Cut a large lemon in half. Squeeze out some of the juice from both halves so that you have two hollow halves or “cups”. Rub each lemon cup over your elbows. You can rub away any excess pulp, but don’t wash your elbows for about 3 hours. This gives the lemon juice time to act more deeply. Wash off the lemon juice with some warm water. As lemon juice can be drying, you should moisturize the area with your favorite body moisturizer. Repeat this every day until the dark skin begins to fade. You should see a significant difference within a couple of weeks.
Get some heavy cream (or milk with a high fat content) and boil it until it thickens and becomes clotted. Mix in a half teaspoon of turmeric and blend into a paste. Apply this paste to your elbows (and knees) using a circular motion, let it sit for about 20 minutes, and then rinse it off with water. [3] X Research source Be aware that turmeric can dye the skin a yellowish-orange color that’s especially noticeable on pale skin. The color will fade after a day or two. You can also substitute yogurt for the heavy cream. You won’t need to boil it to achieve the same color-changing effect.
Mix enough milk to turn the baking soda into a paste. Apply on your elbows and gently scrub it in a circular motion. Do this for about 3 minutes or until you notice that your skin is lighter.
To use, combine one teaspoon of yogurt with one teaspoon of white vinegar or lemon juice and mix until they form a consistent paste. Apply to your elbows by rubbing in a circular motion. Leave the mixture on for 20 minutes, and then rinse off and moisturize.
Grind the oatmeal and almonds and combine them with the buttermilk to create a paste. Rub the paste onto your elbows in a circular motion. Let the paste sit on your elbows for 10-15 minutes and then rinse it off with water. [8] X Research source
You can exfoliate up to 3 times a week if you’re prone to very dull, dry skin. [10] X Expert Source Mohiba Tareen, MDFAAD Board Certified Dermatologist Expert Interview. 26 March 2020. Alternatively, you can make your own sugar scrub by mixing 2 parts sugar (white or brown) and 1 part oil (almond, coconut, or olive). You can also use a chemical exfoliant that uses glycolic acid, which is naturally found in honey; lactic acid, which is present in milk; or citric acid, which comes from fruit. [11] X Expert Source Mohiba Tareen, MDFAAD Board Certified Dermatologist Expert Interview. 26 March 2020.
Moisturize after each shower or bath (as hot water can act to remove natural oils from your skin), before you go to bed at night, and before you leave the house in the morning. For best results, use lotions which contain shea butter, jojoba oil, or olive oil. A heavy duty treatment is to apply a thick layer of petroleum jelly, coconut oil, or pure shea butter directly to your elbows before bed, then cover with a “sock sleeve” fashioned by cutting the foot of cotton tube socks. It is best to leave the protective sleeve on throughout the night, if you are able. Doing so allows you to apply a massive amount of moisturizer to your elbows without ruining your sheets. Additionally, the sock sleeve helps retain your body heat and liquefy the moisturizer, thereby assisting the absorption by your skin.
Harmful UV rays are present even when it’s cloudy or raining, so you should make a point to wear sunscreen all year round. It might even be a good idea to make sunscreen application part of your morning routine.
