How to Keep Your Legs Soft & Spot-Free

Sun radiation is the leading cause of skin problems, but various other factors can negatively impact the appearance or health of the skin. Pollution, stress, poor diet, cigarette smoke and inactivity can contribute to brown spots, wrinkles and enlarged capillaries all over the body. To preserve the softness, smoothness and appearance your legs, adopt habits of proper skin care.

Instructions

• 1

  Use shaving cream or gel when you shave. Dry shaving, or shaving with only water, can cut or irritate the skin. Also, apply moisturizer to your legs after every shower or bath. Hot water causes the skin to dry out, which can lead to scaly or dry skin. Moisturizer re-hydrates the skin to keep it smooth and soft.

• 2

  Rest your legs. When you are active or on your feet, your legs swell and tire. Sit down and rest for at least 30 minutes a day to regulate blood circulation. Prop the legs so they are more elevated than the rest of the body.

• 3

  Exfoliate your legs once a week. Exfoliation removes dead skin cells and rejuvenates the skin to a healthy shine. Use a pumice stone on the feet as well, if desired.

• 4

  Avoid sitting with your legs crossed, when possible. Crossing the legs can cause swelling of the ankles, since the position puts undue pressure on the blood vessels and causes fluid retention. Over time, swelling and fluid retention lead to the development of varicose veins and leg bulges.

• 5

  Use sunscreen and avoid tanning beds. Exposure to sunlight can cause sun spots or brown spots. Brown spots are patches of hyper pigmentation, where the skin is darker than surrounding skin. Brown spots indicate an excess of melanin (and may be a sign of melanoma). They are often accompanied by bleeding, crusting, erosion of the skin, oozing, scaling, redness or patches of color. Apply lightening cream to brown spots to reduce their visibility.