Strawberry legs — also known as strawberry skin legs — occur when your hair follicles or pores are clogged with dirt, dead skin, bacteria or oil. The spots usually don't itch or cause pain. The lighter your skin, the more visible strawberry legs are. You'll typically see: Black or brown spots after shaving.
Strawberry legs occur when enlarged pores or hair follicles trap dead skin, oil, and bacteria. A person often experiences strawberry legs following shaving. Other skin conditions that can cause strawberry legs include clogged pores, folliculitis, dry skin, and keratosis pilaris.
Unfortunately, there is no way to get rid of strawberry legs immediately as it requires consistency with the use of preventive measures. However, shaving using the right razor and shaving products is the most effective way to achieve quick results if done regularly.
Q. How long does it take to heal strawberry legs? A. With consistent exfoliation, moisturising and proper hair removal methods, getting rid of strawberry legs can take anywhere between three to six weeks.
While strawberry legs are not harmful, some people may feel self-conscious about their appearance. There are several ways to treat or reduce the appearance of strawberry legs, such as exfoliating the skin, using a moisturizer, and avoiding tight clothing.
The tiny red or black bumps, which resemble the seeds on a strawberry, are skin pores and hair follicles clogged with dirt, bacteria, or oil. Strawberry legs are not serious and can often be prevented by using proper shaving techniques or treated at home with simple skincare products.
To avoid strawberry legs, try shaving in the direction of hair growth. Avoid passing over the same area too many times, which will irritate the skin. Also, be careful not to stretch your skin tight while shaving. When done, Tobia adds, "Pat your legs dry—rubbing can irritate your skin—and apply a moisturizer or oil.
These include using baking soda, exfoliating the skin, applying aloe vera, and scrubbing with sea salt and ground coffee beans. In addition, moisturizing the skin immediately after the shower, drinking plenty of water, and scrubbing your body may help prevent dark spots on your legs.
Don't go overboard with exfoliating every single day (that's not good for your skin), but do exfoliate at least once a week to keep pores from getting clogged. Gently scrubbing your legs with a washcloth or loofah can get the job done.
Take a 1/4 cup of sea salt and mix it with coconut oil. Then use a washcloth to apply the mixture to your legs. This helps to remove dead skin that can clog pores.
Do sugar scrubs help strawberry legs? Indeed! Sugar is considered as a natural exfoliator as it contains alpha hydroxy acid. This alpha hydroxy acid helps in removing the dirt, keratin, sebum, and ingrown hair that clogs the pores and follicles, thus reducing strawberry legs.
Ways to Exfoliate Your Legs at Home
Dry brushing is a way of exfoliating your skin by using a natural-bristle bath or shower brush. You do it on dry skin, without water or any product. You can start at your ankles and work your way up your body, moving the brush upward in long, fluid strokes.
Cucumber rich in vitamin C acts as an antioxidant. This paste of rose water and cucumber clears clogged pores, soothes irritated skin and provides smooth soft legs. Use it regularly for a fortnight to remove strawberry spots.
An age-old Ayurvedic technique, dry brushing can help lessen the appearance of strawberry legs, and unclog the pores on your legs too. All you need is a brush with thick bristles. Take it, and massage it all over your dry legs in small, circular motions without any lubrication.
Shave in both directions
Shaving against the grain – i.e. up the leg – supposedly gives a closer shave, but it also increases the risk of nicks, cuts and bumps. It's best to start by shaving down the leg, in the direction of the hair's growth.
Strawberry legs are known as keratosis pilaris, a skin condition of clogged pores. Keratosis pilaris is uncurable, but it is treatable—even though treatment is unneeded. Treatments can include skincare products, like exfoliators, and laser or light therapies.
Apple vinegar
To do this remedy, you have to take 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp coconut oil and 1 tbsp honey. After this, make a mixture by mixing these three and apply it on the affected skin. Let it dry and then wash off with water.
Folliculitis. This common skin condition is often found on the legs, among other body parts. Folliculitis may cause the appearance of strawberry legs when hair follicles are inflamed, infected, or irritated. At first, the hair follicles may appear darker.
Self-tanning: There has been a resurgence in self-tanner to hide pigmentation! Going for an olive-toned spray tan usually works best when trying to mask strawberry legs.
“After exfoliating, moisturize with a non-clogging oil like Bio-Oil Natural while your skin is damp,” Dr. Karp suggests. “Plant oils are full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that reduce redness. If your skin is dry, strawberry legs will be more prominent.”