Do you have nice arms, but black elbows that embarrass you? Have you tried rubbing the dirt off with soap and couldn't get it out? If so, know that there are a few tips to even out your skin tone!
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Use home remedies
Step 1. Use lemon juice
Lemon juice contains citric acid which is a natural bleaching agent. Applying lemon juice to the skin can therefore help lighten it. Do the following.
- Cut a nice lemon in half. Squeeze the lemon juice from both halves and keep the skin as a "saucer". Rub each saucer on your elbows.
- You can remove the rest of the pulp on your skin, but don't rinse your elbows for about three hours. This gives the lemon time to penetrate and act.
- Then rinse the lemon juice with lukewarm water. Lemon juice can dry out the skin, so be sure to moisturize your skin with a cream.
- Do this every day until the dark skin begins to lighten. You should see a difference in two weeks.
Step 2. Apply sour cream and turmeric
A mixture of sour cream and turmeric works well for lightening the skin on the elbows, especially for people with dark skin. Turmeric is a natural bleaching agent that helps reduce melanin in the skin.
- Boil the cream until it is thick and a little set.
- Add half a teaspoon of turmeric to it, as well as 100 g of flour and mix to form a paste.
- Apply this paste to your elbows (and knees if necessary), in circular motions, then rinse.
- Be aware that turmeric will give the skin a yellowish-orange color, but it will go away after a few days.
- It is also possible to substitute cream yogurt. In this case, it is not necessary to boil it to achieve the same result.
Step 3. Make a paste with milk and baking soda
This remedy helps to lighten the elbows, because the milk contains lactic acid which reduces the pigmentation of the skin, while the bicarbonate helps to exfoliate the dead skin.
- Add enough milk to form a paste with the baking soda.
- Apply to your elbows and rub gently in circular motions. Do this until your skin looks lighter.
Step 4. Try mixing vinegar and white yogurt
Yogurt and vinegar contain lactic and acetic acid which both help lighten the skin.
- Mix a teaspoon of white yogurt with a teaspoon of vinegar and mix to form a paste.
- Apply to elbows, rubbing gently in circular motions. Leave on for 20 minutes, then rinse and moisturize.
Step 5. Take a small salad bowl
Prepare a mixture of buttermilk, almonds and oatmeal. Almonds and oatmeal are exfoliators that remove dead skin, and buttermilk can lighten the skin while moisturizing it.
- Grind the almonds and the oatmeal then mix them with the buttermilk to create a paste.
- Apply this paste to your elbows in a circular motion.
- Let sit for about 15 minutes before rinsing off with water.
Method 2 of 2: Exfoliate and moisturize
Step 1. Exfoliate your elbows
Doing this will remove the dead skin that is trapped in the crook of the elbow, which darkens the skin.
- Use a loofah or a horsehair glove to exfoliate your elbows, along with an exfoliating gel.
- Otherwise, you can make your own exfoliant by mixing two parts of sugar (white or brown) for one part of oil (almond, coconut, olive…).
- Remember not to rub too hard or to do this too often so as not to weaken the skin on the elbows, which could produce even more cells to protect itself, which will make your elbows even darker. Exfoliate gently, only once or twice a week.
- Be patient and you will quickly see a difference.
Step 2. Moisturize your skin after exfoliating it
Dry skin can darken, so stay well hydrated.
- Hydrate yourself after every shower (hot water can dry out the skin) and before going to bed at night. For best results, use moisturizers that contain shea butter, jojoba oil, or olive oil.
- Another way to hydrate your elbows is to apply a good coating of coconut oil or pure shea butter on your elbows before going to bed. Then cut the ends of old socks to make two tubes and thread them over your arms to cover your elbows. Leave the socks on overnight and take them off in the morning. This keeps the moisturizer in place and warms your skin, which helps the cream penetrate.
Step 3. Put on sunscreen
Sun exposure can damage your skin and darken the skin on your elbows and knees, so it is important to put on sunscreen if you are in the sun.
Although this is especially the case in summer, UV rays are present when it is cloudy or raining, so try to wear sunscreen all year round. Apply sunscreen every day to make it a habit
Advice
- If lemon juice stings you a lot, your skin may be too dry. In this case, you will need to moisturize it with petroleum jelly the day before you apply the lemon.
- You can replace the cream with whipped milk (or buttermilk) and turmeric with oatmeal and two ground almonds.