Don’t you love that post-shave feeling? The way your legs feel newly smooth against the towel as you wipe it clean after your shower? We live for that. But then the next day, you take a closer look and find several bumps on your perfectly shaven leg? Yeah, not so great. 

These bumps appear for several reasons and can happen to many of us to like to shave regularly. These are known as Strawberry Legs. It sounds cute, doesn’t it? 

Strawberry Legs is an umbrella term to describe a dotted or pitted appearance on your legs. Sometimes, they can look like tiny black bumps, small red dots, blisters, or even acne. Strawberry Legs aren’t life-threatening but can be annoyingly irritating. In most cases, they can be prevented with careful prep. Here’s a breakdown of what causes and how to prevent Strawberry Legs from springing up again:

What causes Strawberry Legs? 

There are many reasons why Strawberry Legs can happen, whether it’s purely genetic or just from a bad shaving session. People who are more prone to Strawberry Legs tend to have overly dry skin and can be more sensitive to irritation after a shaving session. However, there are a few common causes that may also explain the bumpy itch: 

Clogged Pores

Dark spots on the legs could be a sign of clogged pores. This is more common for those who have large pores and coarser body hair. On the other hand, the bumps on the legs could just be acne, blackheads, and ingrown hairs caused by your skin’s natural oil and sweat seeping into your pores. 

Folliculitis

Folliculitis is a medical term for when hair follicles deep within our skin have been infected and inflamed. This can occur whenever dirt and bacteria enter through our pores and damage the follicle. Symptoms of folliculitis can look different on different skin types. Some may have tiny red dumps, while others may have darker bumps or painful blisters. This usually occurs during hair removal, like shaving or waxing, or from rubbing the skin and wearing tight clothing. 

Keratosis Pilaris 

Keratosis Pilaris is a common condition that is characterized by rough, itchy, and bumpy skin. This usually pops up on people who have dry and flaky skin and is generally found on the arms and thighs. While it’s uncommon to have it on your lower leg, it isn’t impossible.

Stubborn Stubble

Sometimes it’s just a matter of an old, dull razor that couldn’t quite make the cut. The dark bumps may just be hair stubble that your razor didn’t quite reach. It is especially common for people who have naturally darker and thicker body hair.

How to get rid of Strawberry Legs

Since most cases of Strawberry Legs are usually directly affected by shaving, preventing them in the future will mean making sure your skin is prepped, even before you hop in the shower. 

Here are a few ways you can prepare your skin before a shaving session:  

 

Exfoliate before shaving

Make sure you exfoliate your legs regularly, especially right before you shave. Exfoliating can help remove dead skin cells, dirt, and oil build-up to give you a clean surface to shave your legs. Even if you aren’t planning on shaving, exfoliating can help prevent pores and hair follicles from clogging up and forming bumps. 

 

Use a moisturizing shaving cream

When you are shaving, it’s crucial to have a moisturizing lubricant to prevent nips and help your razor glide seamlessly against your legs. A quick tip: you can use a hair conditioner as a shaving cream. The conditioner can help soften the hair, making removing it easier and providing a thin and smooth layer for your shave.  

 

Replace and clean your shaver regularly 

If you’ve been using the same shaver regularly, chances are the blades have either begun to dull, or it has already started to collect dirt, oil, and cells. So make sure you replace your shaver after every 5-10 shaves and clean it after every use by running it under warm water. The same applies to our Peachier Prime users.

 

Apply lotion all day, every day

If dry skin is what’s causing your Strawberry Legs, make sure you’re applying body lotion every day to keep your legs smooth and soft. In addition, it’s essential to moisturize right after you shave and exfoliate to prevent the skin from drying out any further.  Make sure you avoid body lotions that contain fragrance and alcohol as they can have drying properties. For very dry and sensitive skin, look for body lotions that contain moisturizing ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil and aloe vera.

 

Use alternative hair removal methods 

If you’re still experiencing Strawberry Legs after going through the tips mentioned above, it may be worth considering alternative hair removal methods. You can try out hair pulling techniques, like waxing and threading, as long as you make sure you regularly moisturize and exfoliate in between sessions. However, because hair pulling does still open up the pores, just be wary of potential breakouts. Laser hair removal and using at-home IPL handsets are also viable options. Both in-clinic laser hair removal and IPL handsets will involve targeting and eliminating individual hair follicles, which mean they can work exceptionally well for those with dark and coarse body hair and those who are prone to folliculitis.

Please note, you may need to consult a dermatologist or medical professional for severe infections to ensure you’re getting the proper treatment.

We’ve made it our mission to ensure that you achieve healthy-looking soft-to-touch legs all season. Whether you’re a die-hard shaver, or want to explore other hair removal options like our best-selling Peachier Pro Ice IPL laser hair removal handset.