What are Strawberry Legs?

WHAT ARE STRAWBERRY LEGS?

Have you ever shaved your legs and days later, you notice dark dots? This is called strawberry legs, and these dots can look like open pores that have darkened, or dark spots that appear black, brown, or red in color. Strawberry legs do not require medical help, but the appearance can be improved. According to Medical News Today, strawberry legs happen when dead skin, oil, and bacteria get trapped under the hair follicles. Different factors can cause strawberry legs like clogged pores, dry skin, or even a skin condition called keratosis pilaris (KP).

How to to get rid of strawberry legs?

Exfoliate – As with any other skincare routine, exfoliation is a good way to remove dead skin on the surface which allows for new hairs to grow and reduces the likelihood of getting ingrown hairs. Dry brushing not only exfoliates your legs, but it can have other positive effects on your body too! Check it out here for more info!

If you’re familiar with chemical exfoliators, then you know salicylic or glycolic acid can also aid in reducing the appearance of strawberry legs because they are ingredients that reduces inflammation and redness. 

Moisturize – Another key method is to MOISTURIZE. MOISTURIZE. MOISTURIZE. It goes without saying that moisturizing the skin improves its overall appearance because it keeps the skin from drying out. Moisturizing after exfoliation will improve the overall texture of your legs and it can prevent your legs from growing ingrown hairs.

To prevent strawberry legs, use shaving cream when shaving. Make sure your razors are sharp (not dull! Change your razors after five to ten shaves!) and moisturize! Also, shave in the direction of the hair growth.

Alternative options 

If the “homemade” treatments don’t work for you and you’re seeking long term results, there are medical treatment options that target the problem directly from the source. Electrolysis targets the hair follicles and stops the hair from growing. This can prevent ingrown hairs from growing back because it removes hair permanently! Another way is laser hair removal, which may take about two to six sessions to effectively remove leg hair.

Again, having strawberry legs is completely normal and totally temporary. However, if they start to look worse, consult with your doctor or dermatologist for more guidance. 

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Sources:

Cleveland Clinic. (2022, July 12). 5 Ways To Get Rid of Strawberry Legs. Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved August 3, 2022, from https://health.clevelandclinic.org/strawberry-legs/ 

Fletcher, J. (2019, August 13). How to get rid of Strawberry Legs: Treatment and prevention.  Medical News Today. Retrieved August 3, 2022, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326033#medical-treatments

Quinn, D. (2020, February 18). Your Razor might be giving you “Strawberry legs”. Women’s  Health. Retrieved August 2, 2022, from https://www.womenshealthmag.com/beauty/a30926953/strawberry-legs/

Summers, G. (2022, February 2). How to get rid of “Strawberry Legs,” according to derms.  Byrdie. Retrieved August 2, 2022, from https://www.byrdie.com/strawberry-legs-4788277