Dark Skin on Elbows Causes and How to Remove The Dark Skin

Elbows and other parts of the body are prone to darkening due to many causes. The effect is often harmless but it causes a lack of self-esteem and self-confidence nonetheless. There are commercial treatments as well as home treatments that can easily remedy this condition.

  • The elbows are one of the areas in the body prone to skin darkening.
  • Another common area prone to skin darkening is the knees.
  • Melanin is a substance in the body that is responsible for giving color to a person’s skin.
  • Lack of melanin gives some people their fair complexion.
  • An abundance of melanin gives people a darker complexion.
  • Melanin can be unevenly distributed in the body causing some parts to be darker than others.
  • Uneven distribution of melanin can cause an uneven skin tone that causes a decrease in self esteem and lack of self-confidence.
  • Men and especially women lack the confidence to wear short-sleeved shirts or sleeveless shirts for fear of exposing their dark elbows.

Dark Skin on Elbows Causes

The causes of darkened elbows are often harmless. These can include:

  • Benign hyperpigmentation or active melanocytes in the elbows.
  • Overexposure to rays of the sun.
  • Use of certain medications.
  • A diagnosis of certain diseases (i.e. Addison’s syndrome)
  • Improper hygiene
  • Lack of exfoliation
  • Accumulation of dirt and grime
  • Constant contact or friction with clothes
  • Constant leaning on elbows
  • Skin dryness

How to Remove Dark Skin on Elbows

There are inexpensive remedies to lightening darkened elbows. These include:

  • Washing the elbows regularly.
  • Exfoliating the elbows regularly on a weekly basis.
  • Moisturizing the skin regularly especially on the elbows and other dark areas on the skin.
  • Apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 on dark areas.
  • Drink plenty of water to keep the skin hydrated.

Homemade skin treatments include:

  • Olive oil – a natural alternative to body creams and helps moisturize the skin.
  • Lemon – rubbing a freshly cut lemon onto the elbow and leaving it on for a 10-15 minutes helps to naturally bleach darkened areas.
  • Baking soda or salt – combined with other ingredients such as lemon juice makes for a perfect body scrub.

Ingredients to look for in moisturizing creams:

These are natural ingredients known to effectively moisturize the skin.

  • Shea butter
  • Jojoba oil
  • Sweet almond oil
  • alpha hydroxyl acids or AHAs

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