QQ: Why Do I Have Zits on My Legs?

So that you suppose you will have pimples…in your legs. First issues first: “It’s exceedingly uncommon for pimples to happen on the legs,” says Redondo Seashore, CA–based mostly board-certified dermatologist Annie Chiu. What would possibly appear to be pimples is often, the truth is, folliculitis, which, merely put, refers to irritation of the hair follicles.1 “Folliculitis presents as small crimson bumps or white-headed pimples. The bumps are inclined to focus on leg hairs—even the thinnest ones will be infected,” Chiu explains.

Nonetheless, she notes, “generally they are often pus-filled and crusty and other people have a tendency to select at these. They will itch or burn and be painful. If folliculitis happens all of a sudden or develops yellow crusting, it needs to be cultured by a dermatologist to rule out a bacterial an infection.”

Causes and Prevention of Folliculitis

Folliculitis outcomes from numerous particular situations, a lot of which we are able to tackle on our personal. That’s as a result of, Chiu explains, “ingrown hairs, or warmth, sweat, and occlusion” are the commonest causes. These causes are fairly frequent, however fortuitously, there are behavioral adjustments we are able to make that can typically assist tackle folliculitis. To forestall folliculitis, watch out for tight clothes.1 Florida-based board-certified dermatologist Stacy Chimento, MD, recommends “choosing looser, cotton clothes every time attainable, and ensure to vary out of sweaty garments and bathe proper after should you’ve been sweating or on the gymnasium.”

One other key? Take note of your hair elimination strategies. Whereas it may be annoying, it’s in all probability finest to cease shaving within the areas folliculitis is happening altogether—and it’s not beneficial to begin once more till your pores and skin is healed. Once you do shave, nevertheless, Chiu notes, ensure that to make the most of the next ideas and methods:

• Exfoliate earlier than shaving
• Use a washcloth in a round movement to boost embedded hairs
• Use loads of shaving cream
• All the time shave towards hair progress
• All the time use a pointy razor
• Moisturize instantly afterwards. Chiu recommends lotions with soothing substances like oatmeal (we like Aveeno Day by day Moisturizing Lotion With Oat For Dry Pores and skin or First Support Magnificence Extremely Restore Cream Intense Hydration).

Lastly, should you discover that situations worsen after different hair elimination strategies, like waxing, it may be time to modify. “If folliculitis is persistently annoying, laser hair elimination to scale back hair progress is beneficial,” Chiu says.

How Is Folliculitis Handled?

Therapy typically combines each prescription and over-the-counter topicals. New York Metropolis–based mostly board-certified dermatologist Shari Marchbein, MD, recommends “cleansers that characteristic substances like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide—like PanOxyl (which has 10% benzoyl peroxide)—adopted by topical antibiotics like clindamycin lotion twice every day.” In extreme circumstances, she notes, “oral antibiotics are generally used.”