm your skin or cause pain to you.
Best callus removers reviews
1. Callus shaver
Callus shavers are used to file or scrape off callus. You can acquire a manual shaver or an electric alternative. A majority of people prefer using callus shavers due to their ease of use, effectiveness, and the fact that they are more hygienic to use. Besides, you can use these shavers several times before disposing them.
However, they also come with several downsides such as:
Higher cost
Some shavers, especially the electric ones, are often expensive to acquire. Besides, their maintenance can also be high since they continually need batteries and other sources of power supply.
Risky
Some of these shavers, if not carefully handled, can cause accidents and possibly hurt you. Often, they come fitted with sharp blades or scrapers that can damage your feet.
Sometimes unsuitable
If you suffer from conditions such as diabetes or poor blood circulation, you may be prohibited by your doctor from using callus shavers.
Nevertheless, callus shavers are considered to be the most effective options especially for people with severe callus and for those looking for quick results.
Below are our two top rated callus shavers that you may want to check out if you’re considering to acquire one.
Scholl Velvet Smooth Diamond Electric Pedi
The Scholi Velvet Smooth Pedi is UK’s best seller of callus electric removers. This tool uses rotating emery rollers to file down your callus. The remover is easy to use and won’t damage your skin since it comes equipped with several safety features that minimises such risks.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Highly effective
- Supports several roller texture to suit different severity levels of your callus
Cons
- A bit costly
- Requires power to function
- Can be messy
Microplane The Original Colossal
This mini fine grater is capable of shaving off callus in layers quite effectively. As such, it is highly recommended for use by people with severe callus conditions.
Pros
- Hygienic to use
- Easy to clean
- Offers lasting results
- Highly effective
Cons
- Can be abrasive thus risky if not handled properly
- May not be suitable for everyone
2. Callus pads
In most cases, these medicated cushioned pads are placed over callus patches with an aim to break down and ultimately remove these calluses. The pads are often medicated with salicylic acid that’s known to deal well with various skin conditions such as callus. A majority of people that prefer using callus pads love them for their comfort, affordability, and ease of use.
However, these pads come with their drawbacks as well:
Expensive if used for extended periods
Buying a pack or two of these pads may seem affordable. However, if used to treat chronic callus, these pads may be expensive in the long term.
Not suitable for everyone
Due to the burning effects of salicylic acid used to medicate these pads, this method may not work well for some such as pregnant women, people with highly sensitive or allergic skins, and breastfeeding mothers.
Not environmentally-friendly
Made using plastics and other disposable materials, these pads may not go well with environmentalists and eco-conscious individuals.
Nevertheless, callus pads remain to be the most appropriate option for people looking for convenient removers for infrequent use and which do not cost a fortune.
As such, we’ve listed two top rated callus pads that you may want to consider if you’re looking for some for your callus condition.
Dr. Scholl’s Callus Removers
If your callus developed just recently, the Dr. Scholl’s Callus Removers may be your perfect fit. The pads are quite easy to use and can be used to target only the affected area. Besides, they offer quick results and will leave you with no mess to deal with in the end.
Pros
- Excellent for painful callus
- Hygienic
- Quite affordable
- Offers targeted treatment
Cons
- You may require to use them several times to completely remove callus.
Compeed Callus Plasters
Compeed Callus Plasters are slim, flexible, and have a soft texture that makes them very comfortable even when placed beneath your feet. These pads can help to remove callus in as little as three days of use and work by moisturising the affected area which makes it easy to file off the callus.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Gives quick relief
- Discreet
Cons
- Not suitable for treating severe callus
3. Callus Creams
These are ointments meant for people that prefer using creams, as opposed to pads and shavers, when seeking to remove callus. All that you need is to apply these medicated creams to the affected area which then initiates the shedding off process of the callus. Creams are preferred for several reasons:
- Suitable for people suffering from conditions such as diabetes
- Easy to use even on difficult-to-reach areas.
