How To Get Rid of Strawberry Skin On The Face And Body
One of the many things that can cause blemishes, blackheads, and other pigmentation throughout the face and body is a condition called strawberry skin or strawberry legs. It’s a harmless condition but one that can be frustrating to get rid of on your own, or expensive to consult a dermatologist for a non-painful skin condition. With the right skincare products for the face and body, you can help strawberry skin from forming in the first place. Here’s what we recommend.
What is Strawberry Skin?
Strawberry skin - also called strawberry legs due to how common it is to see it on the upper thighs - is a harmless condition that creates dark spots in hair follicles throughout the skin that are sometimes pitted or raised, but always dark, like the opposite color of strawberry seeds.
This condition is distinct from other disorders that affect the skin pores, such as ingrown hairs, folliculitis, or keratosis pilaris. These are often accompanied by pain, itching, or inflammation. For these disorders, it’s recommended that people see a dermatologist who can prescribe antibiotics, laser hair removal, or other skincare treatments that you won’t find over the counter.
Strawberry skin can also cause slightly increased visibility on the pores that doesn’t result in explicitly dark spots but can contribute to self-consciousness for those who experience it. Rest assured that it’s not possible to completely erase the appearance of pores without photoshopping them away; the ideal standard of beauty should be what you feel looks most naturally like you, rather than an impossible standard set by others.
What Causes Strawberry Skin?
The main causes of strawberry legs are shaving or having clogged pores. When you shave (whether your face or legs), often the hair is cut short but not completely cut off at the root, leaving a tiny stubble of hair growth that contributes to an enhanced spotted appearance to the skin. This is especially true for dark hair. The dirt, oils, and dead skin cells that cause clogged pores can not only be made worse by shaving but can also oxidize over time, resulting in a darkened appearance of the affected pores.
For some people with mild strawberry skin that’s especially noticeable after shaving, it could mean you need a closer shave with either a better or newer razor to help trim the hair down as far as possible to the surface of the hair follicle. Dull razors are also infamous for causing irritation, especially on the face, when they’re not sharp or high-quality. Dry skin can also cause irritation and redness. Irritation can worsen the look of strawberry skin, which is why we recommend you use lukewarm water and moisturizing shaving cream when shaving, whether in the shower or at your sink.
Getting Rid of Strawberry Skin on the Face
If switching to a new razor or avoiding things that cause your skin to become dry and irritated hasn’t helped, here’s what we recommend for people struggling with strawberry skin on the face.
The face has more sensitive skin than the rest of the body, so keep that in mind as we recommend some exfoliating products to help with clogged pores and excess oil concerns. Gentle exfoliants like salicylic acid or glycolic acid can often treat strawberry skin safely, even on sensitive skin.
A good routine to help reduce the appearance of strawberry skin on the face, we recommend starting with the Clarify Polishing Mask once or a few times a week, followed by our 5% or 10% Glycolic Lotion Skin Peel three times a week. For the best moisturizer, try our Nourish Daily Antioxidant moisturizer which can help with the appearance of irritated skin.
Getting Rid of Strawberry Skin on the Body
When strawberry skin covers larger areas of the body, it can be even more frustrating than seeing a few blackheads on your face. For true exfoliation that won’t disrupt your skin’s natural barrier, use our Mint Renewal White Sand Body Polish twice a week followed by our Fresh After Bath moisturizer to quickly hydrate your skin leaving it feeling and appearing soft and smooth.
For both your body and your face, try our daily Clarify Cleanser for particularly stubborn areas of clogged skin pores.
High Quality Skincare Products from Epicuren Discovery
Whether you’re struggling to correct specific concerns like strawberry skin, or simply want your skin to look more alive, more radiant, or more youthful, Epicuren Discovery has the science-backed formulas to help your daily routine elevate your complexion. Browse our complete collection of high-quality skincare products or take our Skin Quiz today to find products matched for your specific skin type and concern.