We all wish we could have a flawless skin, no acne, no dark spots, just an even skin tone. An even skin tone adds to your beauty, and dark knees and elbows are definitely not included in your beauty statement, they give your body an unpleasant appearance. This is a common issue that can make you think twice before wearing short-sleeve dresses and tops as well as skirts and shorts.
The skin around elbows and knees is a little thicker with more skin folds than the surrounding areas. Some other factors that contribute to dark elbows and knees are frequent rubbing, overexposure to the sun,hormonal imbalance, obesity, genetic factors, dry skin, dead skin, and use of certain medications.
In this post I'm going to share with you easy homemade recipes that you can do to get rid of dark knees and elbows without wasting money on fancy and expensive creams.
Honey, Lemon and Baking Soda
Honey: being a good source of antioxidants, honey will protect your skin from cell damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are responsible for accelerating the aging process, and in this case, they may result in fine lines and dark spots on your elbows and knees. Applying honey in these recipes to lighten knees and elbows will be very effective, since honey has the ability to moisturize,hydrate and tighten the skin.
Lemon Juice :it has natural bleaching properties as well as exfoliating properties. It is also rich in citric acid and vitamin C, which helps to remove dead skin cells and lighten skin tone. It can also promote regeneration of healthy skin cells.
Baking Soda: it is an alkaline substance that has antibacterial, anti fungal, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. It acts as a gentle cleanser, baking soda is also effective when it comes to treating dark knees and elbows. It can remove dead skin cells and reduce hyperpigmentation that forms around the knees and elbows. Baking soda deeply cleanses skin by absorbing the excess of oil and clear all the scars from the skin. In addiction, it balances pH level on the skin, which is very important to maintain an even skin tone and a glowing texture.
Olive Oil: it contains certain compounds that will allow the oil to penetrate deeply into the skin, moisturizing and hydrating it. The vitamin E oil contained on olive oil will help enlongating the skin, reducing those fine lines that usually appear with the dark spots around the knees and elbows.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons of honey
- the juice of half a lemon
- 1 teaspoon of baking soda
- 1 teaspoon of Olive Oil
Directions
- Place all the ingredients in a bowl and mix them well, until you get a homogeneous mixture. Apply this mixture directly on the affected areas, then cover with a gauze. Leave it on over night.
- In the morning, wash the area with hot water, then wipe up with a towel and apply a little coconut oil( or any other oil you prefer to use as a moisturizer). Massage well until the oil penetrates the skin.
- Repeat this procedure for 10 days, and you will successfully get rid of dark skin on knees and elbows.
Lemon Juice
- Cut the lemon in two halves and rub one half over both your elbows while squeezing it to release the juice. Allow it to remain on your elbows for 15-20 minutes, then rinse off with lukewarm water. Repeat this procedure several times per week for better results.
- Alternatively, you can mix a one tablespoon of baking soda and lemon juice to make a paste with medium consistency. Rub the mixture over your elbows and massage it gently in circular motions. Do this for at least 20 minutes then rinse off with water .
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is an age old beauty product that is used for its natural moisturizing and skin whitening properties. 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.
- Take a fresh aloe leaf and cut its edges to expose the flesh
- Squeeze to extract the gel and apply it to your elbows and knees
- Leave it on the skin for 30 minutes
- Was off with warm water
- Alternatively, you can mix aloe Vera with honey and use in the same way as explained above.
- Repeat the procedure several times per week for faster results.
Baking Soda and Milk
Milk lightens your skin by promoting the shedding of pigmented skin cells. That's why is very effective when it comes to reducing or eliminating dark spots.
- Mix in a small bowl baking soda and milk to make a paste
- Apply it on the elbows and knees while rubbing in circular motions for 5 minutes
- Wash off with lukewarm water, pat, dry and moisturize
- this procedure can take 7-10 days to start showing results.
Yogurt and White Vinegar
Yogurt contains lactic acid and vinegar contains acetic acid which are mild but effective skin lightening agents. These two effectively lighten dark spots on the knees and elbows ,promoting a healthy and an even skin tone.
- Combine a teaspoon of yogurt and white vinegar to get a smooth paste. apply the paste on the elbows and allow it to dry. Rinse off with warm water, pat, dry and moisturize.
- Alternatively, you can mix a tablespoon of plain yogurt with 2 tablespoons of gram flour. Apply the paste to your elbows and leave it on for 15 minutes. Massage gently with wet fingers to exfoliate and rinse with warm water. Repeat this procedure everyday until you get results.
Turmeric and Yogurt
Turmeric has natural exfoliating and bleaching properties which help to effectively get rid of dark patches on skin.
- Mix gram flour , turmeric and yogurt in a small bowl until it forms a paste
- Apply the paste in your elbows and knees and leave it on for 20 minutes or until it dries off.
- Wash off with lukewarm water while gently scrubbing your elbows in a circular motion
- Repeat this procedure for a few days and you will start seeing results.
Vitamin E Oil
This vitamin will help you fade dark spots and moisturize your skin. It has powerful antioxidants that help to repair skin and improve the appearance of damaged tissue.
- Add a tablespoon each of vitamin E oil, lemon juice and glycerin.
- Add in 2-4 tablespoons of milk
- Apply this to your elbows and let it sit for 20 minutes.
- You can choose to take vitamin E capsules orally or prick one capsule with a pin and apply the oil to the elbows.
These recipes will give you results in a few days, most of them start showing results after 10-15 days, so don't give up if you don't see the results on your first week of application.
Tips to Prevent Dark Knees and Elbows
- Do not lean too much on your knees and your elbows. Friction and exerting pressure on the knees and elbows can cause your skin to be discolored
- Moisturize your elbows after every bath to prevent dryness.
- Apply Shea butter, or cocoa butter before going to bed to help fade off dark spots on elbows.
- Protect your elbows and knees from harmful UV rays by wearing sunscreen all the time.
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