Dark Spots Legs

i am an african american woman and i have hair bumps and dark spots on my legs. are there any treatments or home remedies i can use?
(25 May 2009)

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From the hair bumps and dark spots that you have described, it seems that you are suffering from ingrown hair. Ingrown hair can irritate the skin and cause itching and can also leave scars. Ingrown hair is the result of the hair curling back or growing sideways into the skin.

It is most commonly seen in areas that have been shaved although it can also appear in other areas. There are several ways to treat ingrown hairs but prevention is better than cure as it prevents scarring.

Ingrown hair grows beneath the uppermost layer of skin and can be easily observed with the aid of a magnifying glass.

In some cases, the hair follicle can get infected and the eruption can fill up with pus. This type of ingrowth can cause the most scarring if it is left untreated. Do not attempt to prick the inflamed area with pins or needles as this can damage the skin and increase scarring. Since the hair is growing under the uppermost layer of skin, you can exfoliate the area to get rid of the upper layer and release the trapped hair. Soak your legs in a tall bucket of warm water so that the affected area is completely submerged. If this is not possible, soak a thick cotton pad in water and bandage it to the area. The moisture will help to loosen the upper layer of dead skin and will make exfoliation easier. Grind a few almonds along with a spoon of water so that you get a thick coarse paste. Lightly grind a tablespoon of rice so that you have coarse flour. Mix the flour and almond paste together and add a spoon of honey to it. Mix a little water if necessary to ensure that the mixture is a thick smooth paste. Apply a little of this paste to a cotton pad and use gentle circular motions to scrub away the uppermost layer of skin. It may take a while for the hair to break free but you can keep adding a little of the paste and continue scrubbing it. If an entire area has ingrown hair, you can use wider motions to scrub the entire area at one time. This method is very slow but it ensures minimal damage to the surrounding skin tissue. Once the hair strand is freed, apply a small amount of a broad spectrum anti-microbial cream to control the bacteria within the skin pores.

Use an emery board meant for skin, a loofa, a pumice stone or a bathstone to exfoliate your skin daily. This will prevent the recurrence of ingrown hair. When you shower, use the exfoliating scrub mentioned above along with a few drops of lemon juice to get rid of the scars and spots on your legs.

answered by a on 25 May 2009, 3:48:34

Dark Spots Legs

i am an african american woman and i have hair bumps and dark spots on my legs. are there any treatments or home remedies i can use? (25 May 2009)

i am an african american woman and i have hair bumps and dark spots on my legs. are there any treatments or home remedies i can use?
(25 May 2009)