What is strawberry legs?
There is nothing serious about strawberry legs. If you have black, brown, or reddish dots on your legs, you may have strawberry legs. There are simply clogged pores on your legs that look like dark-colored strawberry seeds. They are caused by open comedones that contain dead skin, bacteria, and oil that cause hair follicles to enlarge. What causes this to happen? After shaving, the follicle or clogged pore becomes exposed, allowing air to reach the oil inside. As a result, the pore oxidizes and becomes dark. Other causes of strawberry legs include keratosis pilaris, a harmless skin condition that causes small bumps and rough patches, and folliculitis, which is when hair follicles become infected or inflamed.
How to treat and prevent strawberry legs
Depending on what’s causing your strawberry legs, you can treat them at home or with the help of your skin consultant. There are many things you can do to help keep your legs glowing and smooth, including:
1. Make sure you shave properly
Shave in the direction the hair is growing in to minimize the potential for ingrown hairs. And be sure to change your razor frequently since dull razors can irritate. You should also only shave your skin when it’s damp and use a cream to reduce cuts.
2. Exfoliate once a week
To help eliminate dead skin cells, gently exfoliate the skin on the legs with alpha hydroxy acids, which also help to unclog pores. Another option is a physical exfoliant, such as a body wash, that improves overall skin texture and tone.
3. Moisturize and keep your skin hydrated
Skin conditions such as keratosis pilaris, it’s important to both exfoliate and moisturise your skin to reduce inflammation. Look for body lotions containing salicylic acid and lactic acid that break down dead skin cells.
4. Avoid tight clothes
Strawberry legs can also form due to friction while wearing tight clothing during workouts. This can lead to folliculitis when hair follicles become inflamed and infected. Be sure to wear loose-fitting clothes, and then shower and change right after your workout.
5. Reduce Ingrown Hairs and Strawberry legs permanently with Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal targets and destroys hair follicles, leading to permanent hair reduction, it’s an excellent way to treat and prevent strawberry legs and ingrown hairs. That’s because hair removal methods that remove hair from the skin’s surface, like shaving and sugaring, can lead to strawberry legs. Want to learn more about hair removal options?
At Derma Revive Skin Clinic we use the FDA approved Gentle Max Pro by Syneron Candela for laser hair removal which is the safest and most effective laser hair removal technology available.
To book a consultation or treatment at the clinic, please follow this link.