Please recommend me a serious hard skin on feet removal method

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I have really really hard skin on my feet, so much that it can cause a reasonable amount of pain. I can't really walk around bare foot, it's too uncomfortable, and shoes with little cushioning are a no no. Can anyone recommend a really effective hard skin remover please? I have a electric foot file, which is reasonably effective, but it doesn't get rid of all the hard skin. I remember have a foot bath where fish eat all the dead skin from your feet years and years ago, which was really effective. Understandably they're not a think anymore (I don't think), but is there another, cosmetic peel type treatment that is similarly effective?

I would go and see a podiatrist. They will have various tools at their disposal, and will also tell you the best wayto stop it building up again. Regular filing of the skin and use of a foot cream will help once you’ve got it sorted by a pro b

Have you seen your GP about this? Mine was a sign of diabetes, I've got horrible crocodile like skin and if my blood sugars aren't well controlled, it gets horrendous and quite painful.

I've found Urea based creams the most effective - Eucerin do a good foot one, and a hard pumice stone to use in the shower is better than a foot file used dry. And I never let myself walk around barefoot.

I use a blade made for feet - or you can buy a foot mask that peels off the dead skin , disgusting but very satisfying. Other than that go and see a chiropodist get them to remove it. You can get advice on how to manage it afterwards.

Footner exfoliating socks are a peel type of treatment. It's good but takes a couple of weeks to work.

I find this is really good.

https://amzn.to/3UDDNsv

It’s better than just files or smaller ones. Also better than urea creams.

Microplane foot file in one direction only, followed by lashings of Flexitol, Margaret Dabbs or O’Keeffe’s cream.

If it's causing you pain go and see your GP. Don't try and deal with it yourself.

Footner is also really good, as mentioned above. Sit with the stuff on for an hour and then a week later all the hard skin starts sloughing off.

https://amzn.to/3KoPS00

Chiropodist - they have scalpels that can chip away at your hooves.

I occasionally go to one and they slice weighable amounts of yellow skin every time.

Chiropodist for a big lovely slice off of it all and then careful maintenance with a scalpel (you can buy them in Boots specifically for feet calluses) and lashings of a foot cream with urea in.

Chiropodists are amazing. I felt like dancing on the way home from my appointment, it was like I was walking on air. Cost me about £25 if I recall.

Definitely a chiropodist/podiatrist. You’ll walk out skipping! There is no way in the world you can ever do what they do yourself. It’s possible to maintain once a professional has removed all the dead skin.

fine sandpaper. Works a lot better than files and plastic handled things which rub away, and cheaper too.

Honestly, see a chiropodist. You won't regret it. I have hard skin and pads with deep fissures in them. I can file them all away but it's all back within a week. I now get my feet done for summer and it last months, if not a year. They slice away the hard skin and it stays gone. It might be a bit tender for a few days after but it's well worth it

The only problem is it can find a little while finding a chiropodist you're happy with.

Thanks for all the advice, it looks like a visit to the chiropodist is in order. I really hope it's not diabetes, and I feel bad wasting a GP appointment when it can be sorted out without the need for that. Surely if it was diabetes, I'd have other symptoms? I don't really have any of the risk factors for type 2 diabetes either, I don't think. Would a chiropodist be able to tell me if it's likely to be diabetes, or just regular old dry feet?

I had/have this issue and went to see a chiropodist who said that athletes foot can also cause hard skin/cracked heels. I use an athletes foot cream on my feet when I get out of the shower now and have noticed a huge difference.

Do you stand a lot? I stand all day at work and sometimes get corns in the dry skin on the soles of my feet. I go to a chiropodist when they get bad. I have a tool that you attach a little blade to and I find it to be by far the best thing to get rid of dry skin in between chiropodist visits.

Definitely Chiropodist to start with. For maintenance I use Footner and Urea cream. I did one last night to start getting sandal ready!

For the record though my family has Type 2 diabetes genetically we think. My grandma, Uncle, Dad all have it - none of the risk factors (weight, diet, health etc) and none had symptoms initially. I had Gestational Diabetes so also considered high risk so have a yearly check. It’s a myth that it’s always something people “do to themselves” - it often is but it’s not the only way people get it. I’m not saying you should see a GP, but definitely keep an eye on it especially if the feet don’t improve with attention.

The Muji pumice stone is very good for maintenance. That plus about a ton of Flexitol applied immediately afterwards work for me.

I don't stand still as such, but on the days I work I am walking around pretty much all day. I do get corns in the dry areas, but I can't really be on my feet less and do my job, or at least work where I do (a school with a very fragmented, widespread site).

DP has Psoriasis (and almost zero concept of self care). His feet were under a good half inch of deeply fissured calluses and lumps.

It took four weeks of regularly using the fine grade foot file (never a blade or a sharp metal file, as that would have easily ended with cuts and stimulating further thickening) twice a week and 10% urea ointment and everything was perfectly smooth, including the 2-3 corns and one indication of a pressure ulcer that was starting to form underneath the top quarter inch.

He also bought lace up cushioned shoes that actually fitted him properly and stayed on securely rather than catching or rubbing and generally adding pressure/friction - plus a set of arch supports for each pair of shoes.

It wasn't exactly how I envisaged spending two evenings a week, but he would have had no idea if there was an infection before it was too late - he hadn't noticed any of it because he was so used to ignoring how his feet felt (grew up in too tight shoes, never had them measured before - they were two sizes too small).

However, I'm quite familiar with physical care, so I was happy to insist upon sorting it (and it wouldn't have happened if I'd just told him to make a podiatrist appointment) and he trusts me. I'm pretty sure that a podiatrist would have been able to sort it in 1-2 appointments as they'd be skilled in using more invasive methods without causing damage.

Hi Op,
you need to see your doc. Painful hard skin is a symptom of several things, all treatable. It can also be caused by fungus. So sand your feet when dry. Apply a cream like lamisil between your toes and all over your feet. Then apply a cream high in urea like Widmer. You should see a change pretty quickly. Good luck!

Margaret Dabbs professional foot file (has a sandpaper-like file & you can buy stick on replacements for when these are worn down), and her foot hygiene cream. Bung on a pair of cotton socks overnight….Brilliant! She an expert in her field & has a salon in Liberty London (though often on offer in QVC & eBay).

I bought this, it is the worst thing ever. Feet were shredded and despite being careful, ended up worse than before.

Please don't bother with a JML Ped-Egg

Just

No

If it helps, I went to the podiatrist (about a toenail issue) and she said I was doing everything so right I had no hard skin to remove

What I do
Microplane foot file on dry skin, go easy though as you can make your feet sore
Every day in the shower I wash my feet with bar soap and exfoliating gloves
Twice a week I use a body scrub on them too
Every night, last thing before bed I apply a foot cream with urea (CCS or flexitol usually) generously and put socks on then go to sleep