How to Get Rid of Strawberry Legs

1. Remove Bumps With Physical Exfoliants

Exfoliating your skin with physical exfoliants regularly helps to prevent and reduce strawberry legs. Regularly exfoliating your skin can remove dead skin cells that are responsible for clogging pores and hair follicles leading to clear and smooth skin.

How To Use

To buff away bumps with physical exfoliants, you are suggested to exfoliate your legs regularly with a glove or body scrub that can remove dead skin cells. You can also make a scrub by yourself using baking soda and water and apply it on your legs.

2. Apply Chemical Exfoliants

Chemical Exfoliants such as alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs), glycolic acid, and salicylic acid are capable enough to remove dead skin cells without scrubbing your legs. These chemical exfoliants can dissolve away dead skin cells and keep pores clear of any sort of debris. Gentle physical exfoliation can sometimes cause damage to your skin, so you can go for chemical exfoliants to remove your strawberry legs without any downsides.

How To Use

Start by choosing the right exfoliator. You can go for a chemical exfoliant containing AHAs or BHAs. Apply it on your skin gently and avoid scrubbing too hard. Always hydrate your skin after you are done with exfoliating to lock in moisture.

Things To Be Considered

You can apply chemical exfoliants on your skin 2 to 3 times per week if your skin can tolerate it. You should also consider your skin type as sensitive skin requires less frequent exfoliation. Exfoliants like glycolic acid and salicylic acid can make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so you have to use sunscreen if you are planning to go out after you are done with chemical exfoliation.

3. Waxing

Waxing can be considered one of the common and effective techniques for reducing strawberry legs. Waxing can help prevent ingrown hairs, which is one of the main reasons behind strawberry legs as it removes hair from the root. Waxing also removes the dead top layer of dry skin which also serves the purpose of exfoliation at the same time.

Things To Be Considered

Waxing can cause irritation to your skin. So, it is recommended to follow proper aftercare to avoid the risk of inflammation and relieve your skin. Also, you may have to go through regular waxing for better results. If your skin is prone to strawberry legs, it would be best for you to consult a professional.

4. Dry Brushing

One of the popular techniques to exfoliate the skin is dry brushing. Dry brushing reduces the appearance of strawberry legs by assisting in unclogging pores, drawing out impurities, and removing dead skin cells. This technique also helps to improve blood circulation inside the body and skin, stimulates lymphatic drainage, and reduces the appearance of cellulite.

How To Dry Brush

Gently brush your legs with a soft dry brush in circular motions before taking a shower or bath. After that, soak the skin in warm water for about five minutes or more before shaving. Apply a hydrating lotion to lock in the moisture on your skin.

Things To Be Considered

If you have sensitive skin or any skin conditions, then you should avoid dry brushing as you may have to suffer from skin irritation problems. You may use gentle strokes for dry brushing for the delicate skin on your legs.

5. Moisturize Your Skin

Moisturizing your skin keeps your skin hydrated and prevents dry skin and irritation. Well-hydrated and moisturized skin sheds off dead skin cells naturally and appropriately and keeps the skin soft and smooth.

How To Moisturize

Go for a lotion or cream that matches your skin type and always try to look for ingredients like cocoa butter, shea butter, and ceramides as they are rich in moisturizers. Apply the lotion or cream immediately after showering to help lock in moisture. Hydrate your skin daily to avoid dry skin by moisturizing daily.

6. Shave In The Direction Of The Grain

Shaving in the direction of the grain refers to shaving in the direction of your hair’s growth. This causes less skin irritation and prevents our skin from razor burn and folliculitis.

How To Shave

Use short, sharp, and light razor strokes down your legs. Avoid passing over the same area time and again and do not stretch your skin tight while shaving. You can apply shaving cream or gel to lubricate your skin and shave more smoothly. Also, do not forget to rinse the razor more frequently. After you are done with shaving, rinse your legs with cold water, pat your legs dry, and apply a moisturizer or oil.

7. Consider Long-Term Hair Removal

Temporary techniques like waxing and shaving can help to reduce strawberry legs for a short period of time only. Permanent or long-term hair removal techniques provide more long-lasting results. There are several long-term hair removal treatments ready to do the work for you and here we are going to discuss some of them for you:

1. Laser Hair Removal: This technique is a popular, professional, long-term hair removal option. It uses concentrated light beams to specifically target and destroy hair follicles minimizing hair growth over time. It aims to get rid of hair completely rather than just at the skin’s surface. This therapy requires multiple sessions for the best results.
2. Electrolysis: Electrolysis is another professional method to reduce strawberry legs that involves inserting a fine needle into each hair follicle and passing an electric current to destroy the hair permanently. As compared to laser hair removal, this technique is a more accurate method to remove the hair permanently but can prove to be time-consuming. Like laser hair removal, this too requires multiple treatments to remove all the follicles.
3. IPL (Intense Pulsed Light): This technique is similar to laser hair removal. It uses a broad spectrum of light to target hair follicles but is relatively cheaper than a laser.

8. Body Icing

Body icing is an effective way to reduce the appearance of strawberry legs which involves applying ice to the skin. It is an affordable, natural treatment that can be performed at home with the assurance of 100% safety. It has no side effects and helps to reduce strawberry legs’ appearance by reducing inflammation, improving blood circulation delivering oxygen to the skin cells, and promoting healing.