- Comfortable to use
On the other hand, use of creams comes with its drawbacks such as:
Not suitable for everyone
This majorly depends on the cream’s ingredients since some people might be allergic to some of them.
Slower results
Creams often take relatively long to achieve results as compared to using shavers or pads.
Creams are highly recommended for people with chronic calluses and want lasting results.
We’ve listed the top two callus creams that you may consider when shopping for one to use.
Cuplex Gel
If you’re a swimmer and looking for an easy-to-use topical treatment for your callus condition, the Cuplex Gel may just be your ideal treatment option. This gel uses salicylic acid and lactic acid to get rid of the hardened skin layers caused by a callus condition. Upon drying, the gel forms a waterproof finish. Its results are lasting and can be used to treat other related skin conditions such as warts, corns, and verrucas.
Pros
- Discrete
- Offers lasting results
- Can be used for other related skin conditions.
Cons
- Has a strong scent
- A bit slow to show results
Flexitol Hard Skin & Callus Balm
This is another callus remover cream that impressed us during our review. When applied severally in a day for about a week, the gel helps in breaking down the callus which makes it easy to remove them. The cream contains urea to give you lasting results while an emollient helps your feet to retain a soft texture.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Good for softening feet
- Suitable for diabetics
Cons
- May take a bit longer than shavers and pads to produce significant results.
Everything you need to know about callus removers
What’s a callus?
A callus can simply be defined as a section of the skin, usually beneath your feet, that has hardened due to a continuous exertion of pressure and friction on the area over time. This hardened skin may then crack thereby making the area quite painful. Some of the main predisposing activities of a callus include frequent running and walking and wearing of heels.
To remove a callus, you will need an effective remover such as those described earlier in this post.
How to buy the best callus remover – Features to consider
a. Duration of therapy
How long will it take for a particular callus remover to produce significant results? Besides, is your condition chronic or has the callus just appeared for the first time? These are the questions to ask yourself when looking for a callus remover.
b. Price
Most callus removers cost anything between £3 and £25 (and some even more).
c. Remover’s mode of working
Some removers offer instant results while for others, it may take a bit longer to realise significant results.
d. Technique
If you prefer using a shaver, it’s important that you learn how to use it lest you might find yourself damaging your skin.
e. Possibility of reusing the remover
Some removers such as shavers can be used severally while others such as pads may not be reused. If you’re handling a chronic callus condition, therefore, you may consider going for shavers as opposed to pads.
Advantages of using callus removers
- Despite being painless, a callus may crack which makes the painful. Callus removers can help you avoid such experiences especially if you use the treatment early enough.
- Callus can occur on any part of the body that’s under pressure or getting some friction. Fortunately, you can use most callus removers on any part of your body.
- Callus removers offer a cheaper option as compared to making regular (and often expensive) visits to your chiropodist or beauty salon.
- Removers can help to prevent body infections that emanate from cracks on the skin caused by a callus condition.
Disadvantages of using callus removers
Some removers tend to be ineffective
This is especially common for people suffering from chronic callus and who are forced to try out various removers before they can get the most effective option. Of course, this can be an expensive and often frustrating experience to most callus sufferers.
May require special techniques
Poor application of any of the callus treatment methods outlined in this post may translate to unsatisfactory results in the end. As such, it’s important that you learn how to use each of them when seeking to use a particular method to remove your hard skin on feet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Which is the best callus remover?
For most people, we recommend callus shavers. They don’t involve any chemicals and you can get rid of your calluses in a few minutes.
For serious calluses that are painful, medicated callus pads and callus plasters are the best.
For those with chronic calluses that keep coming back, try a callus cream. Callus creams work slower, but have longer lasting results.
Q: Will a pumice stone get rid of calluses?
Yes, you can remove calluses and corns using a pumice stone. However, a dedicated callus shaver will be more effective and comfortable, ensuring you don’t experience any pain when removing calluses.
Q: Are callus removers safe for diabetics?
Yes, most callus removers are safe for diabetics. You just need to be extra careful if you have foot injuries or foot neuropathy.