It’s sandal weather, are your feet ready? Have you been neglecting those corns and cracked heels? No worries, the best callus remover gels are the secret to a professional-looking pedicure.
Does callus removing gel permanently get rid of calluses on your feet? Not unless you remove the pressure that’s causing the calluses in the first place. You might need to switch to a different pair of shoes and remember to moisturize more often.
Does callus remover liquid work? Yes, because it dissolves the bonds between the dead cells making up the toughened skin. It softens and exfoliates the hard parts so it’s easy to peel them off. You might never need to use a callus remover tool again.
Check out the best callus remover gels below:
| The best callus remover gels | Why we love them |
|---|---|
| ProLinc Fast Acting Callus Eliminator |
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| Elavae Callus Remover Gel |
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| CLEAR 40, 40% Urea Gel |
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| Lee Beauty Professional Callus Remover Gel |
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| Baby Foot - Original Foot Peel Exfoliator |
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| Majestic Pure Callus Remover |
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| Dr Scholl’s Duragel Callus Removers |
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How can you remove calluses at home?
Besides using callus remover gel, there are exfoliating patches that you can wear like a Band-Aid. They cushion the area to provide pain relief while they soften the skin for removal. (See the bottom of the reviews below).
We’re sure that most of us have tried trimming calluses, but that’s not a recommended method because you could injure the skin and end up with an infection. Instead, let a professional do it for you. In fact, if you have diabetes, please don’t trim or abrade calluses to remove them.
Simply changing shoes or wearing orthotics may help reduce or eliminate calluses. In extreme cases, it may require surgery to correct bone alignment (1).
It’s a lot of work to use a callus removing tool like a pumice stone, but it eventually gets the job done, especially if you soak the skin first. Then be sure to apply foot cream to keep the skin soft.
Overall, it’s straightforward to use a callus remover gel – try it, it’s quick and easy.
Best Callus Remover Gels in 2023
ProLinc Fast Acting Callus Eliminator
This is a callus remover gel that nail salons use. It breaks down the hard and rough skin on cracked heels, corns, bunions, and calluses in five minutes or less.
It’s based on potassium hydroxide, a professional-strength exfoliator. Therefore, it’s essential to wear gloves while using it as you don’t want to get the gel on normal skin. It should only be used to treat calluses to avoid burns. Also, if the skin is broken (like heels that are cracked so deeply they are bleeding), don’t use this gel until the skin heals.
It’s packaged in a no-drip bottle with a pinpoint dispenser. Here’s how to use it.
First, soak your feet in warm water for a few minutes. Put on gloves then apply the gel to the rough spots and wait at least three minutes but no longer than five before washing off the gel. Then use a pumice stone or cheese grater callus remover to slough off the dead skin.
If the calluses are very thick, it may take two treatments. But once the skin is smooth, it’s not hard to maintain with moisturizer.
Pros:
- Professional-grade callus remover used in nail salons and spas
- Fast-acting potassium hydroxide works in five minutes or less
- Comes with a no-drip applicator
Cons:
- Still requires a little effort with a callus remover tool or pumice stone
- Also requires soaking in water
Elavae Callus Remover Gel
What do nail salons use for callus remover? Here’s an at-home alternative to getting a pedicure. It’s cruelty-free and made in the USA. Plus, it has a simple formula with only five ingredients and no artificial fragrance. The active component is potassium hydroxide.
Similar to the gel above, it takes 3 to 5 minutes to soften callused skin for removal. It comes in a squeeze dispenser for accurate application without drips. Try it, and if you’re not happy, the manufacturer offers a full refund.
Each bottle contains several doses, which is good news when it may take two or three tries to break down thick corns and calluses. The important thing is to avoid burning the skin because this is potent stuff! Follow the directions and take it slow. Soon enough your feet will have baby skin.
Soak your feet in warm water for a few minutes and put on gloves before applying the gel. Let it sit for up to five minutes before wiping it off and filing down the dead skin. Be sure to wash with soap and water and apply foot cream once you’re done.
Users say it’s mild enough for sensitive skin as long as it’s used as directed. It’s a miracle worker that removes years of callus buildup in minutes.
Pros:
- Cruelty-free, fragrance-free, and made in the USA
- Backed by a satisfaction guarantee
- Drip-free squeeze applicator for accurate placement
- Potassium hydroxide breaks down callused skin within 3 to 5 minutes
Cons:
- Requires soaking in water and filing with a pumice stone or foot rasp
CLEAR 40, 40% Urea Gel
What can a 40% concentration of urea do for you? It’s an effective treatment that not reduces calluses, but also rehydrates the skin. It’s a humectant and an exfoliant often found in lotions, but no moisturizer reaches this level of potency. It’s as close to prescription strength as you can get over-the-counter.
Instead of using potassium hydroxide which may cause burns if used improperly, this urea gel is safe for sensitive skin and ultra-moisturizing. It contains no artificial fragrances, dyes, or petroleum. Moreover, it’s actually manufactured in a pharmaceutical facility in the USA. How’s that for safety and purity!
