10 Ways to Get Rid of Strawberry Legs
ways to get rid of strawberry legs

Tired of seeing those red or dark spots on your legs after shaving? Let’s get rid of them!

Nicknamed strawberry legs” for the resemblance to strawberry seeds, these annoying spots are common after hair removal. 

Fortunately, they’re also relatively easy to prevent and remove with a little know-how and the right skin care products.

In this article, you’ll learn all about strawberry legs, including what causes them and ten ways to prevent and remove them naturally.

What Causes Strawberry Legs?

The term strawberry legs” or strawberry skin” is not a medical term or condition, but is used to describe the strawberry seed appearance of pink, red, or dark bumps on the legs, arms, and other parts of the skin.

It is not dangerous (although you don’t want to pick at them, which could break the skin and cause infection) and is preventable (yes!) once you figure out the cause.

So, what causes strawberry legs, arms, etc? 

It depends on the person, but here are some common causes:

  • Shaving: For some people, leftover hair from shaving can cause that strawberry seed appearance, though the bumps aren’t typically raised. This usually shows up a day or two after shaving.
  • Clogged pores: Yes! Any pore can become clogged, even on the legs. Clogged pores are caused by sebum, dead skin, and other impurities trapped inside the hair follicle/pore, which can cause bumps, blackheads, red spots, blemishes, etc.
  • Keratosis pilaris (aka KP): This is a dry skin condition in which the hair follicles become blocked by excess dead/dry skin and sebum, creating bumps on the skin surface.
  • Ingrown hair: Ingrown hairs are hairs that get trapped in the hair follicle and eventually cause bumps.
  • Certain types of hair removal, such as dry shaving, shaving with a dull blade, and waxing: Trauma to hair follicles, known as folliculitis or razor burn, from shaving or waxing can cause strawberry skin.
  • Bacterial folliculitis: This is an infection in which bacteria get into the hair follicles and cause red or dark spots and bumps. Mild cases can be treated at home, but it can require a prescription in some cases.

Strawberry legs usually result from hair removal techniques like shaving or waxing, dry skin, or benign skin conditions like KP.

This is good news because it’s typically easy to remedy at home.

10 Ways to Remove Strawberry Legs 

Once you determine the cause of strawberry legs, the next step is to adjust your skincare and hair removal routine to prevent these unsightly bumps.

Here are eight ways to banish those unsightly bumps and get smooth, silky, even-toned legs without resorting to harsh treatments or chemicals.

1: Up Your Moisturizing Game

Dry skin doesn’t cause strawberry legs but can contribute to things like KP, ingrown hairs, and razor burn.

Dry skin can also become cracked, which negatively impacts skin barrier function.

Using a high-quality moisturizer once or twice daily, and always after hair removal, is a simple way to help prevent strawberry legs while supporting overall skin health.

If you are prone to clogged pores, choose a moisturizer with non-comedogenic ingredients, such as Desert Essence Jojoba Oil, which mimics your skin’s natural sebum, providing much-needed moisture without causing breakouts, bumps, etc.

Desert Essence Jojoba Sweet Almond Body Oil Spray is another excellent non-comedogenic option for body care.

For dry skin, you can layer moisturizers, beginning with a body oil like Organic Coconut and Jojoba, and finishing with a rich moisturizer such as: Desert Essence Bulgarian Lavender Hand and Body Lotion, Unscented Hand and Body Lotion, or Shea and Jojoba Body Butter.

Learn more in: How To Select The Right Moisturizer For Your Skin Type

2. Tweak Your Shaving Routine

Most of us shave so often we don’t even consider that we could be doing it wrong!

If you’re prone to strawberry legs, experts recommend shaving with the grain vs. against it to prevent those pesky bumps.

Yes, it may take a few more passes, but often this is all that’s needed to stop irritation.

And be sure to moisturize after every shaving session.

3: Exfoliate Regularly

Shaving is an exfoliation treatment in and of itself. 

However, on the days you don’t shave, consider using a loofah or exfoliation products, like Desert Essence Exfoliating Italian Lemon Soap Bar, to help remove dead skin cells, which can cause KP, clogged pores, and strawberry skin.

Dry skin brushing with a natural bristle body brush can also be helpful before showering and feels great.

Once again, be sure to moisturize after exfoliation.

4: Apply Soothing Products After Waxing or Epilation

Waxing or epilating are effective long-term hair removal methods. However, they also cause trauma to the hair follicle (folliculitis), which can lead to strawberry skin.

The best way to ease this trauma is to apply soothing moisturizers after treatment.

Look for products with aloe vera, jojoba, lavender, and chamomile to soothe skin and prevent bumps and irritation.

