Worn out, tired feet often need some additional love. If you have developed a callus (a toughened area of skin), a callus shaver could be just what you need to improve the look and feel of your feet. Using a callus shaver does require a bit of knowledge and instruction to prevent cuts and infection, and if you have blood clotting or diabetes, you shouldn’t use the tool because of the risk of injury.
Choosing a Callus Shaver
Although there are a variety of callus shavers to choose from, the same basic design is used for all of them. A long handle is topped with a razor blade that is held on top of a pierced piece of metal, and most of them are made from stainless steel which prevents the tool from rusting. Tweezerman is a trusted quality brand that makes an excellent callus shaver.
Preparing the Callus Shaver
Before you begin using the callus shaver, you may want to prepare it for the task at hand by consulting the instructions on the packaging. The razor blade may be installed for you initially, but some callus shavers will require the blade to be attached manually. It is important to always use a clean and sharp blade for best results. Be sure to replace the blade as soon as it begins to get dull. Buy replacement callus shaver blades.
Preparing Your Feet
Once you have your callus shaver and it’s ready for use, you can start the process of preparing your feet for the treatment. To start the process of reclaiming and revitalizing the skin on your feet, begin by cleaning and soaking them in warm water for about 10 minutes. Adding bath salts, Epsom salts or essential oils will help soften and soothe the skin. If they are really hard or cracked, allow your heels to soak even longer. You can also use body wash or soap if you don’t have bath salts or oils available.
Using the Callus Shaver
Now that your feet are soaked and the skin is softened, you can begin to use the callus shaver. Dry your feet off from the water and find a comfortable, well-lit place to sit. You will get the best angle by either sitting with your foot on top of the opposite knee, or by sitting cross legged.
Begin by gently gliding the callus shaver across the areas of hard skin to remove the thin, dead layers. To smooth any rough areas on your skin, you will want to use a callus rasp. After using the rasp, you can apply a foot cream, like Ahava Mineral Foot Cream, to soothe and moisturize your feet.
Be sure to remove anything that might make you jump suddenly before you begin using the callus shaver. This will help you to avoid injury. If you do cut yourself during the process of removing a callus, immediately clean and wash the area. If the cut is deep and continues to bleed or becomes infected, seek medical care.
[ Updated 7/13/2021, Originally Posted 9/1/2015 ]
