Find out how to Get Rid of Strawberry Legs, In keeping with Derms

Find out how to eliminate strawberry legs, a.ok.a. these darkish spots that make your pores and skin appear to be the skin of—you guessed it— a strawberry, is rather a lot simpler than one may assume. However earlier than you possibly can even consider options on tips on how to get clearer and smoother-looking pores and skin, you need to perceive what these dots are and the way they got here to be within the first place.

“[It’s] a time period used to explain the looks of darkish pores or small black spots on the legs, resembling the seeds on a strawberry,” says board-certified dermatologist Tiffany Libby, MD. “Whereas it’s not medically worrisome, it typically serves as a beauty concern associated to the seen darkish spots or dots that give the pores and skin a speckled look.” 

Marisa Garshick, MD, board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology, agrees and provides strawberry legs are sometimes asymptomatic. Relying on what’s inflicting these darkish spots, she says they are often related to itching, ache, or small tough bumps. 

So whereas it’s not thought of dangerous, there are a few methods to stop these black dots from popping up if their look bothers you. From causes to tips on how to eliminate strawberry legs, Libby and Garshick break down every thing it is advisable to know beneath.   

The Causes of Strawberry Legs

Strawberry legs, says Libby, are primarily attributable to the presence of three issues: clogged hair follicles, ingrown hairs, or folliculitis. Garshick explains that clogged pores can happen when lifeless pores and skin, oil, or particles oxidize contained in the pores and switch darkish, giving pores and skin that strawberry pores and skin look. Ingrown hairs (a.ok.a. pseudofolliculitis) may end up from waxing or shaving when the hair follicle turns into infected. Folliculitis refers back to the bacterial or fungal an infection of the hair follicle that may result in redness or pustules centered across the hair follicle. This may additionally occur when the hair is in a state of friction, comparable to being trapped beneath tight leggings or throughout exercises. And whereas technically a distinct situation, strawberry legs are related in look to keratosis pilaris, which she says is a situation when keratin or lifeless pores and skin will get trapped within the hair follicle which may trigger a tough bumpy texture that resembles rooster pores and skin. 

Each consultants say that genetics may play a job in who’s extra vulnerable to getting this pores and skin situation, so it’s positively one thing to contemplate. Libby explains that some individuals are predisposed to having darker, thicker hair that mechanically makes them extra vulnerable to ingrown hairs or follicle blockages. Garshick agrees and provides that when darkish or coarse hair is shaved, it might nonetheless go away behind a darkish dot that seems seen because the hair is a darker shade. 

Find out how to Stop Them

To stop strawberry legs, you need to modify your physique care routine. However they’re simple fixes to include. A few of the greatest methods embrace the next:

Exfoliating Often

Garshick says that common exfoliation, chemical or bodily, helps to stop the buildup of lifeless pores and skin, and prevents the pores from changing into clogged. Libby provides that taking a look at chemical exfoliants comparable to alpha- (AHA) and beta-hydroxy acids (BHA) will dissolve away lifeless pores and skin cells and hold pores away from any particles. “A product like First Help Magnificence’s KP Bump Eraser is my go-to advice for stopping and treating each strawberry legs and keratosis pilaris,” she says. “It gently exfoliates with delicate pumice beads and glycolic and lactic acids to carry away lifeless pores and skin cell layers and decrease clogged pores.” 

Shaving Correctly

When shaving, Libby says that you simply’ll wish to use a moisturizing shaving cream and use a pointy razor to stop razor bumps. Garshick provides that it’s essential to additionally shave within the course of hair progress. Libby provides you possibly can even contemplate different hair removing merchandise, like depilatory lotions, to cut back the chance of ingrown hairs. 

Maintaining Pores and skin Moisturized

Hydration is essential and utilizing a mild moisturizing cream or lotion can have your pores and skin feeling gentle and easy. “Maintaining the pores and skin effectively hydrated and moisturized [helps] keep away from dryness that may exacerbate the situation,” says Libby. We like one thing just like the CeraVe SA Cream with Salicylic Acid for Tough & Bumpy Pores and skin as our go-to physique lotion to conserving the pores and skin’s floor easy and clear and it’s appropriate for all pores and skin varieties.

Dry Brushing

Each consultants say that dry brushing, the bodily exfoliant that sloughs away lifeless pores and skin cells, may be helpful to conserving strawberry legs at bay. Garshick says it might stop build-up and hold pores unclogged. You merely take a gentle dry brush and brush in round motions on dry pores and skin earlier than getting within the bathe. 

Therapy

Already bought strawberry legs? No downside. Libby says that the 2 most essential issues to bear in mind when treating them are unclogging pores and minimizing ingrown hairs. This may be completed in some ways, however she recommends specializing in correct shaving approach and contemplating in-office remedies.