STRAWBERRY legs are the summer’s worst nightmare, with many beauty fans feeling overcome by the dermatological issue.
Little red dots on your skin can ruin anyone’s style, but my tips help.
I’ve dealt with strawberry skin, but luckily I found a way out so I can wear clothes that expose my arms or legs.
The real name of the disease is keratosis pilaris.
It occurs when skin pores can become clogged or hair can become trapped under the skin, causing inflammation.
The redness caused by irritants is what causes the dreaded strawberry skin.
WHAT TO DO
Having struggled with the skin problem myself, I’ve found that a few tips will allow for a close – and smooth – shave.
First, I use an ingredient that many people keep in the kitchen – coconut oil.
After soaking my legs with hot water and exfoliating well with unscented castile soap and sea sponge, I shave with the oil.
However, it is important not to let the oil run down the drain, but rather to wipe it off with a paper towel or other clean material that does not go down the pipes.
Most read in Hair and Beauty
Coconut oil hardens if not heated to a certain temperature, which can cause plumbing problems.
The result is super soft, hydrated and silky legs.
If I’m short on time and don’t have time for the paper towel process, I prefer to use a nourishing shaving product.
Brazilian Original Vanilla Shaving Syrup is available at Target for $12.99.
What is “strawberry skin?”
Strawberry skin is a dermatological condition called keratosis pilaris.
The condition causes small bumps filled with debris such as trapped hair or sebum on the body.
Clogged pores occur in hair follicles and can give the skin an unsightly appearance, similar to strawberry seeds.
Next, to avoid missed spots, I make sure to place my legs in natural light and spray any stragglers with food-grade orange blossom water and shave off any stray hairs.
Rose water also works if you don’t have orange blossom water on hand.
As a hydrosol, either water will have less potential to irritate the skin.
HELP! I STILL HAVE STRAWBERRY SKIN
It is essential to avoid irritants that can cause strawberry skin.
For example, I noticed that I had more problems with strawberry skin on my arms and legs if I spent a lot of time in my tight gym clothes after a workout.
The friction of the fabric on the skin, combined with sweat, is a recipe for disaster.
Second, I swear by Sephora shopping for situations that call for the big guns.
I use First Aid Beauty’s KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub with 10% AHA, $30.
I usually get the product for free using Sephora points or promotions.
The alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) in body scrub is a powerful way to exfoliate small bumps.
Since addressing the core issue of keratosis pilaris, I’ve found that a little of the product goes a long way.
Staying away from strawberry skin triggers, like immediately going home after a workout to shower and change, has transformed my arms and legs.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story