Strawberry Legs: 5 Causes and How To Get Rid Of Them

Say goodbye to strawberry legs and hello to smooth and glowy legs.

Strawberry legs look like a strawberry’s surface, with dark dot-like bumps and spots all over your legs. Typically they are not harmful in any way, and it is very typical to have them. In rare cases, they can be genetic, but with a few changes, you can get rid of them. 

Symptoms of strawberry legs 

Typically strawberry legs should not cause any kind of irritation, and if you are experiencing any, I would advise you to visit a dermatologist and figure out what the problem could be. 

The symptoms are:

• The dot-like appearance is all over the legs.
• Dark spotspost-shavingg.
• Dark open pores on your legs
• Small dark red bumps on your legs.

What causes strawberry legs?

So many things can cause strawberry legs, and I would say many different ‘conditions’ may appear like them. So, in essence, most people with strawberry legs have many other reasons for having them, and typically the causes of them are:

Poor shaving practices 

When you shave, you may experience razor burns. Using old razors, shaving in the opposite direction of where your hair grows, and dry shaving can all cause razor burns which lead to strawberry legs. Shaving can also cause ingrown hairs, which appear like them. People who are most affected by this are people with thick hair. 

Dry skin 

Dry legs are a breeding ground for irritation, especially when shaving. Shaving on dry legs can lead to razor burns, and you will be more prone to developing folliculitis and strawberry legs. 

Clogged pores 

A build-up of dead skin cells, oil, and dirt trapped in enlarged pores can result in a dark appearance. When you shave your legs, when your pores have clogged, the oil in them will be exposed and may turn black causing strawberry legs. 

Keratosis pilaris 

Keratosis pilaris is often referred to as “chicken skin.” They are tiny red bumps that typically appear on your arms, throughs, and sometimes your legs. It results from trapped dead skin cells in your pores and may appear as strawberry legs. 

Folliculitis 

Folliculitis generally begins with tiny red pimples or blisters, which may eventually become scabs that are not readily healed. They can occasionally be linked to ingested hair that has difficulty breaking through the skin. The skin appearance of the strawberry legs is sometimes obscure.

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How do you get rid of strawberry legs?

Luckily strawberry legs are easily treatable, and they are not necessarily permanent if treated regularly and consistently with suitable methods for your skin type. 

1. Try changing your shaving blades more often. 

Changing your blades often will allow fewer razor burns and irritations, leading to fewer folliculitis and strawberry legs. This is the cheapest and most effective way to get rid of those bumps and is the first step at getting the smooth legs you’ve been dreaming of. 

2. Exfoliate more regularly 

Unlike physical exfoliation, chemical exfoliation is an excellent way of exfoliating is making use of chemical exfoliants. Look for glycolic acid and salicylic acid products to unclog your pores deeper. They are gentler than physical exfoliants, especially if you have sensitive skin, and they will melt all the build-up away without the roughness of using physical force. The only downside to using chemical exfoliants is that they may make your skin more sensitive to the sun. So just make sure that you do not skip using your sunscreen every day.

3. Use something moisturizing to shave. 

Moisturing shaving creams are very beneficial when it comes to avoiding irritation and razor burns when shaving. Use them to reduce your chances of getting strawberry legs. 

Body butter is not the most popular way to shave, but they are so effective. They give your skin a protective barrier and avoid all the irritation you may get from using the blade. They also allow for a close shave and glide. 

4. Use a moisturizing cream. 

Remember that dry skin can be a breeding ground for strawberry legs? Using a good moisturizer on your legs can help hydrate your skin and make it appear much better. A good moisturizing cream can also reduce the irritation you may get post-shaving. 

5. Try using an epilator

An epilator is a device that removes unwanted hair from the root by pulling it, and it’s kind of like waxing. You should exfoliate your skin before you use it because it potentially causes ingrown hairs. 

6. Opt for waxing instead of shaving. 

If shaving is the leading cause of your strawberry legs, waxing is a better alternative, and it lasts longer, gets rid of dead skin cells, and avoids getting razor bumps when you shave. The only downside is that waxing may cause folliculitis, but the chances are slimmer than shaving. 

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Strawberry legs professional treatments 

These treatments can only be done by a licensed professional like a dermatologist or esthetician.

• Laser therapy- it will work by removing the hairs that are causing the strawberry legs. Lasers get rid of your hair permanently.   
• Electrolysis– just like laser therapy, electrolysis is a hair removal treatment. It uses electricity to stop your hair from growing, reducing the occurrence of ingrown hairs. 

The best products for strawberry legs

Many good products and tools can help you move closer to eliminating the bumps. Here are some of my favorite products and tools that greatly help. 

The products are:

• Philips Beauty Satinelle Essential Corded Epilator. A good quality epilator 
• AmLactin Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion. This great exfoliating lotion will give your skin a smoother and clearer appearance over time. It is formulated with Lactic acid to gently exfoliate your skin. 
• Paula’s Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment.
• CeraVe SA Cream. 
• CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser.
• Aveeno Sheer Hydration Daily Moisturizing Lotion.

The takeaway

Getting rid of strawberry legs is one of the easier things to do because some of the options are so inexpensive. After all, it is not a death sentence but a temporary setback. 

Always remember that prevention is better than cure, and if you are experiencing irritation, make sure you visit your dermatologist for a proper diagnosis. 

Since we are already on the topic of texture, I have a blog post that you might be interested in on textured skin.