Even skin tone adds to our beauty, while dark knees and elbows devaluate it. This is common issue, which is resulted from some very normal conditions in our lifestyle. Women who are more conscious and who tend to wear clothes like short dresses, skirts or sleeveless tops would want to have an even-tone to bring out the best of her look.
Skin around our knees and elbows are thicker and has more folds which look like layers. There aren’t any oil glands in these areas which tend to make the skin dry. If you want to have and maintain even-tone on these areas, you need proper care. These two zones are prone to more darkening than the rest of our body, which is why they need some special attention.
Some more conditions why we result in having dark elbows and knees are
- due to frequent rubbing
- resting the elbows on desks or kneeling down on knees
- excessive exposure under the sun
- naturally dry skin
- obesity
- hormonal imbalance
- building up of dead skin
- melanin pigment
Coconut oil
Coconut oil is a good home remedy for lightening darkness from elbows and knees. The vitamin E content in the oil, is what makes us have an even skin tone and prevent us from having further dryness. It keeps our skin hydrated and lets it breathe. It is also known to be effective for dark and damaged skin.
- Take a bath
- Apply coconut oil on your elbows and knees
- Massage gently for 2 minutes
- Reapply several times a day
- You can also blend 1 teaspoon of oil with ½ teaspoon of lemon extract.
- Rub the mixture on the dark areas and let it dry for 20 minutes.
- Use paper towel to wipe off
- Repeat once everyday
- Another remedy would be to add 1 tablespoon of walnut powder in oil
- Make thick paste by blending
- Apply on the dark parts, as the combination is a good way to exfoliate dark patches
- Repeat 2-3 times a week.
Lemon
Lemon acts as natural bleach with amazing exfoliating properties. It is rich in vitamin C which helps you wipe off the deal cells. It then regenerates the healthy cells and lightens the skin tone.
- Apply lemon juice on the dark areas and massage gently for a few minutes.
- Let it absorb into the skin for 20 minutes
- Wash off with lukewarm water
- Apply moisturizing lotion as the skin will be dry after rinsing
- You can also add 1 lemon extract with 1 tablespoon of honey.
- Honey has moisturizing properties, which will balance the lost moisture during exfoliation
- Apply the blended mix on the zones and let it dry for 20 minutes
- Wash off with water
Observe both of those remedies as soon as day by day. Do it for a couple of weeks. Avoid sun exposure for 3 hours, after following the first remedy.
Yogurt
The lactic acid content in yogurt makes our skin lighter. It also helps us clean and moisturize skin.
- Take 1 teaspoon of plain yogurt and add 1 teaspoon of vinegar.
- Make fine paste and apply on the areas
- Let them dry
- Rinse with lukewarm water
- Dry with a towel
- Apply a moisturizing lotion
- Repeat daily for a few weeks
- Take 1 tablespoon of plain yogurt and mix with 2 tablespoons of gram flour.
- Blend to make a thick paste
- Apply on the dark areas
- Let it dry for 20 minutes
- Damp your fingers and rub the areas
- Remove the paste by rinsing with water
- Repeat 2-3 times a week
Sugar
A homemade sugar scrub is all that you need, for lightening your skin tone, on the concerned areas. Sugar granules are very nice for exfoliation and clean dead skin cells. They also help you soften your skin.
- Take 2 teaspoons of olive oil
- Add sugar and make a thick paste
- Apply on both the zones
- Rub circularly for 5 minutes
- Use a mild soap to cleanse
- Wash off with lukewarm water
- Repeat once daily till the areas lighten
- Reduce usage and repeat once every week
Baking soda
Baking soda is a like a gentle cleanser. They are very effective in healing darkness from elbows and knees. This is because they wash off dead skin cells and also lessen hyper-pigmentation formed in these areas.
- Take a 1 tablespoon of milk
- Add 1 tablespoon of baking soda
- Blend well and then apply on the areas
- Rub for 2-3 minutes in circular motions
- Rinse with lukewarm water
- Pat dry thoroughly
- Repeat daily till you get the satisfactory results.
Aloe vera
Aloe vera seems to be a magic of nature due to its unique consistency and with the goodness of components. It is a skin lightener which will help you keep your skin moisturized and hydrated. It promotes the skin to have an even tone and repairs the damaged skin cells caused by sun exposure.
- Extract aloe vera gel by breaking one fresh aloe vera leaf
- Apply it on the dark areas
- Let it dry for 20 minutes and then wash off with lukewarm water
- Repeat 2 times a weeks
- Repeat for a few weeks till you get desired results
Almond
Almond and its oil extract are both good for the skin. It has skin-nourishing properties which would maintain an even-tone on our skin. It would keep the skin glowing as well.
- Warm almond oil and apply on the area before going to bed
- Massage for 5 minutes
- You should see improved skin tone within a few days
- Take 1 or 2 tablespoon of powdered almond
- Add yogurt and then blend to form a thick paste
- Apply on the darkened knees and elbows
- Damp your fingers and rub in circular motions
- Wash off with cold water
- Do this 1-2 times a day
Mint
Mint has volatile oils which improve collagen in our body. It makes us have an even tone and also makes our skin glow.
- Take a handful of mint leaves
- Boil ½ cup of water and add the leaves
- Boil for 2-3 minutes after which you are to add lemon extract
- Strain the water and let it cool to a tolerable temperature
- Use cotton balls to soak and dab the areas
- Leave the cotton balls like that for 20 minutes
- Wash off with cold water
- Repeat 1-2 times a day till you see improvement
Turmeric
Turmeric exfoliates our skin very well. These are widely used for de-tanning and can be used for whitening your elbows and knees as well. Promote even tone and let you skin have a nicer glow.
- Take turmeric powder and mix with 1 teaspoon of milk cream
- Blend well
- Apply on the zones and massage
- Wash off with lukewarm water
- You could also combine equal amounts of turmeric and gram flour
- Add adequate amount of rose water to make a fine paste
- Massage the paste on elbows and knees
- Let it dry
- Scrub off the mask when it dries
- Wash off with lukewarm water
Cucumber
Cucumber has natural properties to bleach our skin. This would not only lighten elbows and knees, but also keep the areas moisturized. The outer layers of the zones are cleaned off its impurities and they get a fresher look.
- Take a cucumber and slice them in thick shapes
- Apply on your elbows and knees for 15 minutes
- Rinse off with cold water
- You could also mix cucumber juice with lemon juice in equal amounts
- Add some turmeric powder
- Apply on the zones
- Let it dry for 30 minutes
- Wash off with water
- Repeat daily
Tips
- Massage the areas with cocoa or shea butter every night before sleep
- Rubbing potato slices on the areas for 5 minutes, before a bath should give effective results soon
- You could rub pieces of ripe papaya on your skin to make it soft
- Don’t stress on knees or elbows for resting
- Keep it off direct sun exposure. Apply sunscreen before stepping out, especially during summers
- Scrub skin with pumice stone regularly
- Do not use remedies during cuts or bruises. Avoid lemon and salt all the more. Wait till the area heals for continuing or starting off with the remedies.
- Moisturizers are important for regular appliance. These remedies would leave your skin dry. Moisturizer heals such conditions and prevents further darkening.
- Include consumption of food which have vitamins and minerals for nourishing skin
- Drink 10 glasses of water to have a glowing and healthy skin.
