A fast Google search of “strawberry legs”—dark-looking pores or dots that seem post-shaving or self-tanning—is all you might want to discover web page after web page stuffed with boards and threads devoted to this concern that’s been a trigger for concern (and frustration) for girls throughout the globe for years. However regardless of what number of pages we click on or articles we learn, the identical query stays: “How do I eliminate it?!” To unravel this spotty concern, we reached out to high dermatologists for some solutions.
Folliculitis
“There are some things that could possibly be inflicting this,” Santa Monica, CA dermatologist Karyn Grossman, MD, explains, including that one thing known as folliculitis could possibly be a perpetrator after having shaved or waxed the legs. “With folliculitis, the hair has a tough time coming by the floor of the pores and skin and it causes little bumps on a brief foundation.”
New York dermatologist Julie Russak, MD agrees, explaining that there are two important forms of “strawberry legs.” “Folliculitis is frequent on the again of the legs and may be causes by tight garments and friction,” says the physician. “Friction causes irritation, and when mixed with micro organism in pores, inflammatory pink bumps are created.”
One other risk could possibly be a medical time period referred to as open comedones, which implies that the pore is vast open and stuffed with extra pores and skin particles, oil and micro organism that depart your pores wanting darker than they need to, says Dr. Grossman. Utilizing a uninteresting razor that pulls on the hair with out fully eradicating the follicle may trigger this, because the follicle can open and change into clogged and blocked with oil and useless pores and skin cells.
To deal with folliculitis, Dr. Russak suggests in-office chemical peels to exfoliate useless pores and skin, unclog pores, kill micro organism in pores and lighten pigmentation on the affected areas.
Keratosis Pilaris
Dr. Russak says the second sort of “strawberry legs” is definitely keratosis pilaris, or KP. “Keratosis pilaris is a genetic situation the place keratotic plugs are current round hair follicles,” she explains. “Keratin types a scaly plug that blocks the opening of the hair follicle, and the plugs create patches of tough, bumpy pores and skin.”
To deal with KP, Dr. Russak suggests utilizing Glytone’s KP Equipment ($69), “which is a cleanser and moisturizer mixture and accommodates glycolic acid that exfoliates useless floor pores and skin and smooths tough bumps,” she says. One other strong choice, says the derm: Eucerin Roughness Reduction Cream ($11), which accommodates urea to exfoliate and unclog pores.
Put up-Tan Bother
In case your spots and enlarged pores are likely to creep up post-tan, Dr. Grossman says that it is because tanning lotions work by staining the higher layers of the pores and skin. “If somebody has a thickening of the pores and skin, similar to on the knees, elbows or palms, the self-tanner will take stronger on this space,” which works to nearly showcase your already-open pores.
To cut back the looks of those darkish pores, begin commonly exfoliating with pure, mildly abrasive scrubs or instruments just like the all-natural Dermastone ($20) to eliminate any blockage throughout the pores, particularly earlier than self-tanning. In fact, shaving much less ceaselessly or stopping altogether will even assist the looks. If this isn’t an choice for you, search out different hair elimination strategies that focus on the foundation like waxing, lasers or IPL remedy.
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