how to get rid of dark pores on the legs

Many women end up dealing with dark pores on their legs. They look a bit like dark spots, and because they look a bit like the spots found on strawberries, some people refer to them as “strawberry legs.” If you have an olive or light skin tone, then those dark spots really look noticeable on your legs. Medically, these pores are known as “open comedones.” They occur when open pores become plugged with bacteria, oil and dirt. When air reaches the pores, the oil in the pores reacts with the oxygen, making the pores turn black or very dark.

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what causes the dark pores?

In many cases, women notice that these dark pores show up right after shaving. If you’re using a dull razor, it may pull at the leg hair without removing the follicle completely, which may cause the dark pores. The opening for the hair follicle may become packed with dead skin cells and oil. You can stop shaving to eliminate this problem.

Sure, shaving is one of the cheapest, easiest and fastest ways to remove your leg hair, but if you want to eliminate those dark pores, you may need to choose another hair removal method. Alternative options for removing hair include laser hair removal, waxing and depilatories. Keep in mind, the other methods have their own pros and cons.

keep pores clean

If you want to eliminate those dark pores, make sure that you exfoliate your legs regularly. This way you eliminate dead skin cells and nix those pore blockages of dirt, sebum and other impurities.

These mixtures of ingredients are great to use for exfoliating the skin and help alleviate dark pores on the legs. Choose one of the options below.

• Mix 2 tbsp of sugar with 4 tbsp of olive oil.
• Mix 1 tbsp of baking soda with 1 tsp of warm water.
• Mix enough salt with buttermilk to make a paste.
• Mix 2 tbsp of brown sugar, 2 tbsp aloe vera gel and 1 tsp lemon juice into a paste.
• Blend equal parts of brown sugar and baking soda with water to make a paste.

Instructions: Exfoliate with natural, mildly abrasive scrubs. Using a loofah, exfoliating mitt or a towel, gently massage the homemade scrub onto affected areas (or the entire leg) with small circular motions for several minutes, beginning at the ankles and working your way up. Rinse or gentle wipe off with warm water. Splash skin with cold water to close the pores.

massage

Massage legs with healing oils or lotions with healing ingredients like aloe vera to increase circulation, keep skin moisturized and healthy.

Other ideas below: Choose one option

• Add pure glycerin to vitamin E oil, almond oil, jojoba or coconut oil.
• Peel and mash a cucumber and apply the cucumber juice to affected areas. After a few usages this will help reduce the color of the dark pores.
• Add a couple of drops of tea tree oil to two tablespoons of olive oil and massage into the area for a few minutes.
• A few drops of sandalwood oil in olive oil or coconut oil
• Equal parts of lime (or lemon) juice, cucumber juice and rosewater to legs
• Apply egg whites on pores and leave on for several minutes, rinse with cold water.

a note about the ingredients:

Consider using ingredients that contain alpha hydroxy acids to exfoliate your legs. These acids help to strip away dead skin cells. This gives you smoother skin and improves skin texture. Alpha hydroxy acids help to decrease discoloration and may reduce inflammation that occurs from razor bumps.

Another excellent ingredient you can use is glycolic acid. Since glycolic acid originally came from sugar cane, using sugar to exfoliate can provide some great results. Other great alpha hydroxy acids include citric acid, which can be found in citrus fruits like limes, grapefruit and lemons, and lactic acid, which is found in milk products. Individuals with sensitive skin or those who deal with hyperpigmentation should talk to a quality dermatologist before using these acids.

Many natural ingredients can be used to help eliminate the problem of dark pores on your legs. Lime is much gentler than lemon and works as an astringent on your skin. Aloe Vera, sandalwood oil, rosewater and cucumbers are natural ingredients that help reduce inflammation. Coconut oil helps to eliminate bacteria and olive oil and avocado oil both work well as emollients. Brown sugar can be used for exfoliation and is a bit gentler on your skin than white sugar.

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