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These 8 Products Will Lighten Knees And Elbows Naturally
It may seem silly, but darkened skin on your knees and elbows is certainly something that many people deal with. Everyone strives to achieve an even skin tone and the thicker skin on your knees and elbows can distract from that and break the even canvas of your skin. Because the area of skin on your knees and elbows also doesn’t have any oil glands, the skin there can get dry and flake faster which also leads it to being thicker and darker in color.
What is there to do then, other than to cover up your knees and elbows every time you go out? There are some home remedies for lightening the skin on your joints that are sure to be easy to try out and inexpensive as well. Check out some of the below methods that are both natural and tried by hundreds of other people, found to be effective in remedying dark elbow and knee patches.
1. Lemon
Lemons have natural bleaching and exfoliating qualities, both of which are beneficial to dark patches of knees and elbows. The Vitamin C in the lemons helps to exfoliate skin and to thus lighten the skin color. The only caveat with using lemon is that the newly exposed skin is quite photosensitive, so you should avoid being in the sun for the next few hours after applying. Once can either apply lemon juice by itself to the knees and elbows and massage gently for a few minutes or mix lemon juice with honey (a good moisturizer) and apply to the areas like a mask.
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2. Coconut Oil
The can-do-it-all oil is a very good moisturizer which makes it ideal not only for your entire body but also for the knees and elbows especially where skin can dry out faster. Coconut oil also contain Vitamin E which helps to lighten skin and can even help to heal dry and damaged skin. Using coconut oil on a daily basis as a total body moisturizer is the best way to use it but you can also combine coconut oil with lemon or with walnut powder to create an exfoliating or brightening paste.
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3. Yogurt
As a moisturizer goes, yogurt is a pretty effective one – and knees and elbows always need moisturizing. It contains enough lactic acid to lighten the skin and act as an effective moisturizer. Although yogurt isn’t something you would put on your knees and elbows on a daily basis, masks made with yogurt and flour can be used effectively 2 to 3 times a week to help lighten the skin over a short period of time. If you have a consistent problem with darkened knees and elbows, yogurt masks might be a good solution.
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4. Sugar
Sugar scrubs are very effective at exfoliating skin and it is needed where the skin is particularly thick, such as on the knees and elbows. Almost any kind of granulated sugar can be used and it is quite easy to whip up a scrub in a matter of minutes. Most of the time, sugar is combined with a type of oil to add moisture to the area at the same time that the skin cells are being exfoliated. Olive oils and coconut oils are always good bets, but even avocado oil, grapeseed oil, and apricot oils can be used. Another good solution would be to use Vitamin E oil as Vitamin E also helps to lighten skin.
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5. Baking Soda
Baking soda acts as both a gentle exfoliant and bleach since it helps to both remove dead skin cells and to reverse hyper-pigmentation. Baking soda might be irritating to some so exercise caution when using it to lighten the knees or elbows. To lessen the effect of irritation on the skin, use milk when preparing a paste with the baking soda for your joints. Milk is also a moisturizer so it will help to moisturize the newly exposed skin after baking soda exfoliates the area.
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6. Aloe
Sometimes, the darkening of knees and elbows is due to sun exposure and the resulting ‘tan’ that you get from that. Aloe not only works to heal the skin after it has been overly exposed to the sun but it can also help to lessen the darkness that forms around the knees and elbows. It is also a great moisturizer and has a wonderful cooling effect when applied to the skin, a reason that will make it even more pleasing for those with sunburns.
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7. Mint
Mint might seem like an odd choice to help lighten skin, but it has several nutrients that help to promote the production of collagen. It also helps to maintain the evenness of the skin tone and keep the skin glowing and healthy. One can use mint essential oils, just make sure they are of high quality, or create a mint tea that will help to even the skin tone around the knees and elbows. The tea is usually combined with lemon for even more potent effects.
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8. Turmeric
Another very potent plant and root, turmeric contains curcumin which is a chemical that inhibits pigmentation in the skin. Over time, this means that turmeric will help to lighten dark spots and prevent the formation of new ones as well. Using turmeric and lemon paste on your knees and elbows will almost ensure that you will not ever see dark joints again. The mixture must be used at least one or two times a week but it has seen much success with many people.
If not properly cared for, the skin around our knees and elbows can become dry, cracked, and even turn a different color than the rest of the skin on your body. It can sometimes be reversed with proper moisture, but sometimes more drastic measures are needed. Thankfully, there is no need for chemicals or scary ingredients to lighten the skin around your knees and elbows. Simple ingredients found in almost anyone’s pantry can be used to achieve the desired effect of an even skin tone.