Ever notice that your legs are developing teeny tiny black dots that kind of resemble the seeds or skin of a strawberry? These dark spots are hair follicles or enlarged pores. They could come from a variety of issues, including bacteria, dead skin and oil.
It’s especially common after shaving. When you have a clogged pore or a follicle that’s exposed after shaving, air reached the internal oils. This creates an oxidizing effect and turns it dark.
Causes of Strawberry Legs
If you’re asking yourself: why do I have strawberry legs? The causes of strawberry legs vary – although shaving is a common reason, different conditions can cause this unique effect.
Clogged pores
Like the rest of our skin, our legs contain thousands of pores. These clogged pores, otherwise known as comedones, can get clogged with dead skin, debris and bacteria. When the oil inside the clogged pores is exposed to air, it oxidizes, turning black.
Shaving
This commonly happens if you’re using a dull or old razor that needs to be replaced. It can also happen if you don’t use soap or shaving cream. Both of these things can lead to razor burn, which is a direct cause of strawberry legs. Ingrown hair can also cause this look, and is common if you have thicker body hair. For other people, the skin surrounding the follicle darkens in response to the irritation it experiences from shaving.
