Having uneven skin tone has always been a problem for women, especially in exposed areas such as the elbows and knees. It makes women feel a bit insecure to show wear short sleeves or skirts, shorts, and dresses due to the darkening of the skin on those specific areas.

What causes the discoloration on these areas? There could be a ton of reasons for the darkening of your elbows and knees. A few of them would be dry skin, too much sun exposure, side effects of certain medications, genetics, certain diseases, hyperpigmentation, hormonal imbalances, and friction on those areas of the skin. Poor hygiene could also be a cause, especially if you do not exfoliate, leading to the accumulation of dead skin and dirt. Uneven distribution of melanin in your body is also another cause of dark knees and elbows.

The skin around the knees and elbows are thicker than on the other parts of the body, it has more folds, and usually drier than the rest of your skin since they do not have any oil glands in those parts. This is why it is important to take extra care of your skin in these areas. Here we have listed a number of natural remedies to dark knees and elbows that you can simply make at home.

1. Baking Soda

Baking soda is an effective way to treat discoloration in the elbows and knees because it serves as a gentle skin cleanser. It helps exfoliate the skin by removing dead skin cells, and aids in the reduction of hyperpigmentation around the elbows and knees.

Start by making a paste out of baking soda and milk. Mix together one tablespoon of each of the two ingredients, and then apply it on the desired area. Rub the paste in circular motions for 2-3 minutes. Wash off the paste using lukewarm water, and then pat the skin dry; do this every other day until you see changes on your skin.

2. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil

Coconut oil has many benefits, one being able to help lighten dark skin. This is because coconut oil contains Vitamin E, which helps hydrate and moisturize the skin, preventing dryness. It also lightens and repairs dark and damaged areas.

Use coconut oil by applying it on your elbows and knees after you take a shower. Massage the oil gently onto your skin for 1-2 minutes, and leave it there to serve as your lotion or moisturizer. Reapply in the middle of the day if needed.

Another way to use coconut oil is to mix one tablespoon with a half teaspoon of lemon juice. Gently apply it on your skin and let it sit for a few minutes. Do this every day for better results.

You could also make a paste out of coconut oil. Simply combine enough amount of coconut oil and a tablespoon of walnut powder. This helps exfoliate the skin, and must be done 2-3 times in a week.

3. Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is known for its skin lightening benefits. It provides moisture and hydration for the skin in order to prevent it from dryness that could cause friction and darkening. It aids in repairing skin cells that were damaged due to exposure to the sun, and helps in maintaining an even skin tone.

In order to achieve the best results, it is highly recommended to use an aloe vera leaf instead of a store-bought gel. This is to ensure that it is natural and has no chemicals mixed in it. Extract the aloe vera gel from the leaf, and apply it to the dark areas on your knees and elbows.

4. Turmeric, Honey, and Milk

Turmeric, honey, and milk combined would make an excellent treatment for dark elbows and knees. Turmeric acts as an antiseptic, milk serves as a bleach, and honey is a moisturizer as well as an antiseptic.

Mix the three ingredients in order to form a paste. Gently massage the mixture onto your skin using a circular motion, and leave it on for at least 20 minutes. Rinse the paste off using lukewarm water.

5. Lemon

Lemon is a natural bleaching ingredient that is also great as a skin exfoliator. Aside from that, it is a good source of vitamin C which helps in the removal of dead skin cells, the regeneration of healthy skin cells, and the lightening of the skin tone.

Take a slice of a lemon and massage it gently onto your skin, leaving the juice on for a few minutes. Wash off the juice with warm water and then put on a moisturizing lotion.

Some people find lemon juice too strong on their skin. An alternative to lemon juice would be other bleaching fruits, such as tomatoes and grapes. Apply them the same way as the lemon juice.

6. Yogurt

Yogurt is a natural skin cleanser and moisturizer, and it contains lactic acid that helps lighten the dark areas of your skin.

Create a yogurt and vinegar paste by combining a teaspoon of plain yogurt with the same amount of white vinegar. Once you get a paste consistency, apply the mixture on your desired area and let it sit for a few minutes until it dries. Rinse off the excess paste with warm water, pat dry, then put some moisturizer. Apply this every day until the desired result is achieved.

Remember that these home remedies do not provide the same effects on all skin types. To ensure that you don’t experience any negative effects, it is best to consult a dermatologist before trying any products, regardless if they are homemade or store-bought.