Foot calluses are unsightly and uncomfortable, and, without proper treatment, they can lead to corns or ingrown nails. A callus shaver is a tool that removes calluses by shaving off the layers of dead skin that make up the callus. It can be a cheap and effective tool for home pedicure treatment and a good alternative to salon pedicure treatments. However, if improperly used, it can be dangerous and lead to cuts and infection. To get the best results when using a callus shaver, you should pre-treat your feet, lightly shave the callus with the tool, then moisturize your feet when you are done.

There are many varieties of callus shaver to choose from, but they all use the same basic design. The tool has a long, plastic handle topped with a callus razor blade that is secured on top of a perforated piece of metal. Choose a callus shaver that feels comfortable in your hand, that you can grip easily and that uses stainless steel in its components.

Before using the callus shaver, you must pre-treat your feet. Fill a bucket or a bathtub with hot — not boiling — water. Add a few drops of body wash or soap and stir. Place your feet inside the bucket or tub and let them soak for at least 10 minutes. You also might wish to use a professional callus remover gel, which you apply to the callus for one minute before washing off.

Now that callus has been softened from soaking, you are ready to use the callus shaver. On some shavers, you might need to install the razor blade manually, but others come already equipped with the blade. To install the blade, consult the instructions on the packaging, because different shavers might have different designs.

Seat yourself comfortably in an area with good lighting where you will not be disturbed. You can sit either cross-legged or with one foot resting on the other leg's knee; you simply need the affected area of the foot to be easily accessible. To begin, place the callus shaver at the top edge of the callus so that the edge of the blade is touching it. Applying light pressure — about as much force as you would use with a regular razor — slowly draw the callus tool across the surface of the callus. You should see a thin strip of dead skin emerging through the open area just beneath the blade as you draw the tool across the callus. Repeat this process over the entire callus until you have removed all of the dead skin.

Upon completion, moisturize the shaven area with hand or body lotion. Be sure to keep your callus shaver clean by wiping it with rubbing alcohol after each use. You then should store it in a clean, safe area.