What’s more, it’s enriched with coconut and tea tree oils and aloe to soothe the skin. You may already know that both coconut and tea tree oils are naturally antibacterial and promote healing just like aloe.
This is a popular product for cracked heels, rough elbows, patchy skin from psoriasis, and calluses, too. It’s fast-absorbing and doesn’t require soaking, scrubbing, or washing off. Rub it in and get on with your life. You can look forward to soft, smooth feet soon.
Pros:
- The strongest over-the-counter urea-based callus remover
- Manufactured in a pharmaceutical facility and free of petroleum, artificial fragrances, and colors
- Safe and effective with no need for filing, scrubbing, or washing
- Quickly absorbs into the skin
- Works on calluses, cracked heels, and patches of dry skin like elbows and knees
- Enhanced with tea tree oil, coconut oil, and aloe
Cons:
- None
Lee Beauty Professional Callus Remover Gel
Here’s one more potassium hydroxide gel for removing calluses. Similar to the other salon-quality products, it softens the skin in a few minutes, simplifying callus removal with a scraper, rasp, or pumice stone.
Since it works so quickly, be sure to wear gloves to protect your hands from chemical burns. Even if you don’t have gloves, place a sturdy plastic bag over your hands, and be sure to wash the skin as soon as the treatment is over. Also, the gel works best on skin that’s softened from soaking in warm water.
The company stands behind its product with a money-back guarantee. But users say it works wonders in a short amount of time.
Pros:
- Salon-grade callus remover gel works in minutes
- Comes with a money-back guarantee
- No parabens or artificial fragrance
Cons:
- Please be careful to follow the directions and don’t leave the gel on for too long
Baby Foot – Original Foot Peel Exfoliator
How about a peeling mask for your feet? The package includes two disposable booties that fit women up to size 13. The booties are saturated with an exfoliating gel made from fruit acids. It takes approximately one hour to work.
But this is not an instant gratification product. Your feet won’t be super smooth as soon as you remove the booties. It takes a few days for the dead skin to peel. On the bright side, there is no need to scrub or file.
Here’s how it works: wash your feet (some users say soaking helps) and put them into the booties like they were socks. Use the tape that comes in the box to secure them on your feet. Wear them for an hour before removing the booties and washing your feet again. Once the dead skin peels off, your skin will be renewed.
Happily, the gel has an agreeable lavender scent as it’s made with natural extracts that include sage, chamomile, and orange. On the downside, users say it’s slippery to walk around in the booties, so maybe kick back and watch your favorite show for an hour.
Pros:
- Booties are a peeling mask for the feet
- Exfoliating gel made from fruit acids gently softens hardened skin
- No need for scrubbing or filing, skin peels naturally in the coming days
- Pleasant natural scent from extracts like lavender, chamomile, and orange
Cons:
- No instant results, but easier for people with mobility issues or those who don’t want to have to scrub
Majestic Pure Callus Remover
If you prefer a natural callus remover that won’t burn the skin if you leave it on too long, check out this product. It’s based on aloe juice, witch hazel, and tea tree oil. It has no artificial fragrance, parabens, or harsh acids.
It works best if you’re not in a hurry because it’s not as fast-acting or potent as solutions with potassium hydroxide. It takes time to loosen and soften the dead skin. You’ll still need to soak your feet before applying the gel and scrub them after a few minutes with a file or pumice stone.
Pros:
- Natural removal of calluses with aloe, witch hazel, and tea tree oil
- No harsh acids, parabens, or artificial fragrance
- Makes it easier to file down dead skin
Cons:
- Soaking and scrubbing still necessary
Dr Scholl’s Duragel Callus Removers
If all this talk of scrubbing and rubbing sounds like too much effort, let these callus removers do the work for you. They have a medicated padded gel cushion that not only protects the callus from friction and pressure, but it also dissolves it little by little.
The active ingredient is salicylic acid, making this a maximum strength callus remover. The only thing you have to worry about is placing the sticky side in the right spot. Then, the pads stay put all day and night.
Skeptical reviewers ended up pleased with the results. If you’ve ever used wart remover gel, the effect is similar. The medication (salicylic acid) turns the skin white as a sheet of paper. Then, the dead part peels off leaving fresh skin underneath.
Pros:
- Maximum strength callus remover requires minimum effort
- Cushioned pads protect against pressure and friction
- Pads contain salicylic acid to exfoliate hardened skin
- Adhesive ensures that the pads stay in place throughout the day and night
Cons:
- None – although seeing the white skin is a bit of a shocker
Conclusion
If you’re tired of putting up with calluses, the solution is simple. Callus remover products exfoliate the rough, dry skin, doing all the hard work for you. Choose from patches, booties, or gel to get the job done with the minimum amount of time and effort.
We hope our reviews helped you discover your favorite foot care products today. If so, let us know how they’re working for you. Feel free to leave us a comment below.
Source:
1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/corns-and-calluses/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20355951 accessed July 23, 2021
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