In winter, nothing beats swaddling yourself in layers of warm garments. But what happens once the season comes to an end? Summer fashions are light and breezy. Most importantly, they leave your elbows and knees exposed. This isn’t anything to write home about, but for people who’ve got dark skin and elbows, this could be a cause for concern. It seriously affects their self-esteem and makes them conscious of the company of others.
Dark knees and elbows are very hard to get rid of with modern medicine. Even the ones that work take a long time to produce satisfactory results. The only solution that offers foolproof results quickly and efficiently is home remedies. In this article, we present a list of easy-to-follow home remedies for getting rid of dark knees and elbows, and also prevent them from recurring in future.
Reasons for the darkening of knees and elbows
Below you’ll find a few possible reasons for the darkening of knees and elbows:
- If your knee and elbow regions are exposed to constant friction or pressure, buildup of the dead and thick skin occurs, causing the area to turn black.
- If your job requires you to kneel down for long periods of time, your knees will become darker.
- Leaning on the table for long will have the same effect on your elbows.
- The problem occurs irrespective of the color of a person’s skin. However, the darker a person is, the darker their knees and elbows will look.
- If you get too much sun, you are likely to end up with dark skin on your elbows and knees.
- People who don’t exfoliate their skin occasionally are likely to face this problem.
- Adults and kids who spend watch television while lying on the carpet are at a greater risk of developing dark knees and elbows.
- Anybody with a typing job has to sit in his/her chair for a long time and do his/her work, leading to blackened elbows and knees.
- Dry skin is a major contributor to the blackening of these parts of the body.
- If you’re in the habit of flexing your arms and legs a lot, the buildup of dead skin leads to the darkening of elbows and knees.
- Genetics
- Certain medications can blacken the skin on your knees and elbows.
- Bad hygiene conditions and habits
- Imbalances at your hormone level.
- Active melanocytes or benign hyperpigmentation in the knees and elbows.
- Among the diseases that cause dark elbows diabetes, obesity and Addison’s syndrome rank high
Symptoms of darkening elbows and knees
The following symptoms indicate dark elbows and knees:
- Visible dark patches
- Rougher skin texture
- Pronounced folds
- Dead skin buildup
List of effective home remedies for getting rid of dark elbows and knees:
1. Coconut Oil
You won’t find a better remedy to lighten your knees and elbows than coconut oil. Easily available and inexpensive, coconut oil is rich in Vitamin E which helps lighten your skin tone. This substance also keeps your skin properly moisturized and hydrated, thereby preventing any unwanted dryness. It is great for repairing and healing damaged and darkened skin on the elbows and knees.
What you should do is apply coconut oil on the affected areas post your bath or shower, and massage gently for up to 1 to 2 minutes. To prevent any dryness, you should reapply coconut oil multiple times a day. You will find the whole experience rather soothing, since the substance works amazingly well as a natural bleacher and hydrating agent. Coconut oil works especially well for massaging blackened knees when it has been warmed up. You should use it daily for best results.
2. Olive Oil
If you’re looking for a natural moisture that works fast to soften your elbows and knees, and prevent skin darkening, olive oil works wonders. All you need to do is warm it for 2-3 minutes and apply it judiciously on the affected areas before you go to bed. Leave it on overnight. This oil softens and bleaches the skin. Repeat the procedure twice every week. The reason is, olive oil is nature’s emollient with excellent hydrating properties, and it works really well on the skin of your elbows
If regular olive oil doesn’t produce quick results, add some sugar into the mix. The granules along with the oil will act as a scrub, removing the dead skin cells and decreasing friction. Your dark spots will bother you no longer. Use gentle and smooth circular motions to massage the mixture on your elbows and knees. Continue rubbing for 5 minutes or so, and then leave it on for another 10 minutes. You can then rinse it off with mild soap and warm water.
3. Gram Flour with Yogurt
Gram flour is rich in several varieties of vitamins, minerals, and proteins. They help with complete exfoliation of your knees and elbows and eradicate dead skin cells which cause the dark appearance. The addition of yogurt is recommended as it helps with moisturizing your skin. Take two tablespoons of gram flour in a bowl. Add a bit of yogurt in the bowl and stir until a fine paste is formed. Apply this mixture directly to your elbows and knees. Leave it on for 15 minutes and then massage the area for 5 minutes. Then use clean water to remove any traces of the paste from your knees. Do this regularly for the best results.
