If you have ever shaved your legs before, then you will have probably had those little black dots on your legs afterward. This can seem counterproductive, as usually, you shave to get rid of unsightly body hair.
Instead, you are left with black marks all over your skin, instead of smooth, airbrushed legs!
These small dots are what are called strawberry legs.
This occurs when you have enlarged pores or trapped hair follicles on the legs, resulting in the appearance of dots. It is similar to when you have blocked pores on the nose or face that look like blackheads.
Strawberry legs are natural, and many people will suffer from this problem. However, some do not like the look of strawberry legs and seek ways to get rid of them.
This is where we come in handy! With this guide, you can learn how to get rid of strawberry legs, how to prevent them and why it happens.
What are strawberry legs?
Strawberry legs are actually very common. This condition gets its name because the legs can look patterned like a strawberry’s skin, with lots of dots and marks on them.
These tiny black bumps resemble the seeds on a strawberry and often happen if your follicles are clogged.
This usually occurs because the hair follicles in the skin trap oil, bacteria, dead skin or hair.
The ‘strawberry effect’ will occur on your skin after waxing or shaving, as the skin can have enlarged pores, clogged pores, or if it is particularly dry.
How do you get rid of strawberry legs?
The best way to get rid of strawberry legs is to moisturize and take care of your skin. You are best off using moisturizers with natural ingredients, and without any preservatives to ensure that your skin does not become even more inflamed or infected.
In addition, you should be exfoliating the skin regularly to remove dead skin cells, debris, and reduce the risk of developing ingrown hairs and clogged follicles.
We recommend that you use an over-the-counter exfoliator, but look for one that has either glycolic acid such as or salicylic acid These ingredients are typically made for acne, breakouts or troubled skin, and so they should cleanse, exfoliate and remove any build up in your skin.
Why do I get black dots on my legs after waxing?
Small black dots or spots on your legs are just what we call strawberry legs. This gives an overall pitted appearance to the skin that can be unsightly for some people.
This usually happens because when you shave or wax, the comedones, or pores are open, and therefore more prone to catching dirt, or trapping oil and bacteria.
In addition, when the follicle is clogged up, or the pore is exposed, air can get inside, which will then oxidize and turn a darker color. Most of the time, strawberry legs can occur because of waxing or shaving improperly.
If you shave with dull or old razors, or without any cream, you can cause strawberry legs or ingrown hairs- which can look like strawberry legs.
If your skin is irritated from waxing or shaving, then this can also cause dark spots on your legs. After waxing, your skin can also become clogged up with oil, dead skin cells or other debris, which can also get trapped and cause strawberry legs.
You could be suffering from folliculitis, which is a condition that occurs when the follicle becomes inflamed or infected. This is often caused by bacteria, fungus or yeast entering the skin follicle, which is much easier if you have waxed or shaved recently.
After waxing, the skin follicle is more prone to infection as it is open and exposed.
Other people are simply just more prone to strawberry legs. Everyone is different, and some people have larger pores than others, which is completely unavoidable, but you can take steps to prevent it.
How to prevent strawberry legs
To prevent developing strawberry legs again, make sure that you are shaving properly, with shaving foam and not with a blunt razor.
In addition, you may benefit from purchasing an epilator as this will remove hair from the follicle, give you silky smooth legs and reduce the risk of developing ingrown hairs and strawberry legs.
You should also ensure that your razor is sharp and flexible. It is best to use a razor with a pivoting head so that it contours perfectly to the legs. This will ensure that you do not nick yourself when shaving and that you are not tearing at the follicle, or pushing bacteria into the follicle with an old, used razor.
As an extra precaution, you should always shave in the direction of the hair growth, and try to avoid going over the same area too many times as this can irritate the skin and push debris and bacteria into the open follicle.
