Silky smooth legs with clear, even-looking skin are a summertime style goal. The skin on the legs, however, doesn’t always get the memo.
One of the most common skin complaints is “strawberry legs,” where the skin on your legs has tiny raised bumps with dark spots in the center. They’re painless and harmless, but they can be frustrating when you want to wear an outfit that shows some leg.
Understanding the causes of strawberry legs is the key to clearing up the bumps for touchably smooth legs. So, does laser hair removal get rid of strawberry legs? Let’s get into it.
What Are Strawberry Legs?
Strawberry legs, sometimes called strawberry skin, are bumps on the skin of the legs that resemble the dark, raised seeds on the outside of a strawberry. They appear when the pores or hair follicles on your legs become clogged with dirt, dead skin, bacteria, or oil.
The debris inside the pores of the follicles is slightly darker than the surrounding skin, which gives the bumps a discolored appearance. They may appear as dark spots that show up after shaving, or they may look like tiny blackheads.
What causes strawberry skin?
Strawberry legs are different from keratosis pilaris (KP), a condition that causes similar changes in the skin.
While strawberry legs and keratosis pilaris both cause bumpy leg skin, KP occurs when dead skin cells and a protein called keratin block hair follicles. The bumps look like goose pimples with a uniform color, without the dark spots of strawberry skin.
Caption: A close-up of skin on the legs affected by keratosis pilaris.
Folliculitis is another common cause of bumpy leg skin. Unlike KP or strawberry skin, the bumps from folliculitis may be itchy or uncomfortable. They’re caused by a clogged hair follicle that has gotten irritated or infected. The bumps look like acne blemishes.
Does Laser Hair Removal Get Rid of Strawberry Legs?
Finally, the answer to the big question: does laser hair removal get rid of strawberry legs? And the answer is yes!
Laser hair removal is one way to get rid of strawberry legs. It works by heating the pigment in hair, which destroys the hair follicle. The follicle cannot grow new hair, eliminating the need for shaving, waxing, or other hair removal methods.
Closing the follicle prevents it from getting blocked, so there is much less opportunity for the blackhead-like bumps of strawberry skin to form.
More Tips for Preventing Strawberry Skin
If you’re not ready to commit to laser hair removal for strawberry legs, there are other ways to prevent bumps and irritation. A few adjustments to your shower and shave routine can reduce the likelihood of clogged follicles, giving you smoother skin.
Exfoliate Your Legs
Gentle exfoliation clears away the debris that gets caught in follicles and causes clogging. You can use a scrubber or loofah to gently buff away dirt, sebum, and dead skin cells while you’re in the bath or shower. Dry brushing can also help exfoliate the legs.
You can also try a chemical exfoliator, such as a body wash that contains alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) like glycolic or lactic acid or beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) like salicylic acid. These ingredients gently dissolve dead skin cells and oil so they don’t accumulate on your skin.
Exfoliating also helps you get a closer shave. Physical exfoliation can raise the hairs so they’re easier to shave. Clearing away surface oils allows the razor to get closer to the skin, so you remove the hair as far down the shaft as possible.
Use Quality Shaving Supplies
When you shave, make sure you’re using a high-quality razor. Cheap razors can be dull, and their blades can get bent or nicked. This can irritate the skin, give you uneven results, and increase the risk of clogged follicles. You should swap razors or change the blade every five or six shaves since they can get grimy and dull after that.
If you’re especially prone to bumps, try shaving in the same direction as the hair. This can prevent strawberry skin bumps and razor burn.
Choose a moisturizing shaving cream without heavy fragrances that might irritate your skin. Be sure to rinse off any remaining shave cream completely.
Moisturize Your Skin
Moisturizing your legs is one of the easiest ways to keep the skin looking smooth and clear. A gentle moisturizer without heavy perfumes or dyes will calm irritated skin and keep it soft and supple. Hydrated skin is less prone to dryness and flaking, which can contribute to clogged pores and strawberry skin.
Banish Strawberry Legs with the Best Laser Hair Removal in NYC
If you are ready to explore laser hair removal to get the smooth, silky skin you’ve always wanted, visit Laser by Monica. We offer expert laser hair removal in our New York City location with an experienced staff that will design a personalized treatment plan to meet your needs and goals.
Call Laser by Monica at 646-493-0835 or fill out our easy web form. We’ll get back to you to discuss your laser hair removal needs. We look forward to offering you personalized, expert laser hair removal treatment in NYC!