Dark knees and elbows result from higher level of melanin than the other areas of the body. Sun damage, wear and tear, and friction can cause dark knees and elbows. Do not worry as this discoloration of skin is not a cause for concern or medical risk.
Even if it’s not a cause for concern, you can lighten the discoloration with the help of a few remedies that we will discuss in this article. Keep reading to know more.
In This Article
How To Get Rid Of Dark Knees And Elbows
- Baking Soda And Milk
- Coconut Oil
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Almond Oil
- Aloe Vera Gel
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Pumice Stone
- Olive Oil
- Lemon
- Vitamin E Oil
- Yogurt
- Turmeric Powder
- Potato
- Gram Flour
1. Baking Soda And Milk For Dark Knees
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon milk
What You Have To Do
- Mix the milk and the baking soda.
- Apply this mixture on the knees and elbows and gently scrub in circular motions for two to three minutes.
- Rinse with water.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this every alternate day until the pigmentation fades.
Why This Works
Baking soda is a great exfoliant and will not only cleanse the skin but also remove dead cells (1). The lactic acid and amino acids present in milk smoothen the skin and moisturize it. The antioxidants found in milk will ensure that the skin remains healthy for a long period (2).
2. Coconut Oil For Dark Knees
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon walnut powder
What You Have To Do
- Mix the ingredients to make a thick paste.
- Use this as a scrub on dark elbows and knees for two to three minutes.
- Rinse with water.
Also, after taking a shower, apply coconut oil on your knees and elbows daily. Reapply before going to bed.
How Often You Should Do This
Use the coconut oil scrub two to three times in a week.
Why This Works
Coconut oil is one of the best hydrating and moisturizing oils for the skin. It prevents dryness and the vitamin E found in it repairs the skin and lightens it in the process (3, 4).
Related: 25 Benefits Of Coconut Oil, Types, How To Include In Your Diet
3. Hydrogen Peroxide For Dark Knees
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
- 3% hydrogen peroxide
- Cotton ball
What You Have To Do
- Dip the cotton in the hydrogen peroxide solution and apply it generously on the knees and elbows.
- Leave it on for 15 minutes and then rinse the area with lukewarm water.
- Pat dry and moisturize.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this every alternate day.
Why This Works
Hydrogen peroxide helps in removing dark, dead skin cells. It is a commonly found skin-lightening agent in creams and lotions. With regular usage, its mild bleaching quality will lighten the dark knees and elbows (5).
Caution
Dilute the hydrogen peroxide in equal parts of water in case you have sensitive skin.
4. Almond Oil For Dark Knees
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
Almond oil
What You Have To Do
- Take a few drops of almond oil on your fingers and apply it to the knees and elbows.
- Massage for a few minutes so that the oil absorbed into the skin.
How Often You Should Do This
Apply almond oil every day, once in the morning and once at night.
Why This Works
Almond oil is rich in vitamin E. It will help in repairing the skin around your knee area and get rid of the darkness (6).
Related: 9 Amazing Health Benefits Of Almond Oil And Side Effects
5. Aloe Vera Gel For Dark Knees
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
Aloe vera leaf
What You Have To Do
- Cut the aloe leaf and extract the gel present inside.
- Apply this gel on the knees and elbows, and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Rinse with lukewarm water.
How Often You Should Do This
Apply aloe gel twice a day.
Why This Works
Apply aloe vera gel to your knees daily and notice the difference. Aloe vera is a wonder plant that helps in healing dry knees, making them softer and brighter. It improves the skin tone and also gives protection from UV rays (7).
6. Apple Cider Vinegar For Dark Knees
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
- 1 part apple cider vinegar
- 1 part water
- A cotton ball
What You Have To Do
- Dilute the ACV in the water.
- Soak the cotton ball in it and apply this on the knees and elbows.
- Leave it on for 15 minutes before rinsing it off.
How Often You Should Do This
Apply apple cider vinegar three to four times in a week.
Why This Works
The acidic component of apple cider vinegar, mainly acetic acid, works a natural bleaching agent. It exfoliates the skin and lightens it (8).
Related: How To Use Apple Cider Vinegar For Acne & Things To Consider
7. Pumice Stone For Dark Knees
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
- Pumice stone
- Warm water
What You Have To Do
- Take a shower with warm water.
- Gently scrub the knees and elbows using a pumice stone. Use circular motions.
- Rinse with cool water.
How Often You Should Do This
Scrub your knees and elbows two to three times in a week.
Why This Works
Exfoliating your knees and elbows using a pumice stone helps in removing the dark, dead skin cells.
8. Olive Oil For Dark Knees
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons sugar
What You Have To Do
- Add the sugar to the oil and give it a stir.
- Apply this mixture on the black knees and elbows.
- Rub in circular motions for about five minutes.
- Rinse with water.
How Often You Should Do This
Use this scrub every alternate day.
Why This Works
Sugar is an excellent exfoliant. It removes the dead and dark skin cells easily and quickly (9). In combination with the olive oil, the scrub will also hydrate and nourish the skin while it is being exfoliated (10).
9. Lemon For Dark Knees
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
Fresh lemon juice
What You Have To Do
- Squeeze out the juice from a lemon and apply this on the knees and elbows.
