The key difference between strawberry legs and keratosis pilaris is that strawberry legs are caused by enlarged pores or hair follicles trapping dead skin, oil, and bacteria, while keratosis pilaris is caused by the excess keratin building up in the hair follicles.
Strawberry legs and keratosis pilaris are two skin conditions that are not life-threatening. Strawberry legs occur when enlarged pores or hair follicles trap dead skin, oil, and bacteria. People often experience strawberry legs following the shaving of legs. Moreover, other conditions that can cause strawberry legs include clogged pores, folliculitis, dry skin, and keratosis pilaris.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Strawberry Legs
3. What is Keratosis Pilaris
4. Similarities – Strawberry Legs and Keratosis Pilaris
5. Strawberry Legs vs Keratosis Pilaris in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Strawberry Legs vs Keratosis Pilaris
What is Strawberry Legs?
Strawberry legs refers to a skin condition caused when enlarged pores or hair follicles trap dead skin, oil, and bacteria. In this condition, small black spots develop on the skin of the legs. These spots normally resemble strawberry seeds in appearance. The typical symptoms of this skin condition include open pores that appear darkened, black or brown spots that appear after shaving legs, and a dotted or pitted appearance on the legs. Strawberry legs can cause a person embarrassment due to their appearance. However, they are not normally itchy or painful. If one experiences pain or itching, it may indicate the presence of an underlying condition. Most people get strawberry legs after shaving or waxing. However, strawberry legs can also be caused due to underlying conditions or infections such as folliculitis, clogged pores, dry skin, or keratosis pilaris.
Figure 01: Strawberry Legs
Moreover, strawberry legs can be diagnosed through physical examination. Furthermore, the prevention and treatment options for strawberry legs may include using a sharp, clean razor and moisturizing shaving creams, exfoliating and moisturizing regularly, using an epilator, considering permanent hair removal (electrolysis and laser) and medical therapies (alpha hydroxyl acids (AHA), beta-hydroxy acid (BHA, salicylic acid), glycolic acid, and retinoids.
What is Keratosis Pilaris?
Keratosis pilaris is caused by the excess keratin building up in the hair follicles. In this skin condition, keratin blocks the opening of hair follicles, causing patches of rough, bumpy skin. Keratosis pilaris causes dry, rough patches and tiny bumps normally on the upper arms, thighs, cheeks, or buttocks. Moreover, these bumps generally do not hurt or itch. The symptoms of keratosis pilaris may include painless tiny bumps on upper arms, thighs, cheeks, or buttocks, dry, rough skin in areas with bumps, and worsening of the conditions when there is low humidity, dry skin, and sandpaper-like bumps resembling goose flesh.
Figure 02: Keratosis Pilaris
Keratosis pilaris can be diagnosed through medical history and physical examination. Furthermore, the treatments for keratosis pilaris may include creams to remove dead skins, creams to prevent plugged follicles, and lifestyle and home remedies (use warm water during bath time, be gentle to the skin, try medicated creams, moisturize the skin, use a humidifier, and avoid friction from tight clothes).
What are the Similarities Between Strawberry Legs and Keratosis Pilaris?
- Strawberry legs and keratosis pilaris are two skin conditions.
- They are not life-threatening skin conditions.
- Strawberry Legs are caused by keratosis pilaris.
- Both skin conditions can be diagnosed through physical examinations.
- They can be treated through topical creams applications.
What is the Difference Between Strawberry Legs and Keratosis Pilaris?
Strawberry legs are caused by enlarged pores or hair follicles trapping dead skin, oil, and bacteria, while keratosis pilaris is caused by the excess keratin building up in the hair follicles. Thus, this is the key difference between strawberry legs and keratosis pilaris. Furthermore, strawberry legs are not an inherited condition, while keratosis pilaris is an inherited condition.
The below infographic presents the differences between strawberry legs and keratosis pilaris in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Strawberry Legs vs Keratosis Pilaris
Strawberry legs and keratosis pilaris are two harmless skin conditions. They are related to each other and have some similarities. Strawberry legs are caused when enlarged pores or hair follicles trap dead skin, oil, and bacteria, while keratosis pilaris is caused by the excess keratin building up in the hair follicles. So, this is the key difference between strawberry legs and keratosis pilaris.
Reference:
1. Gotter, Ana. “How to Get Rid of Strawberry Legs.” Healthline, Healthline Media.
2. Carrie Madormo, RN. “What Are Strawberry Legs?” Verywell Health, Verywell Health.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Woman Shaving Legs in Shower” by Karolina Grabowska (CC0) via Pexles
2. “Keratosis Pilaris on Lower Extremity” By Dermanonymous – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
