It is not uncommon for people, especially women, to express concern about their having perfectly soft and supple skin on the face and the rest of the body, but leathery rough elbows (sometimes dirty-looking). Some may even find it hard to expose their elbows for the same reason. Continue reading to find out common causes and home remedies to get rid of rough patches on the elbows.
Rough Elbows Causes
You are probably wondering, “What causes dark rough elbows?” Well, here are some of the likely causes of the problem:
- Friction from rubbing your elbows over a hard surface e.g. from typing on a computer all day or kneeling when planking in yoga sessions. This can also make the elbows hurt.
- Insufficient care of the elbows, consequently causing them to become dry and rough. Moisturizing your elbow skin is especially important since that area has fewer oil glands.
- Buildup of dead skin cells.
- Ageing: Rough elbows could also be a sign of ageing skin. Because elbows and knees have fewer oil glands, they may be the first to manifest the skin’s reduced ability to hold in moisture.
- Thyroid problems: Hypothyroidism may cause rough dry patches of skin on the elbows.
- Diabetes: According to the HealthLine website, type 2 diabetes can cause a skin condition known as Acanthosis Nigricans. This may be manifested in “…tan, brown, or gray areas of raised skin are seen on the neck, groin, armpits, elbows, and knees”.
How to Get Rid Of Rough Elbows
With some TLC, it is possible to get back your soft, supple elbow skin. A comprehensive elbow treatment and care regimen should incorporate exfoliation to get rid of the dead skin cells, moisturizing to restore elbow skin moisture, and staying away from the causative elements. Below are the top home remedies for removal of rough elbows:
1. Add a Protective Layer between Your Elbows and Hard Surfaces
Do you work on a computer all day long? Friction could be to blame for your woes. Also according to Dr. Robyn Gmyrek, a dermatologist in NYC, “When planking or kneeling in yoga, for example, the skin on your elbows and knees thickens to protect itself, just like the calluses do on your feet”.
Adding a protective cushioning between your elbows and knees is key to preventing and treating rough elbows and knees. Simple steps such as placing a cardigan on the work station as you type and opting for workout gears that cushion your elbows and knees can go a long way.
2. Exfoliate Your Elbows
Exfoliating forms an integral part of rough elbow treatment. It not only gets rid of dead skin cells but also aid in the absorption of other skin treatments and moisturizing remedies used. Below are the exfoliating options available to get rid of rough skin on elbows:
Commercial Exfoliating Products
There is always the option of going for over the counter glycolic cleansers and scrubs such as Glytone Exfoliating Body Wash. If you go that route, use the product of your choice 2-3 times per week but cut that down to only once a week – and still use less pressure – if you feel any pain or stinging sensation as Dr. Gmyrek says.
Sugar Scrub
A homemade sugar scrub is an easy yet cheap way to get rid of dead skin cells and aid in softening of rough elbows.
- Add a tablespoonful of honey or live oil into a small bowl.
- Pour in a tablespoonful of raw brown sugar and mix thoroughly.
- Now rub the sugar-honey mixture in gentle circular motions all over the patches of dry skin on the elbows.
- Rinse the scrub off after 5 minutes.
- Use this home remedy once a week until the patches of dry skin get cured.
Loofah or Brush
Rubbing the elbows (while wet) with an exfoliating sponge (loofah) or soft brush when taking a bath or shower in the morning or evening, can help to get rid of dead skin cells and lay ground for healing. Do this in gentle circular motions with the arm stretched out straight as well as bent at an angle. Just make sure you don’t do it too aggressively to avoid irritation. Repeat once every day. For rough knees, use a pumice stone to remove dead skin cells during showers or a bath.
3. Moisturize, Moisturize, and Then Moisturize Again
When it comes to getting rid of rough elbows, moisturizing them is everything. Dr. Gmyrek recommends no less than 2 times each day, as soon as you get out of shower. This is the best time as your elbow skin is still wet. Most thick creams, lotions, and ointments will do the trick but you will in particular want to look out for the following products and ingredients:
- Vaseline petroleum jelly: This old grandma remedy is an amazing home remedy for rough elbows. all you need to do is apply Vaseline all over the elbows but for an even more powerful healing action, apply it just before bedtime, then sleep with a thick, old sock (with cut toes) slipped on overnight. This works great even for extremely dry or rough elbows.
- Shea or cocoa butter: The moisturizing and healing action of Shea butter and cocoa butter is also pretty top notch. Massage it in generously in the morning and evening.
- Cream with Urea or lactic acid: These two ingredients help to get rid of rough elbows more effectively by throwing in an exfoliating action. Avène Akérat Smoothing Exfoliating Cream constitutes a good starting point for your search.
- Vitamin E Oil: When it comes to how to get rid of rough elbows and knees, the benefits of vitamin E oil cannot be overlooked. After shower or elbow exfoliation, pat the skin dry then apply a few drops of vitamin E oil to each elbow before massaging it in gently for a couple minutes.
- Coconut/Olive/Almond oil massage: These oil make for a great natural remedy for rough patches of skin on the elbows and knees. They will seep into the dry, rough skin on the elbows to hydrate and ultimately heal it with frequent application. Simply apply generous amounts of the oil of your choice and then allow it to dry in (do not rinse it off).
4. Use Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is a fantastic natural remedy for dark, rough skin on the elbows since it is not only a natural exfoliating agent but also helps to lighten dark patches of skin.
Below is how to get rid of rough elbows fast with lemon juice:
- Cut a lemon into two parts.
- Rub each part to each elbow in gentle circular motions.
- Allow the lemon juice to work in for 5 minutes, then rinse it off with cool water.
- Apply a moisturizer to avoid excessive drying.
- Repeat this treatment every other day to cure dark, rough patches on the elbows.
5. Treat with Potato Juice
Like lemon juice, potato juice has natural skin bleaching properties and the rubbing action on the skin aids in exfoliating of dead skin cells, thus facilitating the healing of rough elbows.
- Peel a potato, then cut out small slices.
- Rub the potato slices onto your elbows.
- Allow the potato juice to dry on the skin, then rinse it off with water.
- Repeat regularly to achieve the desired results.
6. Apply this Homemade Rough Elbow Cream
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, “Topical (applied to the skin) vitamin A products have been researched and approved for treating skin problems due to aging.” This fact may form the basis of the following homemade cream outlined in various skincare blogs:
Requirements
- 1 tsp. calendula cream.
- 1 tsp. raw, organic honey.
- Freshly prepared lemon juice.
- 1 vial Vitamin A.
Directions
- Mix the calendula cream with the honey.
- Add in 3 drops of lemon juice.
- Break the vitamin A vial and empty all its content into the treatment mixture.
- Stir thoroughly until all the ingredients are well blended.
- Apply the mixture on those rough elbows before bedtime and leave it on overnight.
- In the morning, rinse your elbows and pat it dry.
- Finish by applying a moisturizer.
- Repeat this home treatment regularly to hydrate and remove dry, rough elbows.
- Tip: Place any remainder of the mixture in fridge and use it for 2 to 3 days.
7. More Tips to Get Rid of Rough Skin Patches on Elbows
Because dry skin and rough elbows are somewhat linked, you may also benefit from observing the following tips:
- Run a humidifier in your house.
- Go easy with your air conditioning system as it is known to rip the skin of its essential moisture.
- Take warm showers and baths rather than hot to prevent stripping the skin of its oils.
References
- HealthLine: Type 2 Diabetes and Skin Health
- Real Simple: 3 Tricks for Smoothing Rough Elbows and Knees
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Skin wrinkles and blemishes
