Do you ever notice small, dark spots on your legs after you shave? Turns out they’re actually clogged pores, not unlike a blackhead. Sometimes mistaken as dirt, these dark dots resemble the seeds on the skin of strawberries (hence the informal term “strawberry legs”) and are more noticeable on some skin types than others.
“Strawberry legs describes the appearance of dark spots in the skin occurring in a pattern that corresponds to hair follicles or pores,” Causes vary but include when shaven hairs are darker (and therefore, more visible) than skin color, enlarged hair follicles, clogged pores, and keratosis pilaris, she adds.
Murphy-Rose compares the dark spots to a blackhead on the face or body. “Enlarged pores can become clogged with buildup (keratin debris, oil, and bacteria) that oxidizes and darkens when exposed to air. Dermatologists call blackheads ‘open comedones’ because they are open and exposed to the air, causing the black dot we see.” But luckily you can help to prevent them from forming by changing the way you shave (among other things). We tapped Murphy-Rose and Ali Tobia to find out how.
Below, we’ve rounded up all the tips that truly help prevent and treat strawberry legs. Keep reading to learn more.
Dry-Brushing
Preventing strawberry legs actually starts a day or two before you shave. To help with the exfoliation process, vigorously brush legs with a soft dry brush in circular motions prior to your bath or shower. Then, soak skin in warm water for five to 10 minutes before you shave—this helps draw out impurities and loosen dead skin cells trapped inside the pores.
Physical Exfoliation
Don’t forget to exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate. Regular exfoliation helps keep these dark pores at bay as do proper shaving methods, shaving tools, and a good skincare regimen. It’s recommended that you exfoliate your legs on a regular basis with a glove or body scrub that polishes away dead skin cells.
“Exfoliation can be very effective in preventing strawberry legs because it helps to soften the skin and loosen up the dirt and oil that’s already in your pores, which obviously helps to prevent that dirt and oil from getting trapped in your pores when you shave,”
“If you are using a scrub to exfoliate, make sure to use a mild product, and use a gentle motion when you do the actual scrubbing,” advises Tobia. “Sometimes we think that scrubbing harder cleans better, but the truth is that all it adds is irritation to the top layer of skin,” she explains.
Chemical Exfoliation
Exfoliation can also include chemical varieties, which just so happen to be Murphy-Rose’s preferred prevention and treatment method since “speeding up the shedding of dead skin cells with regular exfoliation will make someone less prone to clogged pores.” Her favorite products contain AHAs and salicylic acid, “a beta-hydroxy acid that exfoliates dead skin cells to make it harder for pores to clog. Unlike many other hydroxy acids, salicylic acid travels down into follicles to keep skin exfoliated and clean deep inside the pores,”
“Salicylic acid can be found in at-home chemical peels, body washes, lotions, and saturated pads. Most acid-containing body washes (Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash) and lotions (Cerave SA Lotion for Rough & Bumpy Skin) can be used one to two times daily,” instructs Murphy-Rose. “Saturated pads should be used three times a week and then gradually increased to daily use if not causing irritation or noticeable skin peeling/flaking.” Since salicylic acid is not recommended for pregnant women, she suggests products containing lactic acid or glycolic acid as an alternative. Tobia highly recommends Environ’s Body Essentia Derma-Lac Lotion, which has “lactic acid in the formulation to exfoliate your skin without abrasives.”
Moisturizing
Following exfoliation, you should always moisturize, emphasizes Murphy-Rose. “Keeping your skin well-hydrated will help dead skin cells to shed off naturally and appropriately,” she explains. For those with dry skin, she recommends using products with rich moisturizers like shea butter and ceramides. She tells us, “Many swear by Gold Bond Rough & Bumpy Skin, which is great for dry skin and gentle enough to be used—and should be used—twice a day). Glytone’s Kp Kit includes an AHA body wash and lotion. You can also try chemical peels at your board-certified dermatologist’s office.”
