Visible follicles on legs

[ICanTuckMyBoobsInMyPockets]

I got some really good advice on fake tanning here a few weeks ago, so I'm hoping you can help me with my new problem!

I naturally have pale skin, not milky white, but clearly not seen the sun in a few years.

WHenever I shave my legs, no matter what I do, you can see the hair follicles, like little dots, all over my legs.i want to embrace my paleness a bit and not worry about tanning if I want to wear a skirt to work, but they just look terrible. Like I haven't even bothered to shave them.
I do it in the shower, hot water, exfoliate them a bit, put some foam on, let it sit for a minute then use a razor to shave them. I change razors regularly. I then use moisturiser.

What can I do to cover them up? I just want nice even skin, I don't care what colour it is!

Watching because I have the same problem. A tan seems to go a little way towards masking it.

I am plagued by pasty white skin and thick, jet black hair!

Same problem here! Waiting with you both in hope that someone will come along and help us...

Does it look like this?

If so it's keratosis pilaris, very common for fair skinned people. It's a build up of keratin protein in the follicle. Products containing lactic acid and urea are meant to be effective.

Mmm, not really. That looks bumpy and mine and smooth.

Have you tried waxing?

Mines quite like the picture - waxing doesn't get rid of the spots so keratin build up is interesting. Off to do more research!

In fact, I've just read the NHS profile on it. Had never heard of it before - but that is exactly what my problem is. Thanks!

If you have keratosis pilaris the best treatment is heel cream like flexitol.

You need something that pulls the hair out by the roots, like waxing or epilating

Save up for a lumea

Keritosis Pilaris perhaps? As pp mention, products with Urea might help BUT there may be an underlying cause - I had KP on arms and legs and it quickly resolved on a gluten free diet (I didn't go GF due to the KP, it was an added bonus that it vanished, along with other skin issues). If you google, there is an amount of info about KP and gluten/wheat sensitivity - it could be worth doing an exclusion diet for a couple of months to see if it help.

Keritosis Pilaris perhaps? As pp mention, products with Urea might help BUT there may be an underlying cause - I had KP on arms and legs and it quickly resolved on a gluten free diet (I didn't go GF due to the KP, it was an added bonus that it vanished, along with other skin issues). If you google, there is an amount of info about KP and gluten/wheat sensitivity - it could be worth doing an exclusion diet for a couple of months to see if it help.

I get this when I shave my pits

I was just about to post this very questions as my legs look tripe...milk white and red dots all over- no bumps though. The dots are below the skin surface not on the top IYSWIM

I have the same issue and unfortunately no solution. It seems to be the curse of pale skin and very thick black hair!

I do quite like that sally Hansen spray on tights stuff that you used to get in boots, covered bruises and the hair follicles.

I have this too, but never realised it was a 'thing', I just thought it was my pale skin! You learn something new every day

I also have this - fake tan tends to 'sit' in the dots and make it look worse.
I use Dermablend in Opal mixed with some cheap foundation and it covers the dots really well. Dermablend on its own looks too heavy and matte though. Would love to find a product that covered without having to do the mixing!

I got the dots even with waxing. They only went when I had laser hair removal- something when I was single and could afford the time/expense/be bothered!

Have you tried Sally hansen airbrush or Mac face and body?
Have used both before and think they would lightly cover the follicles whilst giving you a bit of colour

Mine are like this and it definitely sin't KP. KP gives you raised bumps, you normally have them on upper arms too (my dH has this) and sometimes cheeks. You can pick at the bumps and sort of pick out the extra layers. The dots on pale legs are simply the follicle and root of the hair. I think waxing made mine look worse tbh, as they were possibly more inflamed. But nothing other than a real tan (which i almost never get) makes them go away. Something like Sally Hansen leg spray would make them much less noticable though. I do wonder about a Lumea, I think that could help, but I haven't tried it.

I have the dots where my legs were lasered.
Fake tan makes them show up more

Yep I have this. It's not KP. As others have said, ithe skin is smooth but dotty . I think it's to do with having pale skin. I always wonder how people get that sort of uniform, blank skin look iyswim. My legs always look sort of plucked. And waxing/shaving/whatever makes no difference.

I have this too, it started during my first pregnancy. I don't think it's to do with hair as I have very little hair on my legs. I wonder if it's to do with lack of exposure to the air. When I got pregnant it was the first summer that I didn't holiday in the sun or wear a skirt. Since then I never get my legs out because they make me feel self-conscious.

So not even laser helps? I'm doomed to have dotty legs forever?

same here. I can have smooth and soft freshly shaved legs, and those little black hair root dots will still her visible.

I exfoliate and moisturise almost every day, never really helps. get loads of ingrown hairs too. The only thing that helps a bit is a tan.