Do you long to wear those short skirts and sleeveless tops but can’t due to your black knees and elbow? Or are you that guy who often becomes conscious while in gym because of dark knees and elbows and lose focus on exercising?
These dark zones of our bodies do make us embarrassed now and then. If you had not sat with your elbow’s support on your desk or not have kneeled down so many times for sports or prayers or for any other work, probably you wouldn’t have got those dark knees and elbows. Or is it because you regularly forget these body areas while exfoliating and cleaning other parts of your body? Whatever is the reason, the good news is that with a little effort and some great home remedies, you can get rid of black knees and elbow.
The greatest of these is the lemon juice- the mother of all remedies for any dark area on your skin. So, I am not going to include lime juice in this list of home remedies. You can use it as and when it suits you.
How to Get Rid of Black Knees:
Traditional Way for Even Toned Skin- Oil Massage:
In ancient times, when there were no cosmetics an all, people then too have smooth and fine even toned skin. They used to apply oil and in many countries, it was a pre bath ritual to have full body massage with oil. In today’s hectic times, massage has become luxury rather than a routine. Knees and elbows are one of the most dry parts of our body and they need regular moisturization. Oils can help them remain moist, smooth and even toned without dark patches.
*Apply any natural oil in its pure form to your darkened knes or elbow. Some of the suggestions include olive oil, sesame oil, almond oil or coconut oil. Massage with these oils daily.
*Rub some mustard oil on your knees/ elbow after taking bath. Massage gently for about 5-15 minutes, whatever time you can spare.
The linoleic, oleic and erucic acids in mustard oil finely lubricate your joints and also assist in retaining the melanin pigment there. Don’t forget to wash off your joints with warm water, and if needed a mild soap, after the massage in order to save your clothes and from attracting more dirt on to skin.
*Vitamin E oil is a boon for any skin problem. Just puncture a Vitamin E capsule and take the oil in it to rub on your knees and elbow. Get smooth and clear skin within few weeks.
*Give Minty Treat to Your Blackened Joints:
Mint is not only refreshing for your mouth and other senses but also for your knees and elbow. The antiseptic and anti- inflammatory compounds of mint as well as its essential oils help in synthesizing white blood cells and collagen in our bodies. It is also capable of clearing scar tissues from within. You need a mint concoction for this remedy.
You will need:
-Mint leaves- handful of them
-Lemon juice- from half a lemon
-Water- half a cup
-Cotton ball
-Warm water to wash
Directions:
-Boil water.
-Add mint leaves and let it boil for some more time.
-Add the lemon juice in boiling mint water.
-Put off the flame.
-Let it cool for some time.
-When its temperature is tolerable for your skin, soak the cotton ball in it.
-Apply the mint-lemon concoction to your knees or elbow in the cotton ball.
-Leave for about 10-15 minutes.
-Wash off with warm water.
Take off Dead Cells with Natural Exfoliates:
It is our rough usage of knees and elbow as well as neglecting them when scrubbing off the dead skin cells from other parts of our bodies. So, its high time, you make special scrubs for your black knees and elbow with some natural ingredients.
Baking Soda plus Milk
-Take a tablespoon of baking soda
-Add some milk to it, enough to make a thick paste.
-Apply on your knees or elbow.
-Scrub gently in circular motion.
-Do it daily or alternate days as per the extent of darkness on your joints.
-When you see that the skin tone of your joints have lightened, do it once a week or fortnight.
Olive Oil plus Sugar
You need exfoliation as well as moisturizing for your darkened knees, elbows. So go for this very simple remedy.
You will need:
-Olive oil- 1 tablespoon
-Sugar- 1 tablespoon
Directions:
-Mix the oil and sugar to get a thick paste with texture granted by sugar granules. For better results, -you can even use warm olive oil.
-Apply this mixture on your knees or elbow
-Scrub gently with fingers.
-You will feel the sugar granules getting smaller in size as you keep on rubbing.
-Try to dissolve the whole sugar in the mixture otherwise rub for at least 5-10 minutes.
-Now wash off with a mild soap and water.
-Do this daily till you get rid of those dark areas. Then make it a weekly routine.
Onion plus Garlic
They both are great in food recipes due to the unique flavor they lend to the dish. Thet are equally good when combined to scrub your black knees and elbow due to their various minerals and volatile oils. They make your skin light and that’s for sure.
