What are Strawberry Legs?
Have you ever noticed tiny brown or black dots on your legs? Strawberry legs can occur when hair follicles and/or clogged pores are exposed to air, resulting in darkened skin follicles that create a speckled appearance across the skin — similar to the seeds of a strawberry.
Read on to understand what causes strawberry legs, and what your treatment options might be.
What Causes Strawberry Legs?
While having strawberry legs is not a serious skin condition, it is a common cosmetic skin concern. Treatment for strawberry legs varies based on what’s actually causing the patient’s reaction. This is because some causes are treatable and others are not.
Chronic Irritation from Shaving
Constant shaving, especially over many years, can lead to chronic hair follicle irritation. This irritation can cause hyperpigmentation of the follicle, resulting in strawberry legs.
Keratosis Pilaris (KP)
KP is a common skin condition that presents itself as tiny bumps. These bumps form when keratin (protein) builds up and clogs pores. They may be pink, red, brown, or black. KP can be triggered by shaving, and tends to get worse in the winter months when the skin is drier.
Discoloration of the Hair Follicle
Some people, especially those with dark skin tones, are more likely to have naturally pigmented follicles.
Dark Hair
Those with light skin and dark leg hair may notice strawberry legs even after shaving. The dark hair in the follicle shows as a small dark dot.
How to Get Rid of Strawberry Legs
As we mentioned above, treatment for strawberry legs will vary depending on what’s causing it. For those with natural discoloration of the hair follicle, most treatments are unlikely to eliminate the skin condition. But if strawberry legs is caused by chronic irritation, dark hair, or KP, then there are steps you can take to help improve its appearance.
Does Laser Hair Removal Get Rid of Strawberry Legs?
Many people seek laser hair removal treatment to treat strawberry legs, thinking it will completely resolve their dark spots.
Unfortunately, laser hair removal cannot completely get rid of strawberry legs. However, laser hair removal can help improve the appearance of strawberry legs if its caused by:
- Chronic Irritation
- Dark Hair
- Keratosis Pilaris (KP)
If a patient has KP, which is oftentimes triggered by shaving, laser hair removal can provide a noticeable improvement. In addition to laser hair removal, we’d recommend a Glycolic Acid or Retin-A lotion, which exfoliates the skin.
People with KP should also avoid excessive, long, hot showers and put on a soothing lotion or cream immediately after showering. Unfortunately, strawberry legs from KP will fluctuate and never fully go away, but it can be successfully managed by following the steps we outlined above.
Laser Hair Removal for Strawberry Legs
Laser hair removal is a medical procedure that uses a single wavelength of light (laser) to remove and reduce unwanted leg hair — it offers a 75% to 90% reduction in hair growth[11]. This treatment uses targeted laser beams to penetrate hair follicles, preventing future growth.
It reduces ingrown hairs and razor bumps, which occur after shaving or waxing, especially for those with sensitive skin. Laser hair removal for legs is an efficient method for reducing hair over time, specifically targeting pigment within hair follicles, which may be causing strawberry legs. Laser hair removal is tailored to each patient’s skin type, ensuring its safety and effectiveness.
Risks & Side Effects of Laser Hair Removal for Strawberry Legs
Like any medical treatment, if you’re considering laser hair removal to treat strawberry legs, there are some minimal risks and side effects to consider.
Hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation is the temporary darkening of the skin. This can happen if a patient is too tan or has something on their skin — like spray tan or lotion — before their procedure. Patients should not have a spray-on tan for at least 3 weeks before each procedure.
If hyperpigmentation does occur due to a substance on the skin, it will resolve, but it can take weeks or months. For patients with a tan, we will either lower the laser settings, or ask them to return when their skin is back to its natural color to prevent the risk of hyperpigmentation.
Contraindications
Patients actively taking Accutane are not candidates for laser hair removal until at least 3 months after completing their final dose. Patients who have ever received Gold injections for arthritis are not candidates for laser hair removal.
Preparing for Laser Hair Removal for Strawberry Legs
If you are a candidate for laser hair removal and decide to move forward with the procedure to help treat strawberry legs, follow these steps to ensure you see optimal results:
- Don’t use a self-tanner at least 3 weeks before your appointment. Self-tanner adds pigment to the skin, which can cause hyperpigmentation during treatment. Please avoid using any self-tanner at least 3 weeks before your appointment. Self-tanners can also cling to your open pores and contribute to the appearance of strawberry legs.
- Stay out of the sun before treatments. For optimal results, your skin should be as close to your natural color as possible. Altering your natural skin tone can affect the treatment’s effectiveness. We recommend scheduling treatments when you know you’ll be out of the sun for long periods.
- Take an antihistamine before treatment to prevent irritation. Some patients experience light irritation during laser hair removal. If you know you have skin sensitivity, we recommend taking an antihistamine like Benadryl or Zyrtec before treatment to prevent irritation, especially for your first treatment. Don’t apply lotion before your appointment. Avoid moisturizing your legs before your appointment as it can settle into the pores which can react with laser treatment. Any lotions or creams can affect the treatment’s efficacy.
- Shave your legs the night before or the morning of your treatment. The goal with laser hair removal is to get the laser energy into the hair follicle. Removing surface hair ensures the laser energy will target the hair follicle ensuring the best result.
- Avoid waxing or tweezing before and between sessions. Laser hair removal targets the hair follicle, and the follicle needs to be intact for the procedure to work. Often when we wax or pluck we are removing the actual follicle, by which the body responds by replacing that follicle with a new one. The goal with laser hair removal is to keep those follicles in place, but eliminating their ability to produce future hair.
What to Expect During Laser Hair Removal for Strawberry Legs
Laser hair removal treatment for both legs takes around 45 minutes from start to finish. During treatment, it’s common to experience a light stinging sensation. Some patients compare it to a rubber band snapping their skin. However, other patients report no discomfort, so it depends on your individual pain tolerance.
If you are worried about pain or discomfort, WIFH offers a prescription numbing cream that can be applied before your treatment. Talk to our team before your treatment if you’d like to opt for the numbing cream.
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Laser Hair Removal for Strawberry Legs Recovery & Aftercare
After your treatment, patients are offered an aloe lotion that you can rub on your legs to soothe any warmth you may feel.
Some patients may notice redness and/or bumps after treatment, but this should dissipate after several hours. Patients rarely report these symptoms longer than a day after treatment. If itching or redness does occur, our medical team can prescribe a topical cream to ease symptoms.
After a laser hair removal treatment, you can immediately return to normal activity, including exercise and work. However, we recommend staying out of the sun for the rest of the day to prevent any additional irritation.
Book a Consultation for Strawberry Legs Treatment in Atlanta
Ready to help improve the appearance of strawberry legs? Let our experienced medical team assess your skin and see what’s potentially causing dark spots on your legs.
Sometimes, patients who think they have strawberry legs may actually have a different type of skin condition that we can identify. After listening to your skin concerns and goals, we will create a customized treatment plan to help you achieve the results you’re looking for.
Our team has 90+ years of experience in laser hair removal and addressing cosmetic skin concerns like strawberry legs. Contact WIFH today and book a free consultation for strawberry legs treatment.
