I would like to know if someone has a homemade recipe for cleaning elbows and the knees. I have a dark circle on them. I don't know how to return them to as they used to be. I don't like them the way they look right now. I tried to use oil and lemon, but that's not working. I use cream and butter cream everyday, but they are not doing what I really wanted.
Thanks,
Hanouda from St. Louis, MO
You likely need to use a good exfoliating scrub first before you put your cream on. It sounds like you have a build up of dead skin cells there and that is what is making the dark discoloration. Give that a good scrub first and then do the cream afterwards and that should take care of it. (07/11/2006)
By Pammy
My favorite scrub is really cheap and works very well for me. I lather up a good handful of my favorite bar soap (in my case that would be Dove) and dump in about 2 tablespoons of regular granulated sugar and scrub away! Just rinse and you'll feel fresh and "exfoliated". Just remember to apply a cream or lotion often. When my (elbows) get too scruffy I resort to petroleum jelly several times a day until they look right again. (07/12/2006)
By Marge Mayhew
In the past I've used a nail brush and soap. You have to be careful not to scrub too hard, but it's gets all the dirt and grime out of the creases. (07/13/2006)
By Jomac
I find the best scrub to be baking soda. It exfoliates and also cleans. It does a superb job on the bottom of my feet. (07/13/2006)
By Mary
Try adding sugar or baking soda to shower gel; this works great as does salt. Many of the "sugar scrubs" as they call them now actually are made with salt. Anything that contains the granules that give some abrasion as you scrub will do the job you certainly don't have to spend a ton of money. (07/14/2006)
By Pammy
Try some petroleum jelly mixed with some lime and salt. It works perfectly for me. But that day wear jeans because the lime will stain your knees because of the sun! (04/03/2008)
By livlafluv28
Try a variety of facial masks. (04/27/2008)
Well I've had the same problem. My knees and elbows were discolored and it looked horrible because my skin was a little fair. What I used was lemon juice, sugar, and olive oil. This actually works, trust me. I got better results. You would need to leave it on for 10 minutes then scrub with a loofah or warm cloth. (05/26/2008)
By Sarah
What are Brillo pads and what do they looks like?
Editor's Note: Brillo is a brand name for a steel wool pad with detergent added to it. Another brand is called SOS. These are very abrasive and I would not recommend using them on skin. (08/21/2008)
By O
To the girl who said her skin looks "dirty" because of the dark spots, having dark spots does not make you look "dirty". Your skin is just discolored, that's all. Think more highly of yourself than that.
I have a dark elbow (probably because I lean on it more than the other one) and yes I'd love to clear it up, but there is no way in the world I'd put stuff like bleach, Ajax, and Brillo pads anywhere near my skin. There's a reason why it says "In case of contact with skin flush with water and call Poison Control" on the labels of those products. They're caustic and not meant to be put on human skin!
Simpler (and safer) remedies such as lemon juice, sugar, and olive oil make more sense to me than using Ajax. And a loofah which is meant for skin will suffice as opposed to a Brillo pad. Please don't put those household cleaning products on your skin. They're meant to clean houses, not skin. (02/11/2009)
By Concerned
I have dark spots on the top of my toes (since I dance ballet) and a little on my elbows though not too much and let me tell you, rough scrubbing only makes it worse. The spot is made because the skin is rubbed or pressed too much and grows rough to protect itself (damaged skin) so the best you can do in my experience is:
(02/24/2009)
By Anna
Oh, I forgot to mention, there are hair and skin whitening treatments that seem to help in some cases, but only until your skin regains it's natural color back and don't work 100% effectively on really dark spots.
You also should NOT use all these things on your skin too often which leaves you with a period in between treatments where your skin is damaged and dark. Plus, the sun damages skin that has been bleached with more ease leaving you cancer prone and spotty.
I am fairly light skinned, but not white white and I have problems with brown spotting of the skin you know on the knees and elbows. Some people are more prone to it than others, but if you give your skin the time to heal it will be very different over the years.
If you think a year is too much time, think about the fact that you are most likely not going to find a treatment that will get rid of the spots overnight so you might as well prepare so that in a year you won't be where you are now.
Good luck everyone! And for those who have beautiful skin already, you should also care for it.
REMEMBER: Do not exfoliate or rub your skin too much or it will make it dry, rough, and the dark spots darker in the long run. If you want naturally nice skin then care for it naturally and nicely. (02/24/2009)
By Anna
TIP: this along with good moisturizing and exfoliation with a soft scrub and constant use of sunscreen will help. When you are working on the computer and don't want to rub your elbows on the desk or table, use sweatbands around your elbows! (02/24/2009)
By Karla
I and my friends have this problem. Women have told us to scrub to death, but it didn't work. We used loofahs to pumice stones. Also tried hydroquinone creams and serums for lightening. I went to a dermatologist who explained that the skin tends to be thicker around the joints, elbows, knees, knuckles, etc. Long story short, I was given samples of Hydro 40 Foam. This worked really well. Also when I get waxed sometimes it would leave strips of skin a little darker for a few months. Maybe the wax was too warm? who knows it took care of that, too. (03/22/2009)
By fpcdb
(submitted via email)
This woman and others need to know this. It's a matter of a serious health risk. These symptoms could be from a insulin resistance. You need to go to the doctor and have tests for this.
(09/21/2009)
By Sally
There is a natural treatment that has been used for centuries. It safely takes the impurities off your skin and leaves your elbows and knees soft and clean. Try to Google ancient exfoliation. (11/30/2009)
By shay
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