You will need:
-Garlic- 1 fat clove
-Onion- 1
-Grating equipment (better if it has bigger holes)
Directions:
-Peel the garlic clove and grate it, even if you find it a little difficult to do so. If you can’t at all, crush it in a way that it has small chunks and doesn’t convert into paste form.
-Grate the onion.
-Mix them both.
-Apply on knees or elbow, whereever it is dark.
-Rub gently for about 10-15 minutes.
-Wash off with water.
-If you can’t stand the smell, use a mild soap to wash off.
-You can even apply some rose water mixed with glycerine and lime juice (I part glycerine, one part lime juice and two parts rose water) after scrubbing with garlic-onion scrub to keep the smell off your body.
Gramflour plus Yogurt:
Gram flour or chick pea flour, due to its variety of vitamins , minerals as well as proteins, act as an excellent exfoliant. This flour is a great remedy for pigmentation and blemishes as well as for dark skin tones.
You will need:
-Gramflour- 2 tablespoons
-Curd- enough to make thick paste
Directions:
-Mix gramflour and curd.
-Apply on your darkened elbow or knees.
-Let it be there for sometime, about 15-20 minutes.
-Using your fingers, rub in circular motion for about 5-10 minutes.
-Wash off with water.
-If your skin ultra dry, you may also consider using fresh cream in place of yogurt for getting good moisturizing effect. Those with oily skin can consider replacing yogurt with milk.
Yogurt plus Almond:
Almond is good for health and almond oil is good for skin too. If you are using almond oil to lighten your skin tone, well and good. You can even use almonds for exfoliating your knees and elbow.
You will need:
-Yogurt- 2 tablespoons
-Almonds- 8-10
Directions:
-Ground almonds coarsely. Watch that they don’t get smoothely powdered.
-Add yogurt to coarse almond powder.
-Apply on black knees and elbow.
-Leave for 15 minutes or till it dries up.
-Rub gently with wet fingers.
-Scrub in circular motion.
-Wash off with water.
-Do it daily once or twice a week.
Coconut Oil plus Walnut:
The skin friendly coconut oil with all its minerals, fatty acids and other nutrients nourish your joints skin wihle walnut exfoliates them excellently.
You will need
-Coconut oil- 1 tablespoon
-Walnut- 3-4
Directions
-Coarsly ground walnut. Don’t make it smooth.
-Add coarse walnut powder to coconut oil.
-Apply on knees/ elbow.
-Rub in circular motion for 10-15 minutes.
-Wash off with warm water.
Lighten the Skin Tone with Natural Bleaching Agents
Exfoliation and Moisturizing are basic to any skin care routine and more so for black knees and elbow. However, if they have become very dark, you may also need to bleach them but don’t go for those laden with chemicals. They may leave your knees darker than before. Use some natural bleaches to whiten the skin tomne of your dark knees and elbows.
Lemon and Honey
Lemon juice is the best natural bleach and honey, the best natural moisturizer.
You will need:
-Lime juice- from 1 lemon
-Honey- 1 tablespoon
Directions:
-Mix lemon juice and honey.
-Apply on dark areas.
-Leave for 15-20 minutes.
-Wash off with water.
Initially do this everyday. Then thrice, twice and once a week as you see your skin tone getting lighter with time.
Bleaching Fruits and Veggies
While lemon is the best bleach, there are many other fruits and vegetables that have fine bleaching properties. You can use them to lighten the skin tone of your dark knees or elbow. Cut a slice, grate them or take out their juice. Slices can be rubbed as can be the grated things. Juices can be applied for 15-20 minutes. Procedure is simila, just the ingredients change. Use one or many of the following
fruits or vegetables.
-Potato
-Cucumber
-Tomato
-Grapes
-Oranges
Yogurt and Vinegar
While yogurt helps in making some very good exfoliates, it is also an excellent bleach due to the presence of lactic acid in it. When it combines with yet another good bleach, the vinegar with its acetic acid, your knees and elbows can’t help than getting lighter.
You will need:
-Yougurt- 1 tablespoon
-Vinegar- 1 teaspoon
Directions:
-Mix yogurt and vinegar.
-Apply on dark knees and elbow.
-Leave for 20 minutes.
-Wash off with water.
This can be done daily as curd is very mild on skin. It also balances the acid of vinegar.
If you use one or more of these home remedies for black knees and elbow and keep them clean and moisturized, you’ll never have to be in dilemma of whether to wear short skirts/ sleeveless tops or not!
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