Pedegg Sweeps Us Off Our Feet

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Pedegg Sweeps Us Off Our Feet

By Diane Mapes, health correspondent

http://doesitwork.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/22/1054978.aspx

What it is: PedEgg; $10; available at www.pedegg.com or at Wal-Mart,

Target, Walgreens, Bed Bath & Beyond and other stores.

What it claims to do: The manufacturer of the PedEgg, Telebrands,

calls it the " ultimate foot file " which gently removes calluses and

dry skin by using more than 135 stainless steel micro files. The

files are attached to one side of a " comfortable, ergonomically

designed " plastic egg, which also collects all of the skin shavings

in a " convenient storage compartment.

My experience: I live in the city so I'm on my feet a lot, walking at

least 10-15 miles a week and sometimes more. By the time summer rolls

around, I need to invest in a bit of maintenance to get my little

piggies ready for market (not to mention those strappy sandals). But

how to go about it?

As much as I enjoy pedicures, they're a little pricey for my

pocketbook and spending an hour in the bathroom with an emery board

is about as thrilling as sanding a piece of cement. After a long hard

winter, in fact, that's essentially what it is. The PedEgg –

prudently priced at just $10 – seemed a great solution. I could

pamper myself and still toe the budgetary line.

After picking one up, I spent 10 minutes reading through the

instructions AND warnings before cracking it open and diabetics

and/or those with poor circulation will definitely want to follow

suit. Why? Because the PedEgg is basically a cheese grater for your

foot. And baby, that sucker works.

I was able to shave a ton of rough winter skin from my heels and the

balls of my feet within minutes. The PedEgg worked so well, in fact,

that I decided to use it two nights in a row and wound up hot-footing

it around town on burning pink heels for the next four days. Be

warned: Overzealousness with this gadget is not a good idea. In other

words, step lightly.

As for the PedEgg's much-touted ability to collect all the skin

shavings in its hollow body thus allowing you to use it " anywhere "

(At work? On the bus? On a date? Let's hope not), I'd take that with

a grain of salt. If you can manage to keep the metal-side face up,

the PedEgg does pretty well at keeping everything contained. But when

you turn it upside down (which is something you'll need to do to sand

down those stubborn calluses), you will notice a little " foot

dandruff " on the floor.

What the expert says: Dr. Dinowitz, a Brooklyn, N.Y.,

podiatrist, says the first step in taking care of your feet is to

visit the foot doctor to make sure you don't have any complications

you're not aware of. Once you're cleared, though, " callus removal is

a wonderful thing, " he says. Simple, over-the-counter remedies like

the PedEgg can reduce some of the foot's roughness and dryness in a

noninvasive way, he says, but don't overdo it.

" Overzealous usage of any type of product that causes friction can

definitely lead to problems with the skin, " he says. That's

particularly true for " someone who might be a diabetic and has a

condition known as neuropathy " (i.e., the lack of peripheral

sensation or feeling of the feet). Used in moderation, though, he

says the PedEgg is " probably a great thing, especially if you use it

in conjunction with a nice hydrating cream. "

Bottom line: I have to just say it: The PedEgg swept me off my feet.

Sure, the light dusting of " foot powder " that seeps out of its

plastic shell is a bit annoying, especially after all the

manufacturer's no-fuss, no-muss promises. But the PedEgg's metal

filing surface does a great job of shaving off calluses quickly and

painlessly (much better than any pedicurist I've ever been to). And

it really does have a simple, sleek design. Sort of like your feet

once you get them all gussied up.