How To Get Rid Of Strawberry Legs Fast

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Almost everyone loves strawberries but no one wants to look like one. When spots suddenly start to show up on your skin, the legs you so carefully shaved to show off your new skirt are once again relegated to sweatpants.

So what causes those little black dots of hate to appear, how can you get rid of them and how can you make sure they don’t rear their awful faces in public again?

What are strawberry legs?

“Strawberry legs” is actually something of an umbrella term for a number of conditions, all of which cause the same symptom; small black dots appearing on the skin¹.

The most common cause for the condition is improper shaving technique, but it could also be due to an underlying genetic condition known as keratosis pilaris².

The condition is completely harmless and simply causes patches of dry, spotty skin to appear due to an excess of keratin surrounding hair follicles.

If the latter, there is unfortunately no cure or prevention and the condition can only be “managed” with a decent skincare routine. Luckily it tends to hit its peak around puberty before fading over time; most people find it has disappeared entirely by the age of 30.

As mentioned above, the most likely cause is improper shaving technique, or even insufficient after care. As with so many medical matters, “prevention is better than cure.” The best way to rid yourself of strawberry legs is to stop it before it even begins. Here’s how you do it:

Preparation

As a great Disney villain once said, “Be prepared.” Make sure your legs are ready to be shaved and your equipment is up to snuff.

Hurriedly trying to shave your legs in the shower with the razor you haven’t gotten around to replacing just yet is asking for trouble.

Ideally you want to let them soak in a warm bath for about 10 minutes to really open up all your pores, draw out impurities and soften your skin³.

Now obviously not everyone has access to a bath so a shower may be your only option, but letting them warm up first is essential.

Not too warm mind you; the mistake too many people make is having the temperature too high, which will draw out all your skins oils as well. This will dry out your skin even further and exacerbate the problem.

Exfoliation

Before you begin shaving, you should first exfoliate your legs³. Letting them warm up first will soften the skin, but exfoliating them will remove any dead skin cells that might congest your razor or plug your pores.

Gently scrubbing your legs with a loofah or a cloth while in the shower or bath will go a long way towards ensuring a clean shave. For even better results, consider getting a dry bristle brush to go over your legs before even getting in the shower.

Check your tools

Next, make sure your razor is new, clean and sharp. A dull and dirty blade may lead to bacteria, fungi or yeast entering your pores and clogging them up¹.

Make sure you shave with the grain of your hair and try to avoid going over the same spot multiple times (this is why a sharp blade is important).

All of the above can lead to razor burn. If your skin is too dry, your razor too dull or too dirty, or if you shave without appropriate shaving cream, it will irritate your skin and lead to strawberry legs or in extreme cases folliculitis.

This occurs when the hair follicles become inflamed and infected, leading to red spots or blisters which may later turn into scabs that take some time to heal.

A good rule of thumb is to use a moisturizing shaving cream, to replace your razor after every six uses and to store it in a dry place between uses rather than in your shower. This also reduces the risk of developing ingrown hairs.

Continued Care

As mentioned above, shaving isn’t the only cause of strawberry legs. Even if it is however, the following tips will still be good advice.

Regularly exfoliating your skin is a good idea, even if you aren’t planning on shaving on that particular day¹. Dead skin builds up over time and may still enter your pores, especially if you have very sensitive or dry skin.

Once or twice a week, spend some time using a mild exfoliant containing AHAs or BHAs. AHAs (Alpha-hydroxy acids) are water-based, while BHAs (Beta-hydroxy acids) are oil based chemical exfoliants that work to dissolve dead skin and help give your skin a smoother appearance⁴.

These will help treat already existing patches of strawberry skin as well as prevent future bouts. If the condition is mild, a simple AHA exfoliant will do, but if you are looking for something to penetrate deeper then look for an exfoliant with BHA or Salicylic acid in particular.

But a word to the wise, you shouldn’t scrub too hard or too often, as this may end up exacerbating already dry skin.

Moisturize

Be sure to moisturize your skin each and every day after a bath or shower so it can stay hydrated and healthy⁵. Try to avoid moisturizers that have too many preservatives, as these can irritate and block your pores while they are open. You should rather go for a moisturizer with natural ingredients like Shea butter or jojoba oil.

In Closing

These very basic tips should help you to reduce the risk of developing strawberry legs, or to treat it if you’re already struggling. The most important thing to remember is to listen to what your skin is telling you. If you see something you’re doing is making it worse, try something new. If your favorite product is making you break out, perhaps it’s time to try something else. If you want to love the skin you’re in, make sure to spend some time giving your skin some love.

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