Fashion is a form of self-expression, and everyone should be free to dress how they please! But when it comes to slipping on miniskirts and dresses, some people prefer to keep their legs under wraps (pun intended!) for this common reason – strawberry legs!
Now don’t be fooled by the name, this skin condition is anything but sweet and rosey. On the contrary, it is a bitter case of black dots and dark pores scattered all over the legs – the sight could leave anyone feeling frustrated!
If you’re someone with this problem, then we’re glad to have you here.
In this article, we talk about strawberry legs and all the practical and professional ways you can get rid of them – from at-home tips to professional beauty treatments like Laser Hair Removal. After all, we wouldn’t want you to waste your fashion sense on something that can be treated! All you need are the right skincare practices, and you’ll find the confidence to flaunt your legs in style!
Let’s get to it!
What are Strawberry Legs?
This skin condition is called strawberry legs for a reason, and it’s solely because of how it appears on the skin. Just think of those black seeds around strawberries – but picture them on your legs. Yikes!
This pitted appearance (and in some cases, texture) is basically your pores – but larger and darker than usual. If you have these symptoms, there’s a likely chance you have strawberry legs.
- The persistent appearance of black dots on your legs, especially after shaving
- Dark and enlarged pores, usually from the knee down
- An overall, dotted or pitted look all over the legs
For most people with this skin condition, it is purely a cosmetic problem. But there are some who experience these bothersome symptoms as well:
- Itching around the affected pores
- Appearance of scabs and small wounds
- Overall irritation and discomfort in the legs
In such cases, these symptoms may indicate more serious problems like a deep-seated infection or a different skin condition like psoriasis.
That said, strawberry legs are often loosely used to describe the unattractive presence of black spots. But delving deeper into what causes it will show you how it could be a mere manifestation of bigger skin problems.
What Causes Strawberry Legs?
To put it simply, strawberry legs are a result of trapped gunk on our pores and hair follicles.
Our legs are exposed to a variety of factors – like weather changes, bad hair removal practices, irritating skin care products, and even natural bodily functions like exfoliation – which make them susceptible to dirt, oil, and bacteria.
Normally, our bodies should be able to get rid of these unwanted debris naturally, especially through good hygiene and personal care habits. But for whatever reason our legs are unable to do so, they can cause our pores and hair follicles to enlarge, flame up, and act out. Thus, the appearance of strawberry legs!
Here are the most common conditions and activities that lead to this kind of buildup.
Clogged Pores
We are all familiar with clogged pores on our faces. Well, surprise surprise! It can happen on our legs too!
Pores in this area are generally larger in size, allowing it to collect all the gunk we just mentioned. For oil, in particular, exposing our legs to the surrounding air can lead to hardened and dried up grime.
If our pores are left clogged and unattended, they come off looking like dark spots similar to blackheads.
Dry Skin
Your skin’s condition is often a direct reflection of your overall health and lifestyle. That said, dry skin is attributed to a lot of things – genes with a history of skin conditions, living in a place with extreme weather, using harsh or surfactant-heavy products, even taking one too many hot showers!
Whatever the case may be, people with dry skin have higher chances of developing strawberry skin.
Keratosis Pilaris
Keratosis Pilaris is a skin condition caused by an excessive production and buildup of keratin – the protein responsible for protecting our skin against infection. It manifests as rough patches, small bumps, and – yup, you guessed it – strawberry legs!
Apart from the legs, it is usually present in the butt cheeks, face cheeks, and upper arms as well. Not much is known about what exactly causes this condition, but most experts blame genes as the likely suspect.
All these facts may sound daunting, but keratosis pilaris is basically just a heightened case of dry skin. Other than the physical symptoms, it does not cause pain, itchiness, or irritation for someone who has it. In fact, most people can go through their entire lives not knowing they suffer from this skin condition. And in most cases, you may not need to.
If you keep up a healthy diet and regular moisturising, it generally disappears by the age of 30. But if you are one of the few diagnosed with a severe case, prescription creams and microneedling treatments can significantly improve your condition.
Folliculitis
This is where it gets more complicated than just clogged pores or dry skin, which are both relatively easy to address.
Folliculitis is another skin condition with unsightly symptoms. It first appears as white-headed pimples before developing into small red bumps around the hair follicles. However, more than just horrible marks, severe cases can eventually lead to long-term sores, crusty scabs, and permanent hair loss. These are telltale signs that an infection is brewing underneath your skin.
