Buzz
Sun exposure and the buildup of dead skin cells can cause the skin on your elbows to appear darker compared to other areas of your body. If this makes you feel uncomfortable or less confident when wearing t-shirts during the summer months, don’t worry! Read the article below to discover natural remedies and skincare techniques that can help you address dark patches on your elbows and knees!
Steps
Home Remedies
Lemon Juice. Lemon juice contains citric acid, which has natural bleaching properties. Applying lemon juice to your elbows can help lighten the skin. Follow these steps:
- Cut a lemon in half. Squeeze out some juice and keep the two halves. Rub each half directly onto your elbows.
- After rubbing, you can pat dry but avoid rinsing with water for 3 hours. This allows the lemon juice to penetrate deeper into the skin.
- Rinse with warm water. Once the lemon juice has dried, moisturize your elbows with your favorite body lotion.
- Repeat this method daily until the darkened skin begins to lighten. You’ll notice a visible difference after two weeks.
Use a mixture of heavy cream and turmeric. The combination of heavy cream and turmeric is highly effective in brightening the skin on your elbows, especially for those with darker skin tones. Turmeric is a natural ingredient that helps reduce melanin production in the skin.
- First, boil a portion of heavy cream (or high-fat milk) until it thickens and solidifies.
- Create a paste by mixing half a teaspoon of turmeric powder with half a cup of besan (also known as gram flour, a natural exfoliant of Indian origin).
- Apply the mixture to both elbows (and knees), massaging in circular motions, then rinse with water.
- Turmeric may temporarily give your skin an orange-yellow tint, but it will fade within a day or two.
Create a mixture of milk and baking soda. Milk contains lactic acid, which helps reduce dark pigmentation, while baking soda acts as an exfoliant, making this method effective for brightening elbow skin.
- Ensure you mix enough milk to form a thick paste with the baking soda.
- Apply the mixture to your elbows and gently scrub in circular motions. Repeat until you notice the skin becoming brighter.
Yogurt and vinegar mixture. This combination contains both lactic acid and acetic acid, which are known for their skin-brightening properties.
- Mix one teaspoon of yogurt with one teaspoon of white vinegar until you achieve a smooth consistency.
- Apply the mixture to your elbows, massaging in circular motions. Leave it on for 20 minutes, then rinse and moisturize.
Combine lemon juice and yogurt in a bowl. Use a brush to clean dirt and sweat from your elbows. Add a spoonful of water to the mixture, then apply it directly to the darkened skin using a brush or your hands. Let it sit for 10 to 20 minutes until dry, then wash off with soap and water. Dry with a clean cloth and apply moisturizer.
Exfoliation and Moisturizing
Exfoliate your elbows. Exfoliation helps remove dry, flaky, and trapped dead skin cells from the elbow folds, which can cause the skin to appear darker.
- Apply an exfoliating gel to a loofah or towel and gently scrub your elbows to remove dead skin.
- Alternatively, you can create a homemade sugar scrub by mixing two parts sugar (white or brown) with one part oil (almond, coconut, or olive).
- Avoid making the mixture too harsh or leaving it on the skin for too long, as this can cause irritation and potentially darken the skin further. Gently exfoliate once or twice a week.
- Be patient, and you’ll soon notice a significant improvement in your skin’s appearance.
Moisturize after exfoliation. Skin tends to darken when it’s dry and lacks proper hydration.
- Always moisturize after showering (as hot water can strip natural oils), before bedtime, and before leaving the house in the morning. For best results, use moisturizers containing shea butter, jojoba oil, or olive oil.
- Apply a thick layer of Vaseline, coconut oil, or pure shea butter to your elbows before bed, then cover them with a "sock sleeve" (made by cutting off the toe part of a cotton sock). This overnight treatment allows deep absorption of moisturizers without staining your sheets. The sock also helps retain body heat, enhancing the moisturizing effect.
Use sunscreen. Sun exposure can damage your skin and darken your elbows and knees, so always apply sunscreen before going outside, even for short periods.
- Even on cloudy or rainy days, UV rays can still harm your skin. Make sunscreen application a year-round habit, and consider adding it to your morning routine for optimal protection.
Tips
- If lemon treatments cause excessive stinging or cracking, pause and moisturize until your skin heals before resuming.
- You can substitute the heavy cream and turmeric mixture with a blend of oatmeal and two tablespoons of almond powder.
- Avoid sitting on your knees or putting pressure on your elbows, as this can darken the skin and restrict blood circulation to these areas.
Warnings
- Be cautious. Turmeric can stain your skin and clothing.
What You'll Need
- Lemons
- Moisturizer
- Heavy cream, besan powder, turmeric, and rose water
- Milk and baking soda
- Yogurt and vinegar
- Shea butter, jojoba oil, or olive oil
