Calluses are the skin’s way of protecting itself. Repeated rubbing and friction causes the skin to thicken in order to evade trauma and injury. Although calluses are the protective mechanism of the skin, they are ugly and can be painful as well. Thickened, discolored skin on the knees can be very distressing, but you can get rid of calluses with an untiring and regular skincare routine.
Calluses on the knees are thickened and discolored skin which can be rather unsightly and sometimes very painful too. They are yellowish; and feel lumpy to touch. Calluses are often big and have ill -defined margins.
Typically a calloused skin on the knee is characterized by:
- A raised hardened bump.
- Thick and rough area of skin.
- Dry, flaky skin.
- Yellow discolored skin.
- Pain and tenderness under the skin.
A callus is a segment of the skin that has become rough, thick and hard due friction, rubbing, pressure or constant irritation. In general, calluses are not harmful; however, occasionally they could lead to skin infections or ulcerations.
Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Calluses On Knees
The following home remedies and guidelines will help reduce the calluses on your knees significantly:
- Exfoliation: Exfoliation is getting rid of dead and dry skin.When you exfoliate the knees, the rough and dry skin can be sloughed off and the skin will become soft and supple once more; however, you need to gently exfoliate or you could damage the skin tissue. Fill a bucket with warm water and add some liquid soap. Soak two washcloths in the water. Wring them and lay them over your knees for 15 minutes to soften the skin. Remove the cloths. Wash and dry the skin. Gently rub the calluses using a moistened pumice stone. This will help get rid of the built up dead skin cells effectively. Thereafter apply a thick moisturizing cream to protect it.
- Lime: Lime is very effective to manage dead skin and calluses. Rub a slice of lime on the rough and thickened skin daily. Lime helps eliminate the dead thick skin and also lightens it considerably.
- Sugar: Powdered sugar is another excellent home remedy for calluses. Take 2 spoons of sugar powder and add a few drops of water and some honey. Rub the knees with this mixture in a circular motion and rinse off. Try to do this daily.
- Aloe vera: Aloe vera is decidedly beneficial for callused skins. It makes the skin soft and pliant and most importantly it allays the pain and discomfort appreciably.
- Creams: Make sure that you keep your skin on the knee well hydrated and lubricated. Your dermatologist may recommend a cream to rehydrate those areas with extra thick skin.
- Trimming the skin: Your doctor will pare down the roughened skin, or will use a scalper to trim it.
- Salicylic acid: In severe cases, experts may advise using salicylic acid to successfully manage calluses. After trimming the thickened skin, the doctor will apply a patch with 40 % of salicylic acid. You need to change the patch from time to time. A pumice stone is used to eliminate the dead, rough skin before applying the new salicylic acid patch. This therapy yields good results as well and helps makes the knee callus-free, nonetheless, you need to moisturize the skin every day to prevent recurrences.