straa · beh · ree –skin. A common condition where shaving-damaged follicles on the legs become enlarged and clogged, creating the appearance of small dark spots resembling strawberry seeds. Hence the name, strawberry legs.
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.
The tiny black bumps, which resemble the seeds on a strawberry, are skin pores and hair follicles clogged with dirt, bacteria, or oil. Fortunately, they are usually harmless and you can get rid of strawberry legs with a few tweaks to your shower regimen and shaving routine.
Risks of Strawberry Legs
Chronic skin irritation may lead to permanent damage or more serious health conditions. If your skin is infected, talk to your doctor immediately. If your skin conditions persist, the infection may spread to other areas of your body.
Keratosis pilaris is most common in people with dry skin or eczema, says Dr. Reid, and is caused by excess keratin building up in your hair follicles. Usually, most people with lifelong "strawberry legs" are actually just dealing with keratosis pilaris—which, annoyingly, is genetic.
How can you treat strawberry legs? Folliculitis can't be cured, but the inflammation can be kept under control by managing the way you shave, such as not cutting the hair too short. The only way to really get rid of it once and for all is to have laser hair removal.
If you are experiencing an active flare-up of strawberry legs, it is best to avoid waxing because the irritation can make the bumps and spots more visible. Always shave in the direction of the hair using shaving cream with a clean sharp razor to avoid any bruises.
A common skin condition, folliculitis happens when a hair follicle becomes infected or inflamed. This condition may look like acne, often starting out as small red bumps. You can have folliculitis on your face, arms, back and legs. Mild cases can be cared for at home, while other cases are treated by a dermatologist.
"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."
Ingrown hair on your legs can also be caused by a buildup of dead skin cells clogging hair follicles. To reduce your risk of ingrown hairs, exfoliate your legs before shaving with a body scrub. This process doesn't take too much time and can leave your skin feeling soft and rejuvenated.
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.
Mix 1 spoon baking soda with 1 spoon water and apply it on your legs. Keep it for 4 to 5 minutes for drying up. Rinse it with cold water.
Often people will use the term strawberry legs to describe what are actually ingrown hairs, keratosis pilaris, or folliculitis, but those are specific skin conditions that should be treated accordingly.
“Acne-like bumps on the buttocks are caused by inflammation of hair follicles, which is called folliculitis,” says MacKelfresh. Folliculitis can be caused by an infection from bacteria, yeast, or fungus, irritation of hair follicles, or blockage of hair follicles, she says.
Is folliculitis a sexually transmitted infection (STI)? Folliculitis isn't considered a sexually transmitted infection, though in some cases it can transfer via close skin contact. However, the herpes simplex virus is spread through sexual contact. In rare cases, this virus can cause folliculitis.
What causes red spots on lower legs? There are several possible causes of red spots on legs, including eczema (atopic dermatitis), hives (urticaria), insect bites, and heat rash. If you're unsure what's causing your symptoms, contact a medical provider.
Moreover, you can also try some oil massages using olive, coconut, and any other essential oil periodically to get rid of any spots on the legs. We know, homemade scrubs used thrice a week can literally save you from the embarrassing strawberry spots on the 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.
Instead, gentle, chemical exfoliation with glycolic acid based products is the solution to cleaning out pores and removing the black dots that signify strawberry legs.
Although the CeraVe SA Cream for Rough & Bumpy Skin has not been tested specifically on "strawberry legs' this cream will help to effectively smooth and soothe very dry skin.