It is a reality of life: Ft are likely to expertise dryness, cracking, and calluses. The wrongdoer is two-fold, as not solely do the soles of the toes expertise extra stress and friction than most components of the physique, but additionally, your foot’s pores and skin accommodates an additional layer of dermis generally known as the stratum lucidum. Nonetheless, simply because toes are susceptible to those circumstances doesn’t suggest it’s important to reside with them. Exfoliation is the important thing to reaching a smooth, clean really feel. And, if you happen to’re on the lookout for a brand new addition to your magnificence toolkit, it’s possible you’ll wish to contemplate a tried-and-true favourite—the pumice stone.
Pumice stones (an abrasive rock fashioned when lava and water combine) are a easy strategy to soften dry, tough pores and skin. One in all these could also be simply what it is advisable to give your toes a bit of TLC. For recommendations on how greatest to make use of a pumice stone, we tapped high dermatologists Hadley King, MD, and Dustin Portela, MD.
Maintain studying for all the things it is advisable to learn about pumice stones.
Meet the Skilled
- Hadley King, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist specializing in medical and beauty dermatology.
- Dustin Portela, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist primarily based in Boise, Idaho.
What Are Pumice Stones?
A pumice stone is a sort of light-weight, extremely porous, and abrasive rock that varieties when lava and water combine. “It is usually used as a private care product for its pure exfoliating properties, to take away useless pores and skin cells and callouses from the toes,” Portela says. Pumice stones might be extra abrasive than different exfoliation strategies, so if you are going to use one to exfoliate your pores and skin, it is best to keep away from your face and persist with areas of the fingers and toes which have calluses. “Don’t use a pumice stone over areas that don’t have a callus buildup,” Portela tells us. “I strongly discourage utilizing a pumice stone on the face.”
For softer and extra delicate areas of pores and skin like elbows and knees, King suggests utilizing a product formulated with pumice particles quite than a pumice stone. Schaf Skincare’s Facial Scrub is a superb possibility for these extra delicate areas,” she says, explaining that the sort of product polishes away useless pores and skin cells whereas additionally boosting hydration.
Advantages of Utilizing Pumice Stones
When you determine to make use of a pumice stone in your toes, fingers, or one other callused space, you may uncover there are just a few principal advantages:
- Smooths and softens pores and skin: “The light exfoliation of a pumice stone will depart your pores and skin smoother and softer,” Portela says. “This permits your moisturizer and some other pores and skin merchandise to work higher.”
- Will increase radiance: Chances are you’ll discover improved complexion, too. “Common exfoliation with a pumice stone helps to brighten the complexion by eradicating outdated, useless pores and skin cells and revealing the recent new pores and skin cells that cover beneath,” King says.
- Improves general consolation: Past simply appears, one other perk of utilizing a pumice stone to exfoliate is that you could be discover your fingers and toes really feel higher. “Eradicating thick calluses may cut back ache whereas strolling,” Portela tells us.
Dangers of Utilizing Pumice Stones
One danger when utilizing a pumice stone is that it may irritate your pores and skin. When you use an excessive amount of stress, this will enhance the danger of ache, pores and skin irritation, irritation, and an infection. “To keep away from this, search for merchandise with very high quality particles and use light stress,” King says. In case your pores and skin is delicate and vulnerable to irritation, King recommends avoiding pumice stones and sticking to chemical exfoliation.
It can be dangerous to make use of a pumice stone when you’ve got neuropathy from diabetes or one other trigger. Neuropathy may cause numbness and lack of sensation, so utilizing a pumice stone in these areas is usually not really helpful. “Chances are you’ll not really feel ache if you happen to start to over-exfoliate, growing your danger of an infection,” Portela explains.
How one can Use a Pumice Stone
The Last Takeaway
Pumice stones are a well-liked possibility for exfoliating callused areas of pores and skin like your fingers and toes. To keep away from irritation, ache, and different damaging unwanted effects when utilizing a pumice stone, it is essential to use solely gentle to average stress. The dermatologists we spoke with agree that pumice stones shouldn’t be used in your face. So long as you are light and comply with the directions correctly, this exfoliation methodology is prone to depart your toes and fingers with the graceful, rejuvenated really feel you need for summer season (or any time of 12 months).