Before treating the black spots on your legs, you first need to determine what is causing them. Some types of black spots, such as moles or tumors, should be examined by a doctor to determine if removal is necessary. If you are an older adult, you may find that you've developed black wart-like growths on your legs. The growths, called seborrheic keratoses, are not harmful according to MedlinePlus, an informational website run by the National Institutes of Health. The only type of black dots on your legs you should get rid of on your own are ingrown hairs that are not infected.
Step 1
Visit your doctor before attempting to remove ingrown hairs so you can be sure they are not another type of growth that requires treatment.
Step 2
Exfoliate your skin with a loofah or bath puff in the shower or bath. This will remove the dead skin cells on the surface of your skin, allowing you to see and extract ingrown hairs more precisely.
Step 3
Examine the black spots on your legs to determine which are ingrown hairs. You may need a friend or partner to help if you have black spots on areas of your legs that aren't easily visible to you. If you are unable to see a hair under the surface of the skin, leave that spot alone and do not attempt to remove it.
Step 4
Insert the tip of the sterile needle gently under the ingrown hair, and carefully lift the needle to release the trapped tip of hair, as recommended by MayoClinic.com. Do not pluck or otherwise remove the hair.
Step 5
Apply antibacterial ointment to the hair follicle and the surrounding area and cover with an adhesive bandage.
Step 6
Check each hair daily, and if there is any redness continue to apply ointment and bandages until the skin returns to its normal color.
Step 7
Refrain from shaving your legs to prevent ingrown hairs from reappearing. If you must remove leg hair, use a depilatory cream to do so.
Things You'll Need
- Loofah or bath puff
- Sterile needle
- Adhesive bandages
- Antibacterial ointment
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