Now don’t get us wrong, while it does sound gross to say the least, it is far from a life-threatening condition. More than anything, it mostly causes irritation, discomfort, and insecurity among people who have it. Mild cases are easily remedied through at-home skin care tips, but more serious cases require a visit to a dermatologist or skin expert for proper treatment.
Wrong Shaving Practices
And last but not the least – one thing we’ve all been guilty of at least once in our lifetime – bad shaving techniques!
Now, mind you, shaving is generally harmless. But not doing it the right way can lead to unfortunate skin problems – strawberry legs being one of them. We tend to overlook these common no-no’s in shaving, which could eventually lead to those unwanted black dots:
- Using a cheap or bad quality razor
- Not applying shaving cream beforehand
- Shaving against the direction of your hair
- Shaving the same spot multiple times
These simple mistakes can lead to ingrown hair, a common culprit in strawberry legs. Instead of growing like it usually would, hair gets stuck inside the follicle. And in its desperate attempt to make its way out, it causes an irritating skin reaction of red bumps, pimples, and cysts.
To make matters worse, these marks can visibly darken over time, which ruins the whole point of shaving in the first place. Not a pretty sight!
If you’re someone with thick body hair, this could affect you even more, so keep an eye out for these booboos.
Are Strawberry Legs Permanent?
Finally, some good news!
Strawberry legs are generally not a permanent condition – that is, with the right skin care habits and treatment plan of course.
For people with mild cases, they may be able to get rid of those pesky pitted marks on their own. For others, they may need intervention from a professional.
Either way, there are tons of home remedies, skincare products, and beauty treatments to help you improve – if not, completely solve! – your problem. And that brings us to the question on everyone’s mind!
How Do I Get Rid Of Strawberry Legs?
We once heard a dermatologist talking about taking care of the skin through three simple categories. We have since kept her words as a lifelong motto in the face of any skin problem, strawberry legs included.
And today, we’re passing on the knowledge to you. Whether you have strawberry legs or not, anyone can benefit from this holistic approach!
Just remember: Self-care, skin care, and professional care. Easy enough? Here’s what to do!
Self-care
Most people panic at the first sign of skin problems. And while we always recommend taking the safe route by consulting a dermatologist or skin therapist, another great tip to incorporate into your day-to-day routine is proper self-care habits.
In the case of strawberry legs, you’ll be surprised how changing a few habits can keep those dark spots at bay.
- Have cold or lukewarm showers.
We all love ourselves a good, hot shower, but for people prone to strawberry skin, this may make it worse. Hot water strips away natural oils from the skin, leaving it dry and dehydrated. This increases your chances of dead skin cells and clogged pores. That said, set your showers to cold or lukewarm temperatures instead.
- Practice proper hair removal techniques.
As you already know by now, the wrong shaving technique is a big reason for strawberry legs. The best and safest solution against this would be to opt for professional hair removal treatments like waxing, laser hair removal, or electrolysis.
However, if you do decide to keep up with shaving, just make sure you keep these tips in mind:
- Apply shaving cream before you start.
- Use a good-quality razor that will do the job without causing ingrown hair, scabs, or cuts.
- Shave your legs following the direction of your hair growth. This is another tip to prevent ingrown hair.
- Pat your legs dry after shaving. Leftover products, moisture, and razor dirt in the area can lead to pimples, sores, infection, and folliculitis.
- Don’t shave dry legs! Apply moisturiser for a few days, and get back to shaving once they’re smooth and hydrated.
Skin care
As the age-old saying goes, your skin is only as good as your skin care routine. Okay fine, maybe we made that up, but that doesn’t make it any less true!
Sticking to basic steps in your routine can make all the difference. Couple that with the right skin care products, and you’ll go a long way in eliminating those strawberry legs.
- Cleansing
Stay away from soaps loaded with strong surfactants or harsh ingredients. While they will effectively clean out those dirty pores, they will also strip away your skin’s natural oils in the process.
If you have extra dry skin which is causing your strawberry legs, then we recommend skipping traditional soap products all together. Instead, opt for a gentle cleanser or a soap-free wash.
- Exfoliation
While exfoliation is known as a necessary step in facial care, some people see it as optional when it comes to their bodies. We’d hate to state the obvious, but all our pores act the same, including those in our legs!
If they don’t go through the same skin renewal process, then it’s bound to end up clogged with gunk and grime – in that case, strawberry legs should come as no surprise.
To prevent this from happening, make it a habit to exfoliate your body at least once a week. We recommend using a konjac sponge while showering for a gentle mechanical exfoliation.