Desert Essence Bulgarian Lavender Hand and Body Lotion, Jojoba, Coconut, and Chamomile Body Oil Spray, and Jojoba Sweet Almond Body Oil Spray are also excellent for soothing and calming the skin.

5: Examine Your Diet

Some people swear that certain foods, such as chocolate, dairy, gluten, or fatty foods, exacerbate the causes of strawberry legs, such as clogged pores and KP.

Although the scientific evidence surrounding the food-skin connection is inconsistent, anecdotal accounts of success from eliminating various foods are hard to ignore.

If you’ve tried other solutions with minimal success, it may be worth removing these types of foods from your diet for a few weeks to see if you notice an improvement.

Proponents of the elimination diet, for example, recommend removing foods for at least 3-4 weeks, then gradually introducing them back, one at a time, and observing any reactions or skin changes.

Upping your intake of nutrient-dense, water-rich, cleansing foods such as green vegetables, fruits, and healthy fats may also help improve overall skin health.

6: Make Sure You’re Shaving With A Sharp Blade

Razor blades can get expensive, which means most of us use them for far too long before swapping them out.

Although this may be economical, a dull blade is more likely to cause irritation, which can lead to strawberry skin.

So, how often should you change your razor?

It depends how often you shave. Generally, if you have to make more than one pass going against the grain, it’s time for a new razor.

7: Drink More Water

Keeping skin hydrated is more than a surface job! 

In addition to regular moisturizing and exfoliating, studies suggest drinking more water can help keep skin hydrated, soft, and supple, all of which may help prevent causes of strawberry skin.

Staying hydrated also increases the absorption of skin-essential nutrients.

How much water do you need?

The standard recommendation is eight glasses per day for adults.

Learn more in: What Are The Skin And Overall Health Benefits Of Drinking Water?

8: Shave Less Often

Every time you shave, you increase the chances of razor burn, ingrown hairs, and general irritation, which could lead to strawberry skin.

Plus, in most cases, there’s really no need to shave every day, especially if you’re wearing pants or shirts with sleeves or in the winter months.

The bottom line is that a bit of body hair never hurt anyone, is usually not noticeable to anyone but you, and can even be beneficial for skin health.

So embrace less shaving for healthier, less bumpy legs.

9: Consider Laser Hair Removal

If the last tip seems unthinkable or you have a lot of body hair, you may consider laser hair removal for your legs or parts of your body prone to strawberry seed appearance.

This technique utilizes FDA-approved lasers to permanently remove hair, eliminating the need for shaving, waxing, or other hair removal techniques that can irritate the skin.

Professional laser hair removal is an investment and must be performed in a clinical setting. It also takes several visits, especially for those with coarse hair.

If this isn’t an option, an epilator or waxing could help eliminate irritation from shaving.

10: Use a Moisturizing Shaving Gel, Cream, or Hair Conditioner (!)

Although it can be tempting to use the same soap you use for washing for shaving, a dedicated moisturizing shave cream or lotion can make a big difference.

These products are ultra-rich and thick, and help prevent razor burn, irritation, and dryness. 

Be sure to look for clean products free from harmful ingredients such as phthalates, SLS, SLES, synthetic fragrance, and petroleum products.

Another effective and minimalist option is to shave with hair conditioner! 

Conditioner creates the ideal conditions for shaving by providing the perfect slip and skin-conditioning ingredients that fight irritation while adding moisture.

Check out Desert Essences Conditioners (that can double as shaving cream) here.

When to See a Dermatologist

In most cases, strawberry legs are easy to prevent and treat at home naturally.

However, if you notice the bumps becoming bigger, sore, or infected or have any other symptoms, it’s time to make an appointment with your dermatologist.

As noted previously, in some cases strawberry skin can be caused by a bacterial infection. Although this is typically mild, some cases may require a prescription, so you need to see your doctor.

Also, if you’re not seeing improvements using these natural methods, a dermatologist can recommend specific over-the-counter or prescription products or procedures to help clear up your skin so you can start fresh with preventative measures.

Tips on Choosing the Best Products for Strawberry Legs

Getting rid of strawberry legs may seem cumbersome, but just a few skin care tweaks and a couple products can make a world of difference.

The gold standards are:

  • High-quality moisturizers (non-comedogenic for clogged pores)
  • Exfoliating products
  • Rich shaving creams or conditioners

Desert Essence proudly offers a wide range of clean, sustainably sourced, cruelty-free, and natural skin care products.

Here’s a recap of some of the best products for strawberry legs and skin:

References Mentioned in This Article:

  • Dietary water affects human skin hydration and biomechanics”. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol.
  • Relationship between the dietary intake of water and skin hydration Relação entre a ingestão dietária de água e a hidratação cutânea.” (2012).



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