- Keep it on for an hour or until it completely dries.
- Rinse with water.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this every day to get rid of your dark knee caps.
Why This Works
Lemon juice acts as a bleaching agent that can make your knees and elbows brighter (11).
10. Vitamin E Oil For Dark Knees
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
- Vitamin E capsules
- 1 tablespoon sugar
What You Have To Do
- Open a few vitamin E capsules and pour out the oil present inside. You should have about one and a half to two tablespoons of oil.
- To this, add the sugar and mix it in.
- Use this as a scrub to exfoliate dark knees and elbows.
- Scrub for a few minutes before rinsing it off.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this every alternate day.
Why This Works
The sugar removes the dead cells, and vitamin E does wonders in repairing and hydrating the skin (12). It also helps in depigmentation, thus giving you lighter and healthier skin on the knees and elbows (13).
11. Yogurt For Dark Knees
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
- 1 tablespoon yogurt
- 1 teaspoon vinegar
What You Have To Do
- Mix the yogurt and vinegar, and apply this as a paste on the knees and elbows.
- Leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Rinse with water.
How Often You Should Do This
Use this daily for lighter knees and elbows.
Why This Works
Yogurt is full of nutrients that not only nourish the skin but also cleanse it. It removes dead cells and dirt from the pores (14). Vinegar enhances the effects of the yogurt by further helping in the depigmentation of the dark knees and elbows (15).
Stylecraze Trivia Yogurt is a rich source of lactic acid, which can gently exfoliate the skin without causing irritation and increase cell turnover rate.
12. Turmeric Powder For Dark Knees
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 2 tablespoon milk
- 1 teaspoon honey
What You Have To Do
- Mix the honey, turmeric powder, and milk to make a paste.
- Apply this on the elbows and knees.
- Massage in circular motion for two minutes and leave it on for about 20 minutes.
- Rinse with water.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this two to three times in a week.
Why This Works
Turmeric cleanses the skin’s impurities and evens out the skin tone. It also renders a natural glow to the skin (16). Milk in this paste will also help in lightening the dark skin and honey will keep it hydrated and nourished (17, 18).
13. Potato For Dark Knees
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
A potato
What You Have To Do
- Cut slightly thick slices of the potato and rub them on the knees and elbows for a few minutes.
- Leave the potato juice on for about 15 minutes and then rinse it off.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this once or twice daily for best results.
Why This Works
Potatoes possess mild bleaching properties that lighten dark spots and dark skin. They also nourish and brighten dry and dull skin (19).
StyleCraze Says Thoroughly scrub and clean the potato before cutting it in half and using it, as the dirt on the skin of potatoes may irritate the skin if not washed off properly.
14. Gram Flour
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
- 2 tablespoons gram flour
- 1-2 tablespoons yogurt
What You Have To Do
- Add enough yogurt to the gram flour to make a thick paste.
- Apply this paste on the elbows and knees and let it dry.
- Remove this with water using circular motions to scrub the mixture off your knees and elbow.
How Often You Should Do This
Apply this pack every alternate day.
Why This Works
Gram flour exfoliates and removes the dead skin cells on your knees and elbows (20). Yogurt lightens the skin tone and also nourishes it (14).
StyleCraze Says Always apply a nourishing moisturizer on damp skin after washing off the mask. This will replenish the moisture in the skin and won’t make it feel tight.
Use these remedies and you no longer have to be embarrassed by your dark knees and dark elbows. Let’s now take a look at what causes dark knees and elbows.
Causes Of Dark Knees And Elbows
Dark knee caps may be caused mainly due to the below-mentioned factors:
- Environmental factors like sunlight
- Stress
- Unhygienic conditions like dirt and dust
- Genetics
- Friction
- Dry skin
- Skipping the knee area when exfoliating
- Reaction to medications
- Hormonal imbalances
Tips To Prevent Further Darkening Of Skin
- Always apply sunscreen on your knees when you go out. The harsh UV rays of the sun make your knees darker. Thus, protecting your knees from the sun is very important.
- Dark knees may also be caused due to improper hydration. So, never miss out on moisturizing your knees.
- Diet also plays an important role in maintaining healthy skin. Have a diet rich in vitamins A and E. Vitamin A-rich foods include sweet potatoes, carrots, lettuce, dried apricots, etc. Vitamin E-rich foods include almonds, cooked spinach, etc.
- Do NOT lean on your knees often. This creates friction, and the result is dark knees.
Infographic: What To Look For And Avoid In Over-The-Counter Solutions For Dark Knees And Elbows
In some cases, you may need to resort to over-the-counter solutions to get rid of the hyperpigmentation on your elbows or knees. However, not all ingredients in o-t-c creams and ointments are completely safe or effective. Check out the infographic to find which ingredients to look for and which to avoid in o-t-c products.
Dark knees and elbows can be caused by various factors, including excess sunlight, stress, and unhygienic environments. To assist you with this, you can use the simple home remedies listed in the article to remove the dark patches. Also, remember to apply sunscreen to your elbows and knees whenever you step outside in the sun. If home remedies are ineffective, over-the-counter or prescription medications can be used to brighten dark elbows and knees. Also, do not forget to do a patch test 24 hours before applying these recipes to the affected area. Continue using only if you find no reactions.
