PoleDreamer started this discussion ·
Hi all! After having my calluses repeatedly open up on me during pole, I realized that I need to invest in a good callus remover. Does anyone have a brand/type they recommend? Thanks! :)
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I wouldn't remove them They are cushions that protect your palms from blistering Plus whatever is for removing contains high amount of salicylic acid or freezone that will strip your skin from callus layers and you will need to regrow the layer of skin that will be still vulnerable to contact with pole unless new calluses will develop. Just use good hands moisturizer at night to keep them from being dry and brittle All polers have them.
I am just hoping to file them down a bit. I've been poling for years, but lately they've become more painful when they rip off on spins, etc. I know a few other polers who file theirs down so they don't totally rip off with healthy skin attached (sigh). Thanks for the input, though :)
I agree with zoilife6233- I think that you should keep your callouses. However, having them "rip off" sounds like a big problem! I've never heard of this happening, and I imagine it's very painful. Proper moisturization and care of them is key but... what kind of floor are you dancing on? Is there a way you might protect your feet a little better, so that your skin isn't gripping so hard on the ground? Perhaps some of those little dancer footy pads? They worked well for me when I was dancing on linoleum, which was much too grippy for my feet!
Hi, Sorry I didn't think to clarify! Whoops! I actually have them ripping off my hands. I used to leave them alone, but this issue is getting worse lately :-/
mystical ·
Pole dreamer I have a friend that has big callus on her feet and she files them down with a metal nail filer. She also moisturizes her feet with moisture lotion. I actually don't have this problem so I'm not sure if it's safe to remove them or not.
Thank you :)
The brand tweezerman makes different types of products....stone types for filing and one with a razor you can use to remove dead skin.
Thanks so much!
Have been using nail clippers to nip the harden skin off the inside of my hands. As long as you don't clip deep, you can pole immediately and it helps keep the build-up manageable. I have used on my feet too.
Callus control is actually super important for polers!! I used to be worried that if I removed my calluses, then it would hurt more to pole again, but that's totally not the case! When you let your calluses get big, it's actually increasing the risk of having them rip, just like Pole Dreamer said in her original post. Aerial Amy schooled me on this topic when she caught a glimpse of my massive calluses haha What I do now is exactly what she told me to do, and it works great! In the shower (near the end of my shower, when the skin has had a bit of chance to soften), I use one of those files like you would have for your feet (I'll attach an example image below) on the calluses on my hands. At first, I was worried that it would hurt the normal skin around my calluses, but the skin on your palms is pretty thick, so it doesn't bother me at all. Then before bed, I use a thick moisturizer directly on the calluses. Currently, I'm using a "bag balm" - thick ointment almost similar to vaseline in appearance. But Amy had another product that she said rock climbers use a lot.... If I can find out what it's called, then I'll try to post a link for it. If you're concerned about moisturizer affecting your grip (like I was), then rest assured that it doesn't seem to cause any problems if you do it right before bed. The stuff I use is seriously thick (and greasy), but by the time morning rolls around, it's like it wasn't even there. And I am a person who has STRUGGLED with sweaty hands and difficulty gripping because of medication I take that makes my hands sweat. Doing this callus care routine has helped SO MUCH!! It didn't negatively affect my grip in any way, if anything, it's better than before! I never had problems with my calluses ripping, but they would get so big that they were very painful sometimes, and that interfered with my grip! I used to resort to clipping with nail clippers, but sometimes you can clip a bit too much and nail clippers are not exactly clean! So you are risking a nasty infection... yuck! Hope this helps :)
A proper pumice stone will help as well. Make sure it is an actual pumice stone, though as they sell some that are too smooth or some that just have a coating of pumice. The real ones will look like lava rock(rough, bigger crevices). Also a cleansing with an exfoliating cleanser and moisturizing should help.
I use a pumice stone in the shower after I pole (though not always if my calluses don't feel any bigger/rougher) as well as a little salicylic acid to smooth things over a bit more. It's possible that's bad for you because it takes off too much of the callus, but I've always noticed my calluses are still there, just smoother. *shrugs* I don't let it sit long, though. I also moisturize my hands multiple times throughout the day. I've never had a problem with hand moisturizer messing up my grip unless I use it *right* before poling. Then again, I have super dry skin and my skin just drinks that stuff up, so it could be different on more oily/sweaty skin than mine. If you've used moisturizer and your hands do feel too slick to pole, try using Dry Hands and/or washing with a very drying hand soap before doing anything on the pole.
Thank you LolaSlaytor! That's so helpful! I'm going to have to try that! :D
