The skin pores on the legs may get congested and form comedones, which appear as dark bumps on your leg, resembling the strawberry skin and seeds. The good news is, you can easily treat strawberry legs at home and prevent the condition. Here is what you need to know.
What Are Strawberry Legs?
Strawberry legs are nothing but the presence of small black dots just beneath the upper layer of the skin, caused by inflamed hair follicles. This gives your legs a strawberry-like appearance, hence the name. These pores, also called open comedones, are hair follicles or ingrown hairs that are trapped under the skin. They may also contain a mixture of bacteria, dead skin cells, and oil. They are not harmful in any way but can make you feel self-conscious. Strawberry legs are not usually a cause for concern. Dr. Anna Chacon, a board-certified dermatologist, says, “Strawberry legs go away in time. These appear on your skin simply because of inflamed follicles due to shaving.” Strawberry legs look similar in most people, but the causes may be different for each person.
What Causes Strawberry Legs?
Here are some common causes of strawberry legs:
Keratosis pilaris – This is also known as chicken skin and occurs when your skin produces excessive keratin, which blocks the hair follicles. This leads to tiny bumps and patchy skin. Dry Skin – If your skin is not well moisturized, it becomes dry and rough. This makes your epidermis vulnerable to irritation caused by shaving. Folliculitis – This is a condition in which your hair follicles are inflamed. It might happen due to bacteria or fungi. Folliculitis results from ingrown hairs from shaving.
If you have strawberry legs, you are most likely experiencing one or more of the following symptoms.
What Are The Symptoms Of Strawberry Legs?
Strawberry-like appearance of your legs Small reddish or blackish bumps on your legs Clogged pores on the skin Rough, dry, and irritated skin
Listed below are a few home remedies that can help you deal with strawberry legs.
Home Treatment For Strawberry Legs
1. Baking Soda
Baking soda works as an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agent (1). It exfoliates your skin and makes it smooth and radiant. It is also known to prevent and treat severe dryness of the skin (2).
1 tablespoon of baking soda 1 teaspoon of water
You can try this remedy every day.
2. Exfoliation
Exfoliating helps remove dead cells from the top layer of the skin and gets rid of any bacteria that might be present. It also eliminates the chances of ingrown hair.
½ cup of brown sugar ½ cup of almond or olive oil 3-4 drops of clove oil
You can exfoliate your legs 1-2 times a week until you start noticing a difference in your legs.
3. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is a very powerful moisturizer and has excellent skin healing properties (3). Applying it every day will always keep the skin hydrated. 1 leaf of fresh aloe vera Apply aloe vera gel on your legs every day.
4. Sea Salt
Sea salt is packed with minerals like calcium, sodium, magnesium, and potassium (4). These minerals play a major role in our skin’s health and pH balance. When the mineral balance of the body is disturbed, our skin shows symptoms, such as dryness, itchiness, and irritation. Applying a sea salt scrub on the body removes dead cells from the skin’s surface and restores mineral balance in the body.
¼ cup of sea salt ½ cup of coconut oil A washcloth (optional)
As sea salt can be abrasive on the skin, don’t use this scrub every day. Use it 1-2 times a week to notice results in a month’s time.
5. Ground Coffee
Ground coffee works as a great exfoliator for the skin. When mixed with olive or coconut oil, it helps in sloughing dead cells and leaves the skin smooth and radiant.
½ cup of ground coffee ½ cup of palm sugar ¼ cup of coconut oil
You can use this scrub to exfoliate your legs 1-2 times a week. More than twice a week may over exfoliate the skin, causing irritation.
6. Tea Tree And Jojoba Oil
Both tea tree oil and jojoba oils have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties and can treat dry, dead skin (5), (6). These oils can speed up wound healing and treat skin issues like dryness and itching and prevent clogged pores.
2-3 drops of tea tree oil 1 tablespoon of jojoba oil
You can use this remedy every night before bedtime.
7. Buttermilk Bath
Buttermilk contains lactic acid, which is a natural chemical exfoliant. It can leave your skin brighter and smoother.
1 cup of buttermilk A bucketful of water
You can do this every day to keep your skin radiant and avoid clogged pores.
8. Moisturize
Keeping your skin well moisturized at all times prevents dryness and skin irritation. Shaving over irritated skin results in strawberry legs. A good moisturizer You should moisturize your body as often as you can – every day after a shower.
9. Rose Water and Cucumber
Cucumber is rich in Vitamin C, which prevents skin irritation. It also has calming and anti-inflammatory properties (7). Rose water is known to calm the skin and open clogged pores (8).
1 cucumber A few drops of rose water
You can do this every day. Repeat it until you start seeing visible results on your legs.
10. Egg Whites And Lemon Juice
Egg whites tighten and brighten the skin. They contain a plethora of nutrients – proteins, vitamins, and minerals that nourish our skin. Egg whites are also powerful astringents that can clean and reduce pores (9). Lemon juice is a natural bleaching agent (10).
1 egg white 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
You can do this once every day, preferably before your shower. If home remedies do not work for you or if you want a more permanent solution for your strawberry legs, consult a dermatologist. They might suggest a chemical peel or a laser hair removal.
Medical Professional Treatment: Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal uses concentrated light to destroy hair follicles beneath your skin surface. It usually takes about 4 to 6 sittings to get rid of all your hair permanently. Some people might experience some hair growing back at a later stage, which can be taken care of by another session of laser treatment. This treatment is perfectly safe and is used by several people across the globe. Here are a few tips to make your legs soft.
Tips To Get Soft Legs Naturally
Drink plenty of water every day. Scrub your body and exfoliate dead cells at least 1-2 times a week. Moisturize your skin immediately after a shower. You can also moisturize at night before bed. Always use a good quality moisturizer. Use sunscreen to prevent the harmful UV rays from damaging your skin. Always apply sunscreen at least 15 to 20 minutes before you step out. Use safe hair removal methods, like waxing or epilating. These methods remove the hair from the root and prevent any possibility of ingrown hair. Eat healthy to give your body the nourishment it deserves. Get frequent body massages done to get your circulation going.
”Waxing does not stop but prevents strawberry legs as each hair is removed from the root,” says Dr. Anna Chacon, a board-certified dermatologist. Does chemical peel remove strawberry legs? Yes, a chemical peel is commonly prescribed for exfoliating dead skin cells and dealing with strawberry legs. Can I use coconut oil for strawberry legs? Strawberry legs can benefit from moisturization and coconut oil can be used for that purpose. It can also be used as a moisturizer before shaving as a preventive measure against strawberry legs.