How To Do Body Icing

You can simply apply ice or ice cubes wrapped in a cloth or an ice bag to the affected area for some time. Or, you can take a mixture of water with pure aloe vera and a few drops of tea tree oil frozen in the sphere and then massage it onto your legs after you are done with shaving or waxing your legs.

9. Applying a DIY Leg Mask

A DIY Leg Mask consists of natural ingredients and is 100% natural with no side effects. It is cost-effective, easy to make, and customizable. One can make a DIY mask at home based on his/her skin type, texture, etc.

Here’s a DIY Leg Mask sample for you:

• 1/2 cup of chickpea flour
• 1/2 cup of full-fat yogurt
• 2 tablespoons of honey
• 1/2 lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
• Water (Add 1 tablespoon at a time until the mixture takes the form of a thick and smooth paste)
• Apply the mask to your legs covering all of the affected areas
• Leave the mask on your legs for around 15 to 20 minutes
• Rinse the mask off with warm water and a soft cloth

These ingredients contain an exfoliating agent, lactic acid, antibacterial and antimicrobial elements and astringent properties that serve for the purpose of reduction of strawberry legs. You can use this mask once or twice a week for optimal results.

10. Using Vitamin C-Rich Body Care

Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant protects the skin from damage, and free radicals and brightens the skin. It also reduces inflammation and boosts collagen production in our body helping to improve the skin’s elasticity and tenacity. Vitamin C possesses anti-inflammatory properties that help to soothe and calm irritated skin proving to be beneficial for people with skin conditions like eczema.

How To Use

You have to apply a vitamin C-rich body lotion or cream to your legs after showering. Then, massage the lotion or cream into your skin properly. Make sure to exfoliate your skin by using a vitamin C-rich body scrub once or twice a week and use a vitamin C-rich body serum to extra-hydrate and protect your skin.

11. Routinely Wash Your Towels

Washing your towels continuously helps remove dead skin cells. Towels pick up old, dead skin cells, clog pores and lead to ingrown hairs. Towels can shelter several bacteria, and germs which can result in skin irritation and inflammation.

Regularly washing your towels helps you to get away from these types of problems. Clean towels can contribute to making your skin healthy, smooth, and clear.

How To Wash Your Towels

Firstly, wash your towels in hot water with a mild detergent and leave the towels to dry completely. Make sure to keep or store your towels in a clean, dry place. Also, do not forget to change your towels regularly.

12. Use Moisturizing Shaving Cream

Moisturizing shaving cream prevents skin irritation by creating a protective barrier between the skin and the razor. This type of cream also helps to maintain skin hydration and soothe your skin as it is rich in ingredients like aloe vera and vitamin E.

How To Use

You can start by washing your skin with a gentle soap or body wash. Apply a layer of moisturizing shaving cream to your legs and massage the cream into your skin. Do not forget to shave in the direction of the grain and rinse your legs with warm water afterward. Make sure to apply a moisturizer to your legs after the shaving part is completed.

13. Changing Your Razor More Often

One of the greatest steps to deal with the problem of strawberry legs is to change your razor more often. This is not much of a difficult task and also bears the capacity to make a big difference.

New razors reduce the risk of irritation and infection. They also prevent the reoccurrence of strawberry legs in the future. A new, sharp razor blade can easily provide you with a cleaner, smoother shave as well.

We recommend you to change your razor every 5 to 7 shaves but depending upon your skin conditions and texture, you may have to change your razor more often in case you have sensitive skin.

14. Retinoids

Retinoids, a vitamin A derivative has the ability to help shed dead skin cells, improve skin texture and reduce the appearance of bumps by stimulating collagen production and also regulate oil production.

Things To Be Considered

You have to use retinoids with caution as they can cause dryness, and skin irritation when first starting to use. So, it is suggested to begin with a milder retinoid product and gradually increase the intensity. Hydrate your skin regularly to combat the drying effects of retinoids and apply sunscreen when going outside.

Causes of Strawberry Legs

Some common causes of strawberry legs are:

1. Clogged pores: This is the main cause of strawberry legs. The buildup of dead skin cells, oil, and bacteria in the hair follicles results in inflammation and appearance as small bumps.
2. Keratosis Pilaris: This is a skin condition that causes tiny red bumps on the skin. This is caused by plugs of dead skin cells.
3. Ingrown hairs: After shaving or waxing, when hairs curl back into the skin, they can become ingrown causing bumps on the skin.

Symptoms Of Strawberry Legs

Strawberry legs refer to a condition causing small red bumps on the legs. Here are some of the symptoms of strawberry legs:

• Tiny red bumps on the legs: Tiny red bumps can be considered the most visible sign of strawberry legs that appear in the form of dots on the skin.
• Burning: A burning sensation on the skin is the other symptom of strawberry legs.
• Itchy or irritated skin: Strawberry legs may lead to itching, and irritation on the skin which causes discomfort and sensitivity issues in the process.
• Darkened pores: Due to trapped dirt, oil, and bacteria on the skin, the pores on the legs tend to appear darker.
• Ingrown hairs: Ingrown hairs occur when hair curls back into the skin due to improper shaving.

At Last

Strawberry legs are not more of a serious issue and can generally be eliminated with home remedies as well. You can remarkably minimize their appearance by simply understanding and analyzing the causes of strawberry legs.

Several methods like proper shaving, regular exfoliation, proper moisturization and washing, diet planning, etc. are the basic steps to solve this issue temporarily. For long-lasting and optimal results, you can consider long-term hair removal methods or consult a professional or dermatologist. With proper care, it's possible to restore your skin’s normal appearance.