Have you noticed a breakout of dark spots on your legs?
It is super uncomfortable and embarrassing. It makes you want to hide your legs in your clothes because you’re tired of the stares.
If this summary describes what you’re going through, then you might have strawberry legs. Yes, you read that right, strawberry legs.
As you might have figured out, the name ‘strawberry legs’ is inspired by the fruit. The dark dots on the legs which is a characteristic of this condition, look like the skin of a strawberry.
Before we discuss how to get rid of strawberry legs, we’ll look at:
• What strawberry legs are
• What causes strawberry legs
Without further ado, let’s begin!
What are Strawberry Legs?
Strawberry leg is a common term used to describe the appearance of dark dots on the legs. The appearance is similar to the seeded skin of a strawberry. Hence, the name ‘strawberry legs’.
The dots that appear on the skin are a collection of hair follicles or pores that have been inflamed, infected, or irritated. Usually caused by dirt, bacteria, fungi, or dead skin.
Luckily, strawberry legs are usually not itchy or painful. They’re just embarrassing and uncomfortable. However, if you experience any pain or itch, you need to see a dermatologist. The itch and pain could be an indication of some other underlying health issues.
Strawberry legs is an umbrella term used to describe a wide range of skin conditions. This means that it doesn’t have one cause.
Yes, you want to know how to get rid of strawberry legs. But the treatment plan you go with will depend on the cause of your own experience. To be able to select the most effective treatment option, you must understand the cause or causative organism.
What are the common causes of strawberry legs?
As explained earlier, strawberry leg doesn’t have a specific cause. It is a multifactorial condition. However, there are common reasons why you might have strawberry legs. We’ll be discussing these common causes in this section.
Folliculitis
Folliculitis is a health condition that is caused by inflamed, infected, or irritated hair follicles. When this happens, the hair follicle becomes dark. Then dots appear on the affected skin.
If folliculitis occurs on the legs and the condition worsens, it will cause strawberry legs.
Different types of folliculitis can cause strawberry legs.
Here are the different types of folliculitis:
Malassezia folliculitis
Malassezia folliculitis is caused by fungus. The fungus gets trapped in the hair follicle causing inflammation. If left untreated for a long time, it might resemble acne.
Staphylococcus aureus folliculitis
This form of folliculitis is caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. The bacteria get trapped within the hair follicles. When this happens it causes an inflamed, pus-filled bump to appear.
The pus found in the bump shouldn’t get you worried. It’s simply the body’s fighting mechanism; a natural way of fighting against the trapped bacteria.
Folliculitis caused by staph bacteria can be uncomfortable. The good news is that it clears after a few days.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa folliculitis
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is another common bacterium that causes folliculitis. It is an encapsulated gram-negative bacterium that lives in the environment.
It is spread through water or soil. You can get infected by this bacterium in shared hot tubs. It often causes an itch and inflamed skin for a few days. After which, it will naturally resolve itself.
Pseudofolliculitis barbae/razor bumps
Razor bumps occur when you shave without a moisturizer. This irritates the affected hair follicle. Leading to the development of a bump.
Sycosis barbae
This is similar to Pseudo folliculitis barbae. They’re both caused by shaving without a moisturizer or dry shaving. The only difference is that the hair follicles become inflamed with sycosis barbae. This makes it worse.
Gram-negative folliculitis
This type of folliculitis is caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. These bacteria get trapped in a hair follicle.
Ingrown Hairs
Ingrown hair is another condition that can cause strawberry legs. When shaved hair grows back into the skin, the condition is referred to as ingrown hair.
When your body hair gets trapped under your skin, it causes inflammation of the affected area. Which leads to the development of a pus-filled bump. Ingrown hair can be accompanied by an itch and pain around the affected area.
Shaving against the grains (shaving against the direction of your hair growth) is the major cause of ingrown hair.
Luckily, ingrown hair isn’t a condition that requires a trip to the hospital. It clears after a few days. Also, it is self-diagnosable. You’ve probably experienced it before without knowing.
Here are 4 symptoms you’ll experience if you’re having ingrown hairs on your leg:
• A break out of dark bumps medically referred to as papules.
• Pus-filled tender bumps that look swollen, medically referred to as pustules
• Uneven patches on your skin
• Experiencing an uncomfortable itch or pain of bumps a few days after a shave.
