Have you ever noticed that your legs are developing little black dots that resemble the seeds or skin of a strawberry? These dark spots are hair follicles or enlarged pores. They can come from a variety of issues, including bacteria, dead skin, and oil.
It is especially common after shaving. When you have a clogged pore or follicle that is exposed after shaving, air gets to the internal oils. This creates an oxidizing effect and darkens it.
Causes of Strawberry Legs
If you are wondering: why do I have strawberry legs? The causes of strawberry legs vary; Although shaving is a common reason, different conditions can cause this unique effect.
clogged pores
Like the rest of our skin, our legs contain thousands of pores. These clogged pores, also known as comedones, can become clogged with dead skin, debris, and bacteria. When the oil inside the clogged pores is exposed to air, it oxidizes and turns black.
Shaved off
This commonly happens if you are using an old or dull razor that needs to be replaced. It can also happen if you don’t use soap or shaving cream. Both of these things can lead to razor burn, which is a direct cause of strawberry legs. Ingrown hair can also cause this look, and it’s common if you have thicker body hair. For other people, the skin around the follicle darkens in response to the irritation you experience from shaving.
folliculitis
Sometimes our hair follicles can become infected or inflamed. Folliculitis can occur from waxing, shaving, or any other method of hair removal that leaves the hair follicle open and more likely to be exposed. It can also occur if you have been exposed to fungus, yeast, or bacteria.
Folliculitis is a common result of using a hot tub without a properly regulated pH or chemicals. This inflammatory disorder usually begins as small red bumps or blisters, which then result in scabs that can take time to heal. It can also cause a dark skin appearance, especially if it is related to ingrown hairs that are fighting their way out.
keratosis pilaris
A common but benign condition, kerastosis pilaris most often appears on the skin of the upper arms and thighs. They are small bumps that can resemble goosebumps, pimples, or “chicken skin” and are hard to the touch. This is caused by the buildup of keratin and dead skin cells.
Dry Skin
Severely dehydrated skin can cause or worsen strawberry legs and other conditions like keratosis pilaris that mimic it. Excessive dryness can make the skin more easily irritated during shaving, making you more susceptible to razor burn, strawberry legs, and folliculitis.
What are the symptoms of strawberry legs?
Chopped/stippled appearance on the skin of the legs
Darkened open pores on the legs.
Black or brown dots appear after shaving
How are strawberry legs treated?
Fortunately, you can easily treat your strawberry legs at home. You can prevent and treat strawberry legs by:
Using a moisturizing shaving cream or lotion
Shave slowly and correctly
Switch to an epilator, a manual electric epilator that removes hair from the roots.
Regular exfoliation can remove dead skin cells and ingrown hairs.
Using an over-the-counter product with glycolic acid/salicylic acid
professional treatments
There are also clinical treatments such as electrolysis and laser therapy. Laser therapy can be used for long-term hair removal with multiple targeted treatments, while electrolysis involves using low levels of electricity to target problem hair follicles.
Doctors may also prescribe therapies for the infected follicle in the form of oral antibiotics, antibiotic creams or gels. If your problem is fungus or yeast, topical or oral antifungal treatments may be prescribed.
The bottom line
All in all, strawberry legs can be managed quite easily, especially if you employ prevention tactics and home remedies. But the solution may not be so simple for those with thicker body hair, hair follicle problems, or darker skin, and professional treatment may be the way to go.
Although epilators are not as comfortable or painless as we would like, they are one of the best preventative measures, as is applying shaving cream before the skin touches the razor.
Also, try to choose a razor that has blade flexibility or a pivoting head. This will allow it to better adapt to your curves. You can also exfoliate or dry brush a day or two before shaving to remove impurities.
Ultimately, while this skin problem can be annoying, it’s not the end of the world and there are many steps you can take to proactively treat it.
