“It’s pretty genius of our bodies, actually, to toughen up and protect areas of skin that are being repeatedly rubbed or traumatized," says Caren Campbell, MD, California-based dermatologist.
When looking for a callus remover, look for chemical or manual abrasion. Chemical abrasion is when the remover uses an acid-based active ingredient like salicylic acid to exfoliate the skin. Meanwhile, manual abrasion uses scrubs or devices. We researched dozens of callus removers and evaluated them for key ingredients, form, material, and price.
Here are the best callus removers on the market.
The brand doesn’t recommend the usage of these pads by pregnant women or people with sensitive skin, so if you’re concerned these pads may have a negative impact, consult your dermatologist first.
Price at time of publish: $29
The reason these patches work as well as they do is that the high concentration of salicylic acid exfoliates the excess layer of skin creating a callus, and it protects your skin from further friction.
“You need a barrier to prevent the chronic friction or rubbing that causes the skin to try to protect itself,” says Dr. Campbell, “which is what a callus is—thickened skin.”
Not only are the Dr. Scholl’s patches less expensive, but they are also durable and fast-acting; they can eliminate mild calluses in as few as two applications.
Price at time of publish: $7
Although this isn’t a mess-free application, it’s an easy one: after cleansing your feet, apply the gel to the affected area and leave it for 3 to 5 minutes before rinsing it off. The gel works the best when you exfoliate while it’s applied to your skin (but the manufacturer advises against using an electric tool for exfoliation, so stick with a pumice stone or manual file). The whole process can be repeated the following day if you need another treatment, or you could work it into a weekly beauty regime for preventative care. We do recommend performing a patch test first, however, before using the product all over your feet, because potassium hydroxide can be irritating for some people.
Price at time of publish: $16
While this is a nifty tool that gives you instantly-improved results, there are a few caveats about using it. It’s important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions about the correct motion for filing (i.e. one-direction strokes, not back-and-forth movements), and you should definitely start off slow here: use it gently and briefly the first time to be sure you aren’t removing too much skin or going too deep. You also need to clean the rasp after use for sanitization and keep it in a clean, dry location.
Price at time of publish: $11
Essentially a metal pipe with a sandpaper-style section of grit covering one half, the SandBar is shaped like many of the tools and equipment people use that cause their calluses in the first place (like dumbbells and bike handles). That means you can target those same calluses in a very specific way, gently filing them down to get relief. We like how simple the SandBar is to use, how it fits neatly into the palm of your hand but can also be used for your feet, and the fact that it can be thrown in a gym or work bag for on-the-go callus removal.
Price at time of publish: $40
As far as usage goes, it really couldn’t be simpler: fill up a basin or tub with warm water, add the right amount of foot soak product, and sit back to relax. After 15 to 20 minutes you can rinse and dry your feet off, then follow up with either an exfoliating tool or a moisturizing cream. Between the relaxing smells of lavender and peppermint, the cruelty-free ingredients, and the callus removal power, you’ll start looking forward to your nightly foot baths.
Price at time of publish: $20
Because this is an electric tool, there are a few bells and whistles to make the callus removal process as easy as possible. The remover comes with three changeable roller heads in light, regular, and extra coarse, plus it has two speeds that allow you to get just the right amount of scrubbing done. The battery is rechargeable with a USB cable; one charge will last you about 45 minutes (and require only two to three hours of charging).
The remover can also be used on wet or dry skin for maximum convenience, comes with a cleaning brush, and includes a carrying case for all the accessories.
Price at time of publish: $25
Once we narrowed down our options, we compared each callus remover’s benefits to its price tag. While some choices on our list may be more expensive, we wanted to give a wide range of options that would fit all needs and budgets. Based on all of these factors, we compiled this list of the best callus removers on the market.
What to Look for in Callus Removers
Acid-Based Active Ingredient
Since a callus is just extra skin that has thickened or hardened to protect itself, Dr. Campbell says most OTC treatments are aimed at debriding or removing that excess skin—and a gentle way to do this is with some kind of acid ingredient. Salicylic acid is a popular choice, but she adds that you can also choose a hydrating ingredient like lactic acid to chemically exfoliate the skin.
Exfoliating Features
Speaking of exfoliation, that’s the name of the game here with callus removal, so some people opt for manual or electric tools with built-in debriding features to gently scrape, scrub, and file away the calloused skin. Pumice stones, stainless steel rasps and files, and coarse rollers can all work towards removing tough outer layers of skin and revealing the softer skin underneath.
Chemical vs. Manual Abrasive
Whether you choose a patch, peel, gel, or tool to treat your calluses, ultimately you have two method options, says Joshua Zeichner, MD, associate professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital: physical and chemical.
Physical methods, like exfoliating scrubs, abrasive devices, and razors, literally separate dead cells from the surface of the skin with some kind of friction. “Abrasive devices use coarse materials and can be thought of like sandpaper for your feet,” says Dr. Zeichner,” [while] razors or other sharp devices physically cut away thick skin. ”According to Dr. Zeichner, chemical methods use alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) to dissolve connections between cells on the surface of the skin (just like chemical peel facials, basically). “Acids can be used at various concentrations—low concentration chemical exfoliators provide mild benefits and can be used daily, [but] products that contain higher concentrations will give dramatic results with shedding of sheets of skin,” he explains. Common ingredients in chemical treatments include glycolic and salicylic acid.
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“If you go past the epidermis, the top layer of skin, you are getting into the superficial or deeper dermis, which is where larger nerves and blood vessels live and things get even more painful,” she explains.
It’s smart to start small and slow, taking your callus removal one gentle step at a time—especially if you’re using any kind of tool. Dr. Campbell says you never want to exfoliate a callus down past the point where it’s flush with the rest of your skin and to stop if you see any bleeding (that’s a sign you’ve gone too deep).
Physical methods, as Dr. Zeichner described, may work well for people with deep calluses, people with skin that’s often sensitive to beauty products, and people who need quick results. On the other hand, chemical methods might work better for people who only have mild to moderate calluses, people who don’t mind spending weeks slowly removing them, and people who don’t have the dexterity to manipulate handheld tools.
Whatever you choose, it’s usually an individual preference—but Dr. Zeichner warns that only people with thick calluses should use high-concentration foot peels (and even then, only sparingly, i.e. once per month) to avoid causing damage to the skin.
Pregnant women should not use salicylic acid treatments, says Dr. Campbell, though she notes these products are usually safe for breastfeeding women. People with diabetes should ask their doctor about at-home callus removal before trying it on themselves. Diabetics are prone to nerve damage in their feet, which can make it hard to know when there’s a serious problem. Your doctor may recommend only specific types of products or even request that you make an appointment to treat your calluses in-office rather than at home. It’s possible that your callus is actually a wart, in which case these treatments won’t help (and could actually introduce more problems).
“[A wart is] caused by a virus that gets into a cut or abrasion in the skin and causes the skin to thicken, much like a callous,” says Dr. Campbell. “Warts tend to have tiny dots within them that represent small blood vessels [inside].”
Not only will callus treatments not work on warts, exfoliating tools like pumice stones could actually spread the virus further, according to Dr. Campbell.
