What are Strawberry Legs?
Strawberry legs are the visible dark spots at the site of each hair follicle. This difficult to get rid of condition gives legs an uneven and rough texture. The pitted appearance is due to the open pores which get contaminated with oil, bacteria, and dead skin. It darkens up when exposed to air after shaving.
What Causes Strawberry Legs?
The causes of strawberry legs vary from person to person. It’s a colloquial term which can refer to many things such as keratosis pilaris, folliculitis and razor burns, some of which coexist with each other.
- Shaving: Strawberry legs can occur if you shave the legs with dull, old razors and without shaving cream. People having thick hair get affected by shaving. Razor burns can lead to strawberry legs and also folliculitis. Shaving can also lead to ingrown hair which can give a strawberry legs appearance. In a few cases, the skin around the follicle darkens due to irritation from shaving and increases the dark appearance.
- Folliculitis: Folliculitis results from a bacterial or fungal infection of the hair follicle which leads to raised bumps or tiny pimple at the area. It can also be a result of ingrown hair from shaving, giving legs a strawberry legs appearance. People with a history of acne or dermatitis are prone to this condition.
- Dry Skin: An exceptionally dry skin leads to irritation while shaving making the skin more vulnerable to razor burns, folliculitis, and strawberry legs appearance. Dryness also encourages darkness of the pores in the skin making keratosis pilaris, comedones, razor burns, and folliculitis more obvious to naked eye.
- Keratosis Pilaris: This is a condition which leads to the tiny raised bumps, dry skin, and rough patches.
The bumps present in keratosis pilaris are tiny accumulation of protein keratin and dead epithelial cells. Their itchiness and dryness can be treated with moisturizers. The condition is common in dry winter months.
Symptoms of Strawberry Legs
Strawberry legs are characterized by the following symptoms:
- Tiny red bumps on the skin of the legs
- Clogged pores which have a dark appearance
- Dark or pitted pores
These symptoms could mean that you have strawberry legs but it’s always good to consult a professional for the same.
How To Get Rid Of Strawberry Legs?
The first thing which tops the list in the treatment of strawberry legs is keeping the legs clean. But this might not be enough. Soaps containing salicylic acid removes the surface layer of dead skin cells and unclogs the pores. Also, the one containing benzoyl peroxide helps in killing the bacteria and exfoliating the skin.
Actually exfoliating is the simplest remedy for anyone trying to get rid of strawberry legs.
Many commercial skin scrubs are available, but there is nothing like a natural homemade exfoliant. Below are listed few of homemade scrubs which can help get rid of the strawberry legs:
Brown Sugar, Aloe Vera, and Lemon Juice: Mix 2 parts of brown sugar with aloe vera gel. Add half a teaspoon of lemon juice. Apply it on the skin by making small circular motions with a gentle brush, loofah, or a face cloth.
Baking Soda and Buttermilk: Make a smooth paste out of baking soda and buttermilk and apply it on the skin and let it stay for some time. The cleansing action of buttermilk helps open the clogged pores and exfoliate the skin.
Natural Salt and Milk: Take fine-grained salt and milk in equal parts and massage legs with the preparation. This helps loosen dead skin and clear the open pores.
Do not use dull razors on simply wet skin. Be sure to apply a moisturizer before the skin comes in contact with a razor. You can also use an epilator for hair removal as it removes hair from the root and can prevent the strawberry legs from occurring.
Apply a lot of moisturizer on the skin to prevent the symptoms of strawberry legs.
Any type of acne condition can be gotten rid of by using an over-the-counter product containing salicylic acid or glycolic acid.
If the home remedies do not prove to be effective, there is no harm in getting treated by a professional to avoid any unnecessary complication. The doctor can go ahead with the permanent hair removal treatments which might be,
- Electrolysis and Laser therapy
- Doctor might also prescribe a therapeutic treatment to treat the infected hair follicles (in case of a bacterial and fungal infection)
- In many people, the condition is easily managed but few might require professional help.
However, you can prevent strawberry legs from occurring by knowing your skin and taking proper care of it.
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