Dark elbows and knees make your skin appear uneven. Here is a rundown on how to lighten dark elbows naturally with home remedies and permanently.
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This is a very common issue that can really drain one’s self-esteem thus covering up with long sleeved tops and beyond knee dresses.
While this can happen to anyone regardless of their skin color, it is more common in people with darker skin tones. This is because they have more melanin pigment making it very easy to notice dark patches of skin on high friction areas such as the elbows and the knees.
Find out what causes dark elbows and how you can naturally lighten or bleach discolored elbows with home remedies.
Why are my elbows dark? The skin around the elbows and knees is a little thicker with more skin folds than the surrounding areas. Uneven distribution of melanin pigment in the body can result in some areas being darker than others. With little blood supply and no oil glands, the area tends to be rough and dry. Here are some of the common causes of dark elbows:
It is common to see dark patches and discoloration on high friction areas such as the elbows and knees. Elbow skin is naturally thicker than the surrounding skin. Knees and elbows withstand frequent bending, kneeling, leaning and get rubbed on by rough clothes. With few oil glands for lubrication, the skin in these areas grows thick and naturally
With few oil glands for lubrication, the skin in these areas grows thick and naturally adopt a protective layer of dark skin. Note that while it is possible to lighten, bleach or whiten dark elbows and knees, there is no magic treatment. You do not need expensive creams and procedures to lighten up the dark skin on elbows. Use these simple home remedies
Turmeric has natural exfoliating and bleaching properties which help to effectively get rid of dark patches on the skin.
Note that if left for too long on skin, turmeric may stain your skin yellow. This effect is temporary and will fade off in a day or two.
Note that lemon may cause some irritation and stinging. Do not overdo the scrubbing and stop using this remedy if you notice signs of allergic reaction like rash and irritation. Lemon can be drying when you should moisturize after every time you bleach dark elbows with lemon juice.
Aloe Vera is an age old beauty product that is used for its natural moisturizing and skin whitening properties. It helps to reverse sun damage, treats dryness and removes dead skin cells.
Yogurt contains lactic acid and vinegar contains acetic acid which is mild but effective skin lightening agents. These two effectively lighten dark spots on knees and elbows, evening out your skin.
Accumulation of dead skin cells and grime can make your elbows appear ashy and dirty. Baking soda is a gentle skin cleanser and natural scrub that removes dead cells and gets rid of grime.
Depending on the extent of darkness, repeat this daily or on alternate days then later with improved you can reduce the frequency to once or twice a week
Repeat this daily until you start seeing changes then reduce the frequency to several days a week
Mint has natural antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. It is not only healing to the skin but also has essential oils which aid in the synthesis of white blood cells and collagen which lighten skin by clearing scars and dark spots
Another dark elbow treatment that will help you fade off dark spots and moisturize your skin. It also has powerful antioxidants that help to repair skin and improve the appearance of damaged tissue.
Dead flaky skin cells can become trapped in the skin folds of the elbows causing the skin to appear darker than the surrounding skin. Most of us neglect the elbows and the knees during the daily body care routine and forget to moisturize. Follow this tips to help you lighten dark elbows naturally
According to Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS, a Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon, the skin over the elbows and knees is resilient and elastic. Pigmentation is usually more pronounces when the joints are extended and the skin overlying the joints is contracted.
The darkness of the knees and elbows is caused by the redundancy of the skin which has to be there to allow for bending. This type of skin is caused by constant friction which thickens the skin. In other words, this means that most home remedies for dark elbows and knees are superficial and they can’t do much to change the specific type of skin in these areas.
Most of the dark elbow and knee home treatments described above are temporary. To have long lasting results. It is recommended that you find one remedy that works for you then find a way of incorporating it into your skin care and beauty regimen. Regular exfoliation will help you to maintain the areas in their best appearance. For more permanent results, talk to your dermatologist about the possibility of having a chemical peel or permanent exfoliation procedures.
Note that, permanent methods that can be used to lighten your elbows or knees should be used carefully in people with a darker skin tone just so you don’t end up with unnaturally lighter elbows than the rest of your body.
The above remedies can be equally used to lighten dark elbows, knees, and knuckles.
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I'm. Black can you use sugar and olive. mix on black skin. Knee and elbows?
Hi Mattie Garris. I'm glad you found this article useful. You can use sugar and olive oil on any kind of skin. While sugar helps to exfoliate dark dead skin cells, olive oil has gentle skin brightening properties that will help make your knees and elbows clear. Just be sure to incorporate this into your beauty or grooming routine for better and long lasting results.
I have my college days in a month n I have dark legs elbows.....I want stunning legs in an month....can u suggest me something?
Do the baking soda with milk can help my knees whiten?
Hello. I'm a 46 year old black male. I have uneven skin tone on both my elbows and knees (also knuckles and toes). Those areas aren't really a concern to me, however. It's my face. I have a "shadow" on my face from years of shaving. My forehead and around my eyes are a considerably lighter shade of brown, whereas my cheek areas are much darker. Of course this has really made a dent in my self-esteem and confidence much so to the point of I don't have ANY pictures of myself taken. I've tried just about any and every hydroquinone enriched cream you can think of and to no avail. Is there anything- ANYTHING out there that I can use on my face to get my even skin tone back? Perhaps that same remedy can also be used on my elbows and other problem areas of my body. Thanks.
Can any of theses method be used on the back of your neck? My neck and elbows are both dark
Hi Melussa. Yes, home remedies to lighten dark elbows and knees can be used to lighten dark patches, lines and creases on the neck. Regards.
Read more on how to get rid of dark neck
How long should I wait for results? I'm using the soda and milk