How to Get Rid of Strawberry Skin

strawberry-skin: anklesCredit: Westend61 Ever wished to choose the mind of a magnificence editor? Or get magnificence product suggestions from somebody who has tried all of them? You’ve come to the fitting place. In our weekly sequence, Ask a Beauty Editor, magnificence editor Hana Hong solutions your largest skincare, haircare, and make-up questions, all submitted by Real Simple readers. Tune in each Tuesday and submit your individual burning magnificence questions right here for an opportunity to be featured.Reader query: How do I get rid of the strawberry pores and skin on my legs? – @marlaukelDespite the cutesy nickname sounding like what may very well be successful nation music, the precise pores and skin situation is a reasonably annoying nuisance that’s much more annoying to deal with. If you are not aware of the time period, it is precisely what it feels like: little darkish dots in your legs that resemble the seeds of a strawberry. More professionally referred to as keratosis pilaris, the black, pitted dots stubbornly stay regardless of how usually you shave your legs.That’s as a result of these spots aren’t ingrown hairs or physique zits—they’re truly open pores harboring an accumulation of protein referred to as keratin (the identical constructing block for hair, pores and skin, and nails). This—mixed with oil, filth, and micro organism from shaving—creates a plug that blocks the hair follicle. “It mostly impacts the pores and skin of the higher outer arms, anterior thighs, and decrease legs,” says Hadley King, MD, board-certified dermatologist in New York City.The buildup can even set off irritation, which is why you may even see some redness across the black dots. If your spots are raised and irritated (purple with a white tip), you are possible coping with folliculitis, irritation that occurs when hair follicles are irritated by sweat and rubbing. If that is the case, put on looser clothes and take a look at to decrease the quantity of friction that occurs within the space. And no matter you do, do not choose at these spots, since that may lead to everlasting scarring.Story continuesAs for strawberry pores and skin therapy, I’ve excellent news and unhealthy information. The unhealthy information is that strawberry legs could be attributed to a number of elements—together with crappy razors and good ol’ genetics—which signifies that a common prevention methodology does not exist. The excellent news is that whereas there is not any treatment, there are methods to hold these black spots at bay.Before we get into that, a fast disclaimer that strawberry pores and skin is tremendous frequent and under no circumstances harmful, so do not feel the necessity to take away it if you don’t need to. However, in case you’re bothered by the beauty look, Dr. King says that light exfoliation is the easiest way to get rid of it.Look for a mild bodily exfoliator, which may come within the type of scrubs, powders, and even instruments, to manually resurface your complexion. Dr. King notes that over-exfoliation can inflame the pores and skin and make the situation much more noticeable, so begin sparingly—two to 3 times per week is greater than sufficient. And if you have not already, spend money on a higher-quality razor since shaving with previous or boring blades can even trigger strawberry legs.If you could have very delicate pores and skin that does not reply properly to bodily exfoliation, you possibly can apply a day by day physique cream or physique wash containing salicylic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, or urea as a substitute—their chemical construction permits them to penetrate the outer layers of the pores and skin extra simply. This can even assist improve cell turnover with out irritating your pores and skin.If the pharmacy choices aren’t supplying you with sufficient reduction, your dermatologist could prescribe prescription-strength tretinoin (Renova, Retin-A) and steroid lotions to use along side your OTC merchandise. This might help velocity up the clearing of useless pores and skin cells.While doing all of the above will dislodge the keratin plugs, remember the fact that it’s a short-term repair. If none of that’s working (otherwise you need one thing extra long-lasting), laser hair elimination is an effective final resort, albeit an costly one. This course of removes strawberry pores and skin by killing the hair on the root (and the no-shaving half is a large plus).Now that we’ve got the fundamentals lined, I—with some assist from Dr. King—compiled some celebrity exfoliating merchandise that you should utilize to deal with strawberry pores and skin. Remember to comply with up with a very good physique moisturizer (with SPF!) since exfoliation could make your pores and skin extra inclined to sunburn.Dove Gentle Exfoliating Body Wash with Sea Minerals”I like to recommend this for these with very delicate or dry pores and skin,” says Dr. King. The creamy sulfate-free wash incorporates substances like lipids and glycerin that moisturize the pores and skin and assist the pores and skin barrier, in addition to sea minerals to bodily exfoliate.”strawberry-skin-Dove Gentle Exfoliating Body Wash with Sea MineralsPaula’s Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHAThis leave-on physique exfoliant incorporates 2 % salicylic acid to gently exfoliate the buildup of keratin (and different gunk) in your pores. Suitable for even drier pores and skin sorts, it is a terrific, non-abrasive method to shed layers of useless pores and skin.strawberry-skin-Paula’s Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2 BHAEucerin Roughness Relief Body LotionAnother one of Dr. King’s picks, this formulation options glycerin to hydrate and shea butter to lock in that hydration for the entire day. “It’s additionally enriched with urea to gently chemically exfoliate, which might help soften tough elbows, knees, heels and different dry areas, as well as to smoothing keratosis pilaris, of course,” she says.strawberry-skin-Eucerin Roughness Relief Body LotionSol de Janeiro Bum Bum Body ScrubGive your strawberry pores and skin a tropical getaway with this soft-as-sand physique scrub. All of the substances, which embrace crushed cupuaçu seeds, pressed coconut oil, and garaná, are sustainably sourced straight from the Amazon Rainforest.strawberry-skin-Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Body ScrubFollain Sugar and Shea Body ScrubIf you do not like the sensation of moisturizer in your pores and skin, this may not be the very best for you. But for dry-skinned folks like me, this scrub is the holy grail of hydration. Tiny sugar beads get rid of useless pores and skin, whereas shea butter nourishes new cells. Similar to an in-shower lotion, the formulation leaves behind a moisturizing layer in your pores and skin so you may even skip the lotion afterwards. Plus, the little jingle on the again of the bottle is tremendous catchy and enjoyable to sing within the bathe: “Wash the day away with sugar, shea, and kaolin clay!”strawberry-skin-Follain Sugar and Shea Body ScrubPixi by Petra Glycolic Body WashPixi’s physique wash formulation is as magical because it sounds— and the magic lies within the exfoliating, radiating glory that’s glycolic acid. While glycolic does its exfoliating responsibility, a skin-soothing mix of aloe and ginseng helps present long-lasting hydration.strawberry-skin-Pixi by Petra Glycolic Body Wash