4. Apricot
If you’re being plagued by dark elbows and knees, apricot seeks to work fast and naturally. This substance is known for its restorative properties on skin, and the best part is that it doesn’t require any kind of process, method, or recipe. All that you require are raw apricots. Make sure you slice the apricot properly and apply the pieces against your knees. For your elbow region, you’ve got to tie the apricot piece against the area for almost half an hour. Once you’re done, wash your elbows properly with water.
5. Milk
Milk contains lactic acid, which has been proven to moisturize the skin, decrease pigmentation, and prevent the formation of dead skin cells. Milk is suitable for all skin types, which makes it one of the best home remedies for getting rid of darkened elbows and knees. However, this remedy works a little slowly in comparison to other methods. You can use a cotton ball to soak the milk and apply it to your elbows and knees. Make sure that the milk is full fat. Keep on dabbing the dark areas with the cotton ball until it gets completely absorbed by the skin. Repeat the process daily.
6. Mint Leaves
Mint is popular for its natural anti-inflammatory and antiseptic characteristics. It not only soothes and heals your skin but also contains essential oils that lead to the synthesis of collagen and white blood cells. The result is visibly lighter skin through the reduction of dark patches and scars.
You need to add the mint leaves to boiling water. Let the mixture boil for a couple minutes and then add some freshly squeezed lemon juice. Take the vessel used for the mixture off the flame. Let it cool until it reaches a bearable skin temperature. Use a cotton ball to soak up the solution and apply it softly on the elbows and knees. Let it dry on the skin for a period of 15 minutes and then wash the area off using warm water. After a short time, you’ll notice your elbows and knees lighter overnight.
7. Almond Oil
Almond oil contains a lot of Vitamin E which helps repair the dry skin around your elbows and knees. This helps rid your skin of the dark appearance. Just take a few drops of the oil and gently apply it to your elbows and knees using your fingers. Massage the area for a couple minutes until the oil gets absorbed into your skin. Make sure you repeat this process twice every day.
8. Papaya
Moisturization of the skin and lightening are two important properties contained in the papaya fruit. To reap the benefits, you must slice the papaya and then mash a couple slices with water until a paste gets formed. The mixture has to be applied to your elbows and knees, and left on for almost 10 minutes. Use water to wash it off. Make it a point to repeat this procedure on alternate days and you’ll notice you’re your elbows and knees are clean in one week.
9. Potato
Can we all agree that potatoes are extremely tasty? But that’s not all they’re good for. In fact, if you’re wondering how to lighten dark knees and elbows, they can be used as home remedies for the same purpose. Your dry skin will be nourished at the same time. All you’ll require is one potato. If you’re wondering how to clean elbow, cut the potato into moderately thick slices and then rub the pieces on the dark area for some time. You have to let the potato juice stay on for almost 15 minutes before you can rinse it off. Repeat this procedure a couple times a day to achieve the expected results.
10. Aloe Vera Gel
Aloe vera is extremely useful in treating sun damage owing to overexposure. They are greatly useful if you’re thinking how to get rid of dark elbows and knees at home. Your skin gets moisturized and the dryness that leads to darkening is effectively prevented. It also improves the overall texture of your skin and protects it from harmful UV rays. Just take some fresh aloe vera leaves and extract the gel that is produced by breaking the fleshy leaves. Apply this gel on the darkened areas and keep it on for half an hour. This will impart a fresh look to your knees and elbows. You should repeat this process daily to understand the difference.
11. Baking Soda
Baking soda is one of the most versatile substances you can have in your home. It is an essential ingredient in various remedies, and if you’re stumped about how to whiten knees and underarms, this is your answer. To lighten the skin in these areas, you’ll have to take one tablespoon of baking soda and then mix with some milk to create a cream-like substance. Use this mixture on your elbows and knees, massaging it in a circular motion on alternate days till you see a visible improvement in your condition. The baking soda has amazing exfoliation properties, leaving the skin on your knees and elbows clean and smooth.
The home remedies listed above are ideal for curing the problem of darkened elbows and knees, and preventing it in the future. Be patient and give the remedies sufficient time to act. However, if the problem still persists, you should consult a skin specialist.