It is important to note that ingrown hair only occurs after a hair removal procedure. It is the new hair growing in the wrong direction that results in ingrown hair. So the symptoms described above can only be associated with ingrown hair only when you’re experiencing them shortly after a hair removal procedure.
Acne
Interestingly, an acne breakout can cause strawberry legs. When sebum is produced in excess by the body, it gets trapped in your hair follicle or pores. This blocks your pores and can lead to an acne breakout.
The affected pore or hair follicle is blocked by dead cells and bacteria. The pore can get infected, irritated, inflammation, and swollen.
Possible reasons why you might develop acne:
-Excessive sweating:
-Excessive sweating can block your pores. This will lead to the build-up of bacteria and dead cells in the affected pore.
-Skin products: Some skin products block your pores. This will also lead to the build-up of bacteria and dead cells in the affected pore.
-Hormonal imbalance: When there is a hormonal imbalance, the body will produce excess sebum. The sebum then clogs up hair follicles and pores. This will lead to the build-up of bacteria and dead cells in the affected pore.
Hormonal imbalance usually occurs during pregnancy, menstrual cycles, and puberty. Drugs could also cause hormonal imbalance.
Keratosis pilaris
This is also referred to as chicken skin. Keratosis pilaris is a condition where the body produces excess keratin. This excess keratin then clogs hair follicles and pores. When this happens, it causes the formation of dark dots. Which also gives the skin a strawberry appearance.
Now that we’ve addressed some popular causes of strawberry leg, let’s look at how to get rid of strawberry legs.
How to Get Rid of Strawberry Legs
An outbreak of strawberry legs doesn’t require you to panic. Yes, you might get uncomfortable and super embarrassed by the stares, but don’t panic. Most of the causes of strawberry legs resolve themselves after a few days.
If it doesn’t clear within a few days, then you can make a trip to the hospital. There, your doctor will determine what is causing your strawberry legs. After which a treatment plan will be assigned to you.
If your strawberry legs are caused by bacteria-induced folliculitis, an antibiotic will be prescribed for you.
If your strawberry leg is caused by ingrown hairs, there isn’t any need for medications. It will clear naturally.
Strawberry legs caused by acne or keratosis pilaris might require a dermal cream.
The point is, you don’t need to panic in the first few days of an outbreak of strawberry legs. Only visit the hospital after a week. Most of the causes of strawberry legs are minimal and can easily be resolved.
Now you know the causes of strawberry leg, and how to deal with an outbreak. Let’s discuss the preventive measure you use to get rid of strawberry legs completely.
How to Get Rid of Strawberry Legs Completely (Preventive Tips)
If you wish to get rid of strawberry legs completely, you need to avoid certain practices In this section we’ll be discussing some preventive techniques you can employ to avoid getting strawberry legs.
Always use shaving cream: Shaving creams help to soften the hair follicles. This makes shaving smooth, as the hair easily comes off.
Shaving without shaving cream only traumatizes your skin. Shaving becomes difficult. And in an attempt to get those hairs off you might shave against the grains. This will cause ingrown hairs which will lead to strawberry legs.
Always shave with a sharp razor or shaving stick: You traumatize your skin when you shave with a blunt razor or shaving stick. Shaving with blunt razors can cause folliculitis, razor burns, and irritations. This could cause strawberry legs.
Never shave against the grains: Assuming you have a sharp razor and shaving cream, you’re set to shave. Always shave your legs in the direction of your hair growth, not against it. Shaving against the direction of your hair growth causes ingrowth hair.
Exfoliate regularly: Regular exfoliation helps to remove dead cells from your skin. When you do this before a shave, it makes the shaving process smooth. This helps to minimize the probability of experiencing a razor burn.
Use an Epilator: An epilator is a hand-held device that removes hair from its roots. This helps to prevent folliculitis or razor burn. This might sound uncomfortable but using an epilator will certainly prevent strawberry legs.
Moisturise regularly: Regular moisturizing helps to keep your skin smooth and fresh. It also prevents dry skin. Shaving is smooth on frequently moisturized skin. It will also improve the appearance of your skin and minimize the chances of suffering from strawberry legs.
CONCLUSION
Strawberry leg is a multifactorial condition. It is an uncomfortable condition but it does not require you to panic. It resolves by itself and often doesn’t require a trip to the dermatologist. With this, you now know how to get rid of strawberry legs.
Perfect remedy for my strawberry leg 😍😊