If you have sensitive skin and prefer less abrasive means, you can use an exfoliating scrub or body wash with lactic acid.
- Moisturisation
Another useful tip you can incorporate after showers is applying a moisturising lotion.
Make sure your body is still slightly damp with water. That way, the moisturiser will trap the water in your skin’s topmost layer. This will help in hydrating your skin after, as well as smoothening out any hardened debris inside your pores.
As an added measure, you can buy a moisturising lotion with exfoliating ingredients like Salicylic Acid. This type of BHA is drawn to oil and water, so it easily enters the pores and cleans out all the built up substances.
Professional care
If all else fails, seek the help of a professional!
The abovementioned tips are proven to help mild cases of strawberry legs. But for more persistent and recurring cases – especially those with thick body hair, darker discolouration, and more deep-seated follicle problems – dermatologists and skin therapists are best equipped to get rid of your problem.
Here at Lovoir Skin Body & Beauty, we typically recommend treatments like electrolysis and laser hair reduction for our customers with this condition. While these treatments are mainly intended for hair removal purposes, getting to the root of the problem (pun intended) will help address the buildup that causes the condition in the first place.
Today, we’ll focus on our best solution thus far – laser hair reduction.
Laser Hair Reduction for Strawberry Legs
Our Laser Hair Reduction treatment is a favorite among customers looking to remove their body hair completely and permanently.
Now before we get into the details, we encourage you to book a consultation with our skin therapist first. A proper assessment of your skin condition will help us guarantee the best treatment plan for your strawberry legs.
That said, if you’re still on the fence about getting this type of treatment, here’s everything you need to know before making your decision.
How does Laser Hair Reduction work?
It’s all in the hands – literally! Our skin therapist will use a highly-sophisticated laser device – our Triple Wave Diode Laser – which emits a concentrated beam of light onto your skin. Once this light is absorbed by your hair follicle, it is converted into heat that then destroys the root – all done without damaging the surrounding skin.
Okay, we know what you’re thinking – all that trouble just to get rid of strawberry legs?! We get you, it kinda sounds like rocket science. But trust us, it’s a lot more straightforward than it seems!
Once your troubled hair follicles are out of the way, the less chances of buildup in your pores, and ultimately, those pesky black dots on your legs. The best part is, you get the added benefit of hair-free skin. All the more reason to whip out those miniskirts!
Now, if you’re worried about the procedure itself, you’ll be happy to know that our Laser Hair Reduction treatment is non-invasive and hardly causes any discomfort. Each session takes 15 to 30 minutes on average, after which you can get on with your day without stress, fuss, or downtime. Just keep these aftercare tips in mind and you’ll have no reason to worry.
Tips after Laser Hair Reduction
- Gently cleanse your legs while showering. While our treatment is generally safe and painless, your skin will be sensitive, as with any beauty treatment.
- Apply a high-SPF sunscreen daily, especially if your outfit exposes your legs to the sun.
- Do not use other hair removal methods in between sessions. Not only do they get in the way of achieving best results, but you’ll want to avoid shaving and waxing altogether, especially after knowing that it can cause ingrown hair and strawberry legs.
How many sessions before I see results?
This ultimately depends on you – the thickness of hair, its natural growth cycle, and how big your affected area is. We usually recommend a range of six to twelve sessions before seeing complete and long-lasting results. However, you should be able to see visible improvements on your black spots and enlarged pores as you progress through sessions.
Will Laser Hair Reduction get rid of my strawberry legs permanently?
Ideally, yes. But again, this will depend on your hair growth and skin condition. We have customers who experience permanent hair loss after they complete their sessions. However, some people can still experience minimal hair growth, but this usually takes months or even years to recur. In such cases, it is easy to book touch ups with us to maintain good results!
Another crucial factor is your personal maintenance and skin care habits. As long as you’re practicing the self-care and skin care tips above, then you should be able to get rid of symptoms in the long run.
For severe cases involving hair follicle infection, we recommend complementing our treatment with medication from your doctor.
Book Laser Hair Reduction with Lovoir Skin Body & Beauty
Whether you opt for at-home remedies or our professional treatments, we hope this article gives you some comfort knowing that your skin condition is totally treatable. With the amount of knowledge you have now, you are well on your way to bidding those strawberry legs goodbye!
If you’re interested in learning more about the ins and outs of this hair removal solution, you can read our complete guide on Laser Hair Removal here. For a more in-depth assessment of any other skin condition you may have, feel free to reach out to our skin therapists. We have a wide range of beauty treatments, and we’ll make sure to recommend one that best suits you!
