Five Home Remedies To Lighten Dark Elbows And Knees

Having an even skin tone is a dream, especially when it comes your knuckles, elbows and knees. Having those dark parts can make one self-conscious about wearing short dresses and shorts.

The skin around the elbows and knees are usually thicker than the skin surrounding it; it also has more folds (because of the joints) and tends to be much drier because those parts do not produce oil (they have no oil glands). Because of the aforementioned features of these body parts, not maintaining proper hygiene of them makes them much darker than other parts of your body.

Overexposure to the sun, dry skin, hormonal imbalance, frequent rubbing, increased melanin pigment, genetic factors and obesity are also some of the factors that contribute to dark elbows and knees.

But don’t worry, where there is a dark elbow, there is a simple skin care technique or natural remedy to cure it. Here are some of our favourite home remedies for dark (and dry) elbows and knees.

1. Lemon

This is the first thing you’d expect on this list because of its natural bleaching and exfoliating properties. It also contains a high amount of vitamin C that helps remove dead cells and lighten skin tone. It can also promote regeneration of healthy skin cells. Gently massage your elbows and kneeswith lemon juice for a few minutes. Leave on for about 20 minutes, wash off with warm water and apply a moisturiser. Or mix lemon juice with honey, apply and leave on for 20 minutes, then wash off with water. Keep it in mind to avoid sun exposure for a few hours after applying lemon juice.

2. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil contains vitamin E which can help lighten the skin tone and prevent dryness by keeping the skin hydrated and moisturised. It can also repair dark and damaged skin. After each shower or bath, gently massage coconut oil on your knees and elbows for 1 to 2 minutes and reapply several times a day to prevent dryness. Or prepare a mixture with 1 teaspoon of coconut oil and ½ teaspoon of lemon juice. Rub this solution on your dark elbows and knees and let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes. Wipe it off with paper towels. Do this once daily.
You can also add enough coconut oil to 1 tablespoon of walnut powder to make a thick paste. Use it to exfoliate dark skin patches around your knees and elbows 2 or 3 times a week.

3. Sugar

To lighten the skin tone of your knees and elbows, you can also use a homemade sugar scrub. Sugar granules help exfoliate dead skin cells and soften the skin.

Mix equal amounts of sugar and olive oil to make a thick paste.
Apply this paste on your knees and elbows and rub it around using circular motions for 5 minutes.
Wash it off with a mild soap and warm water.
Do this once daily until the skin tone around your knees and elbows lightens.
Repeat this treatment on a weekly basis.

4. Baking Soda

Baking soda acts as a gentle cleanser, hence it is effective for treating dark knees and elbows. It can help remove dead skin cells and reduce hyper-pigmentation that forms around the knees and elbows.

Prepare a paste with 1 tablespoon each of milk and baking soda.
Apply it on the affected areas and rub it around in circular motions for 2 to 3 minutes.
Wash it off with lukewarm water and pat dry the area thoroughly.
Repeat every other day until you get the desired results.

5. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is a natural skin lightener that will also keep the skin hydrated and moisturized. It can help maintain even skin tone and promote the repair of skin cells damaged by sun exposure.

Extract the gel by breaking open a fleshy aloe vera leaf.
Apply it to the affected areas.
Let it sit for 20 minutes, then wash it off with warm water.
Repeat 1 or 2 times daily for a few weeks.