The good news is that getting rid of strawberry legs involves only three simple steps.
Strawberry spots on legs are not harmful.
However, they can make your self-esteem go down, as they make you self-conscious about your legs.
You might think twice before sporting something that exposes your legs.
Today, we will talk how to get rid of those little black dots, and what is causing them.
What is causing your strawberry legs?
The medical term for strawberry legs is keratosis pilaris.
The condition is a benign and chronic skin condition.
It happens more in people with dry skin.
Generally speaking, the condition means that your pores get clogged with a build-up of keratin, and they give a tiny bump over the hair follicle.
Strawberry legs often appear when you remove hair from the legs, most often after shaving.
But what else is causing these small and dark spots on the skin?
Enlarged Pores
In many cases, the dark spots we know as strawberry legs are actually enlarged and dark pores.
Technically, they can be referred to as “open comedones”.
Caused by too much production of oil or sebum.
Too much sebum can clog your pores, trap bacteria and dead skin inside.
When the pores are exposed to air through shaving, they oxidize, making the pores appear darker.
Folliculitis
Folliculitis is an irritation of the hair follicle.
Exposure to bacteria, fungi, or yeast can all cause the condition.
In some cases, folliculitis can be caused by shaving and presence of ingrown hairs.
After shaving, your hair underneath the skin might have a hard time penetrating back through the skin.
In such cases, it curls under the surface and creates a blockage that results in irritation, dark pores, and small bumps.
Dry skin
As mentioned previously, people with dry skin are more prone to strawberry legs.
Dry skin can impair your skin barrier, which is the topmost layer of skin.
The goal of the skin barrier is to keep foreign invaders and impurities away from your skin.
All of these impurities can irritate the skin.
When your skin barrier is not functioning properly, you might experience irritation caused by dull razors or chemicals in shaving creams.
How to get rid of Strawberry Legs?
Can you cure strawberry legs?
The answer is both yes and no.
For starters, keratosis pilaris is a chronic disease, meaning it is a long-lasting disease.
Keratosis pilaris can come and go, and this happens mainly during the winter months.
What you can do, however, is fight the condition.
Now, let’s not fool ourselves.
You cannot get rid of strawberry legs overnight. There is no fast cure.
There is, however, a step by step guide.
You have to be persistent to control the appearance of these black spots on your skin.
Here are the three steps.
Step 1 – Exfoliation
This is the most crucial step for preventing and treating strawberry legs.
Your goal is to remove the build-up in your pores so that they are not dark.
Keeping your legs well exfoliated is one of the best ways to prevent the appearance of dark pores.
Exfoliation is a process in which you remove any buildup of oil, dirt, and bacteria.
Keep your skin free of those impurities, and there will be no dark spots.
Exfoliation removes layers of dead skin cells.
You can use a number of exfoliating products, but we always recommend sticking to natural and healthy ingredients.
You can find all of these ingredients in your kitchen.
Baking soda
This is easy as it gets.
All you need is 2 ingredients, baking soda, and water.
Make a thick paste with a ratio of 1:1.
After mixing baking soda and water, apply on the skin.
Massage using circular movements for five minutes, and then wash off.
Salt
Salt is one of the best exfoliating products on the market.
Mix ½ cup of olive or coconut oil and 1 cup of salt.
Add few drops of essential oils if you want more fragrance and relaxing feeling.
Massage the affected area for 5 to 10 minutes, and then wash off.
Sugar and olive oil
If salt is too harsh for your skin, you can try using brown sugar.
Salt is not good for those with sensitive skin.
A good paste ratio is 1 tablespoon of brown sugar and 2 tablespoons of oil.
Some prefer to use olive oil, while others go for coconut oil (the smell is better).
Apply on the skin using circular motions, and then wash off.
Ground coffee
If you love drinking coffee, you’ll love this exfoliating scrub.
Prepare a cup of black coffee, and drink it.
Take the coffee cup with you in the shower, and use the coffee grounds to apply to your affected areas.
Use small and circular motions to apply, and then massage for five minutes.
Rinse off.
Coffee also helps you fight off cellulite.
Step 2 – Hair removal
As we talked before, dark spots on your legs commonly happen due to shaving.
Women try to keep their legs as hair-free as possible.
It is very important to choose the best hair removal treatment for you.
For example, if you prefer shaving, always exfoliate several days before shaving.
Soak your legs in the warm water to soften the hair and prepare them for shaving.
Always use a sharp razor, and throw the old one out.
Shave in the direction hair grows.
Rinse in cold water to close your pores, minimizing their exposure to air.
A good idea is to invest in safety razor that has a single blade going over the hairs, not 5 single blades going over the same spot.
Waxing and epilating are also good options for hair removal.
There are so many options of epilators and wax, and you can buy the one that suits you the most.
Whether you prefer cold or warm wax, it is up to you.
Waxing helps prevent ingrown hair and rashes, but it can be a bit more painful.
Step 3 – Moisturize
Similar to exfoliating, moisturizing is a key component of the strawberry legs treatment.
You want to exfoliate your skin first, and then moisturize.
Dry skin is one of the biggest risk factors for keratosis pilaris, and you want to eliminate it from the equation by moisturizing often.
Again, there are products you can buy, and natural options you can find in your kitchen.
Rosewater
The best combination for moisturizing is rose water with cucumber.
It is the best home-spa.
To prepare the paste, mash one cucumber in the blender or with a fork, and then add a few drops of rose water.
Apply to your legs, and let your legs absorb the nutrients for 10 minutes.
Rinse and repeat daily.
Aloe vera
One of the most potent moisturizers is aloe vera, as it has the ability to bind water to the skin.
This helps keep your skin well hydrated at all times.
Just massage the gel from the aloe vera leaves into your skin for five minutes.
Rinse afterward.
Aloe vera massage also helps with stretch marks and cellulite.
Tea tree oil
When it comes to essential oils for the skin, tea tree oil is the best.
Considered by many a miracle oil, tea tree oil is known to keep bacteria and fungus at bay, reduce irritation, and protect your skin from clogged pores.
Mix 2-3 drops of tea tree oil and 1 tablespoon of jojoba oil.
Massage the mixture into your skin, let it absorb for 5 minutes, and then rinse.
Tips for soft and beautiful skin
In addition to following the three simple steps, we offer some bonus tips for maintaining soft and beautiful looking skin:
- Change your towel once per week
- Change your loofah and exfoliating glove once every month or every two months
- Practice dry brushing before the shower to get rid of dead skin cells and improve blood flow
- Follow a balanced diet including fruits and vegetables to prevent skin irritation
- Change your shaving blade frequently to make sure it is clean and sharp
- Always use either a shaving cream or hair conditioner to moisturize the hairs
- Do not over exfoliate, over moisturize, or anything similar that can lead to blockage. In other words, do not over abuse your skin
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