Ped-Egg-The Good The Bad & The Ugly

Dry, cracked, callused feet? The majority of us have it whether we choose to admit it or not. The sand paper like skin catches and cause runs in stockings, they look hideous in sandals and they can be very painful when they crack and turn into open sores. So what’s the solution? Well, a new product called the Ped-Egg might seem like a great solution; however, if you do your research and take a good look at the pros and cons of this product, the cons definitely outweigh the pros. The Ped-Egg is said to be a revolutionary foot file. It has over 135 stainless steel micro files that remove calluses and dead skin. The Ped-Egg is in the shape of an egg and therefore it fits comfortably in the palm of your hand. It has a removal base that collects the skin shavings so there is no mess. Sounds great right? Although the Ped-Egg looks and sounds great there are a number of things that people should be aware of. First and foremost, the Ped-Egg should NOT be used by diabetics, people suffering from peripheral neuropathy, poor circulation and/or minimal or complete loss of sensation in your feet. When used incorrectly, i.e. in the incorrect motion, one of the over 135 blades could easily cut the bottom of the foot. If someone with peripheral neuropathy has even the smallest cut on the bottom of their foot, it can easily go unnoticed and may result in serious complications such as ulcers and in extreme cases amputation. People that don’t have any or limited knowledge about how to correctly file the foot unlikely to be able to gage a safe amount of the callus to remove, which can cause bleeding and damage to the feet. Calluses and dry feet are best treated with a variety of creams, recommended by a Chiropodist/Foot Specialist. One cream that I personally use and recommend to patients in my practice is Callex. Callex is an exfoliating ointment for dry cracked feet. It is diabetic-friendly and lightly fragranced with refreshing peppermint oil. With daily use, exfoliation and/or softening may take between 2 and 4 weeks, depending on the amount of dry or thickened skin on your foot.
It is obvious that the possible complications and negative effects this device can have on your feet outweigh the pros. It’s simply not worth the risk. Keep in mind, products that look and sound too good to be true usually are. We only get one set of feet, is it worth the risk? If you have dry feet or calluses its best to visit a Chiropodist and have them properly treated.