Strawberry legs refer to small, dark spots that appear in a hair follicle pattern on the legs, resembling strawberry seeds. While this common skin concern is usually harmless and not painful or itchy, any discomfort or irritation may indicate an underlying condition that should be checked by a doctor.
Strawberry legs can be used to describe various skin conditions caused by:
- Shaving with old & dull razors
- Keratosis pilaris
1. Shaving with old & dull razors
The dark dots represent the hair follicles or enlarged pores that contain a mixture of oil, bacteria and dead skin (folliculitis) or hair trapped in them. Sloppy shaving technique with a dull razor may lead to the hair being cut at an angle, and when it grows back, it looks like a dark dot in the follicle. Razor burn can also cause folliculitis to develop.
To help with ingrown hairs, follow the following tips:
- Make sure your skin is moist before you shave,
- Use a single-blade razor,
- Use a moisturising lotion cream,
- Shave in the direction of the hair, &
- Use a thick moisturiser after
2. Keratosis Pilaris
If the dark dots are bumpy, it may indicate that an excessive amount of keratin, a key component in skin, is retained in the follicle opening or pore. The keratin defect condition is known as keratosis pilaris. It is mostly a seasonal or episodic eruption in 10-15% of the population.
Home Remedies
Exfoliate regularly
First step you can take is to exfoliate to ensure that you’re unclogging your pores from extra dirt and sebum, and getting rid of any dead skin cells. Both chemical exfoliators, such as products with ingredients like glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and other alpha-hydroxy and beta-hydroxy acids (AHAs and BHAs), and physical exfoliators such as body scrubs, luffa and exfoliating gloves would work well to loosen the top layer of the skin and decrease the debris.
Moisturize
Dryness in the skin could make the condition more noticeable and make the skin irritated more easily, causing an increase in the appearance of the follicles. Use a body lotion or cream to hydrate your skin to restore lipids and water density in the hair follicles and surrounding skin.
Kills the hair at the root
Both waxing, epilator and laser hair removal could help lessen the appearance of strawberry legs. It also exfoliates to a small degree as some dead skin on the surface may be removed in the process.
