Strawberry legs is the term used to describe the appearance of tiny dark dots or spots on the legs — most visible after shaving — that resemble the seeds scattered across the surface of a strawberry. It's one of the most searched skin concerns in the UK and one that affects confidence far more than people let on. Despite trying every exfoliator, razor, moisturiser and body scrub on the market, most people find the dots keep returning no matter what they do — because the products they're using don't address the root cause.

Those dark dots are most commonly caused by hair follicles or open pores that become clogged with a mixture of oil, dead skin cells and bacteria. When this build-up is exposed to the air it oxidises and darkens, creating the dotted appearance. Ingrown hairs from shaving or waxing — where the hair curls back and grows into the skin rather than out of it — are another common culprit. To make things worse, self-tan applied over strawberry legs tends to settle directly into the open pores and darkened follicles, making the dots look even more pronounced and leaving the skin looking patchy and uneven rather than the smooth, bronzed finish most people are hoping for.