Read time- 5 mins Topics covered- best shaving practices, strawberry legs, skin pore

For many of us, the beginning of spring marks the end of our shaving hibernation. As the season of shorts, skirts and bathing suits come back in full swing, so does the endless shaving, moisturizing and exfoliating to keep our skin looking smooth and radiant. 

Strawberry legs is a term used when referring to small dark dots that appear across the skin, resembling the seeds of the fruit. “Some of the causes of this condition include when shaven hairs are darker (and therefore, more visible) than skin color, enlarged hair follicles, clogged pores, and keratosis pilaris.” (Source)

Potential causes for strawberry skin and getting rid of it

• Shaving Tools and Technique

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Ditch the single use plastic razors and invest in a high quality razor that stays sharp, and is able to get close to the skin without causing ingrown hairs. It is also important to soak your legs before shaving - this softens the skin and opens up your pores. However, make sure you moisturize immediately after since hot water really dries out the skin,

• Clogged Pores

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Shaving within itself, is exfoliating. However, it only removes surface level debris. It is important to prep your skin accordingly before the big day! You can either dry bush the skin or do a chemical or physical exfoliation a few days prior. This helps draw out impurities and loosen dead skin cells trapped inside the pores. Our best-selling minerals bars are carefully designed to gently exfoliate your skin whilst also nourishing your microbiome. 

• Keratosis pilaris

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KP is characterized by flesh-colored or reddish bumps that typically appear on the arms or legs and is caused due to a buildup of keratin in the hair follicle. These bumps resemble goosebumps and are often found on the surface of the upper arms and thighs. Use products with high lactic acid content to help break down the protein and dry brush to alleviate the texture in the skin.

• Dry Skin

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Dryness doesn’t exactly equal darkened pores; however it is a likely cause of skin aggravation and irritation, especially when you shave. Without the flexibility of moisturized skin, you could not only get razor burn but it leaves you vulnerable for other potential infections.

Folliculitis:

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Folliculitis often occurs when a hair follicle gets infected as a result of hair removal methods such as shaving or waxing. When the hair follicle is left open, it is vulnerable to yeast, fungus and bacteria. When shaving, it often occurs that an incoming ingrown hair gets infected.  “At first it may look like small red bumps or white-headed pimples around hair follicles — the tiny pockets from which each hair grows. The infection can spread and turn into nonhealing, crusty sores.” (Source)

 

It's necessary to be mindful of the products being used on your skin, as some harsh ingredients can irritate the pores on skin. Wosh offers all natural skincare to nurture your skin's microbiome Don't just wash, WOSH!

Sources:

https://artofhealthyliving.com/get-smooth-with-our-top-5-hair-removal-methods/

https://www.healthline.com/health/strawberry-legs#causes

https://www.health.com/beauty/how-to-get-rid-of-strawberry-legs

https://www.byrdie.com/strawberry-legs-4788277

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/folliculitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20361634