The PedEgg
The PedEgg (made by TeleBrands) is a product that you may have seen advertised on TV, and has enjoyed remarkable popularity. It is designed to removed callused skin from the feet, and has the added bonus of collecting the shaved-off skin so it doesn't make a mess. The questions regarding this product are first, does it work? And, if it does work, is it safe?
The PedEgg is essentially an oval file that scrapes dead, callused skin from the bottom of the feet. The scrapings end up in the "egg," and can be dumped out when you are finished. It is quite easy to use, and many people are very pleased with the results. Since a callus is essentially the dead outer layer of your skin, there is usually no pain involved when it is scraped off. You should be aware that this is not a one-time fix for your calluses. Whatever caused them to form in the first place is not changed by using the PedEgg, and they will come back over time.
As a podiatrist, I do have some reservations regarding the PedEgg. Over the years, I see many patients who try to remove calluses with sharp objects, and when things go wrong, they end up in my exam chair. And make no mistake, the PedEgg qualifies as a sharp object. First, there are certain patients who should never use such products. If you are diabetic, have poor circulation, lack the ability to feel pain, have difficulty seeing their feet, or have difficulty healing for any reason, this product is not for you. Also, elderly people who are often the ones to develop calluses are typically the patients who fall into these categories of those who should not use this product. A sharp file will never be able to distinguish normal vs. callused skin. That leaves the risk that if a person is over zealous in filing their calluses, they could end up going too deep. This could lead to sores on the feet, infection, and worse.
Another area of concern is that you must be certain that what you are filing is actually a callus. I have many doctors refer patients to me for treatment of calluses, only to find out that what the patient actually has is a wart. Warts are caused by a virus, and using a file in this manner may aid in spreading the virus, and thereby spreading the wart to other parts of the foot. Also, warts tend to have blood vessels that come close to the surface, so using this product on a wart will greatly increase the chance that you will find yourself bleeding.
When heels are callused, it is very common to have the skin crack as well. These cracks can be very painful, and if the callus is removed improperly, the cracks in the skin can be made worse.
If you do own a PedEgg, my advise is that you do not share it with other members in your family. When I shave down calluses in my office, I use a sterile scalpel blade, and it is used only once,then discarded. Sharing the PedEgg with increase the risk of spreading disease, including athlete's foot. Along those same lines, the files that come with the PedEgg will eventually wear out. Once this happens, they will become much less effective in removing calluses cleanly, and there will be a greater chance of damaging healthy skin.
So, how do I treat calluses? First, they are shaved down to normal skin with a sterile scalpel. Secondly, whatever is causing the callus is addressed, so that hopefully, the callus with not come back, or at least come back more slowly. I will also recommend a moisturizing cream be used once or twice daily on the affected areas. Usually, this will consist of a product containing 20% to 40% urea cream, which will not only moisturize the skin, but aid in removal of the calluses as well. Between visits, instead of using a sharp devise to remove the calluses, I would recommend using a pumice stone. This will remove calluses much more safely.
My final verdict? Yes, the PedEgg works, but it is certainly not for everyone. Make sure before you begin using it that you are certain you know what you're treating. A trip to your podiatrist will be a smart investment in your feet, and will be much less painful than a visit after the damage is done.
The PedEgg (made by TeleBrands) is a product that you may have seen advertised on TV, and has enjoyed remarkable popularity. It is designed to removed callused skin from the feet, and has the added bonus of collecting the shaved-off skin so it doesn't make a mess. The questions regarding this product are first, does it work? And, if it does work, is it safe?
The PedEgg is essentially an oval file that scrapes dead, callused skin from the bottom of the feet. The scrapings end up in the "egg," and can be dumped out when you are finished. It is quite easy to use, and many people are very pleased with the results. Since a callus is essentially the dead outer layer of your skin, there is usually no pain involved when it is scraped off. You should be aware that this is not a one-time fix for your calluses. Whatever caused them to form in the first place is not changed by using the PedEgg, and they will come back over time.
As a podiatrist, I do have some reservations regarding the PedEgg. Over the years, I see many patients who try to remove calluses with sharp objects, and when things go wrong, they end up in my exam chair. And make no mistake, the PedEgg qualifies as a sharp object. First, there are certain patients who should never use such products. If you are diabetic, have poor circulation, lack the ability to feel pain, have difficulty seeing their feet, or have difficulty healing for any reason, this product is not for you. Also, elderly people who are often the ones to develop calluses are typically the patients who fall into these categories of those who should not use this product. A sharp file will never be able to distinguish normal vs. callused skin. That leaves the risk that if a person is over zealous in filing their calluses, they could end up going too deep. This could lead to sores on the feet, infection, and worse.
Another area of concern is that you must be certain that what you are filing is actually a callus. I have many doctors refer patients to me for treatment of calluses, only to find out that what the patient actually has is a wart. Warts are caused by a virus, and using a file in this manner may aid in spreading the virus, and thereby spreading the wart to other parts of the foot. Also, warts tend to have blood vessels that come close to the surface, so using this product on a wart will greatly increase the chance that you will find yourself bleeding.
When heels are callused, it is very common to have the skin crack as well. These cracks can be very painful, and if the callus is removed improperly, the cracks in the skin can be made worse.
If you do own a PedEgg, my advise is that you do not share it with other members in your family. When I shave down calluses in my office, I use a sterile scalpel blade, and it is used only once,then discarded. Sharing the PedEgg with increase the risk of spreading disease, including athlete's foot. Along those same lines, the files that come with the PedEgg will eventually wear out. Once this happens, they will become much less effective in removing calluses cleanly, and there will be a greater chance of damaging healthy skin.
So, how do I treat calluses? First, they are shaved down to normal skin with a sterile scalpel. Secondly, whatever is causing the callus is addressed, so that hopefully, the callus with not come back, or at least come back more slowly. I will also recommend a moisturizing cream be used once or twice daily on the affected areas. Usually, this will consist of a product containing 20% to 40% urea cream, which will not only moisturize the skin, but aid in removal of the calluses as well. Between visits, instead of using a sharp devise to remove the calluses, I would recommend using a pumice stone. This will remove calluses much more safely.
My final verdict? Yes, the PedEgg works, but it is certainly not for everyone. Make sure before you begin using it that you are certain you know what you're treating. A trip to your podiatrist will be a smart investment in your feet, and will be much less painful than a visit after the damage is done.
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