Why You Shouldn’t Use Pumice Stones

Exfoliation is needed if you want to slough away unsightly (and sometimes unhealthy) buildup of dead skin cells. When many of us suffer from hardened heels, we are quick to whip out our pumice stones and sand away at our flaky, hardened feet – but are pumice stones the best way to exfoliate your feet? ViaBuff investigates!

Why Foot Pumices Aren’t a Great Idea

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When it comes to exfoliation, foot pumices always seem to deliver the best exfoliation – it’s oddly satisfying to see a dusting of freshly-removed dead skin cells on the surface of your pumice. However, that satisfaction comes at a price. Many individuals may exfoliate too vigorously and cause their skin to become sore or even bleed, especially if your pumice is particularly jagged or has a broken edge. If you are a little too zealous on your hardened feet, this may in turn make your feet more hardened and calloused, as the foot will believe that it is undergoing trauma.

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Unlike our ViaBuff buffs, pumices shouldn’t be used on everyone; those with diabetes, thin skin, poor circulation, an inability to feel their feet, those who take blood thinners and who suffer from certain other conditions should never use a pumice, according to Dr. Misty McNeill at Prairie Path Foot and Ankle Clinic. Given that they are used in the shower, are full of tiny crevices, and are seldom dried off after use, pumice stones provide a great home for bacterial colonization that can result in infections or certain skin diseases. Pumices should be soaked in an antibacterial solution once or twice a week and disposed of within one month of first use (Dr. Misty McNeill for Prairie Path Foot and Ankle Clinic, WebMD, Prevention). But we have to ask, what’s the point in shelling our $10 – $15 every month on pumice when $11 buys you a ViaBuff Body Exfoliator for at least three months of use?

Why You Should Use the ViaBuff Instead

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When we were formulating the ViaBuff buffs, we wanted to design a tool that was more abrasive than a loofah but not jagged or coarse like pumice stones. So we designed our buffs from an open-cell polyurethane that was tough enough to remove flakes of dead skin but gentle enough to leave healthy skin in peace. Unlike loofahs, puffs, and pumices that absorb water, our ViaBuff buffs were designed so as to limit water retention, which keeps your buff from becoming soggy and less effective. Since they limit absorption, our ViaBuff buffs also ensure that your exfoliating serums will stay on the surface of your buff and be massaged into your skin instead of seeping into the buff’s crevices. To ensure that we were delivering the highest quality buffs to our clients, we made sure to have our buffs tested by a dermatologist before introducing them on the market. But what really makes our buffs unique and spectacular is that they last three times longer than your standard buff (90 days!) and come in four levels and cater to 10 different skin types, so that virtually everyone can have a satisfying exfoliative experience.

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Bottom Line

Pumice stones are great for those of us who love an ultra-abrasive exfoliation – but they may be causing more harm than good. Pumice stones are so rough that they may cause cuts, bleeding, and soreness, and should never be used on those with diabetes, poor circulation, numbness in their feet, and certain other conditions. Given their many tiny crevices, pumices also can harbor a great deal of bacteria and should be disposed of monthly in order to avoid infections. Conversely, the ultra-affordable ViaBuff buffs defend against bacterial colonization, last for 3 months, can be used on most skin types and are abrasive yet gentle on one’s skin. If you are looking for a great Christmas gift, look not further than our exfoliating buffs.

Comments 2

  1. I’m a diabetic and I’ve been going to the same podiatrist for over 20 years and they have me use the pumice stone and now I’m getting ulcers like crazy what is going on I have no feeling in my feet but yet they still have me using it calluses are getting worse help please

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