14 Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Dark Knees And Elbows

Dark knees and elbows result from higher level of melanin production than the other areas of the body. Sun damage, wear and tear, and friction can cause dark knees and elbows. So, how to get rid of dark knees and elbows? Is it a serious concern? Do not worry as this discoloration of skin is not a cause for concern or medical risk.

But even though it’s not a cause for concern, you can lighten the skin discoloration with the help of a few remedies that we will discuss in this article. Keep reading to know more.

How To Get Rid Of Dark Knees And Elbows

1. Baking Soda And Milk
2. Coconut Oil
3. Hydrogen Peroxide
4. Almond Oil
5. Aloe Vera Gel
6. Apple Cider Vinegar
7. Pumice Stone
8. Olive Oil
9. Lemon
10. Vitamin E Oil
11. Yogurt
12. Turmeric Powder
13. Potato
14. Gram Flour

1. Baking Soda And Milk For Dark Knees

You Will Need

• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon milk

What You Have To Do

1. Mix the milk and the baking soda.
2. Apply this mixture on the knees and elbows and gently scrub in circular motions for two to three minutes.
3. Rinse with water.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this every alternate day until the pigmentation fades.

Why This Works

Anecdotal evidence suggests that baking soda works as an exfoliant due to its fine, gritty texture, which may help scrub away dead skin cells when gently massaged onto the skin. Baking soda’s alkaline nature helps boost skin cell growth. It also helps balance the skin’s bacteria by removing bad ones (1). This may lead to smoother, healthier skin. The vitamins, minerals, lactic acid, and amino acids present in milk smoothen the skin and moisturize it. The antioxidants found in milk will ensure that the skin remains healthy for a long period (2).

2. Coconut Oil For Dark Knees

You Will Need

• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon walnut powder

What You Have To Do

1. Mix the ingredients to make a thick paste.
2. Use this as a scrub on dark elbows and knees for two to three minutes.
3. Rinse with water.

Also, after taking a shower, apply coconut oil on your knees and elbows daily. Reapply before going to bed.

How Often You Should Do This

Use the coconut oil scrub two to three times in a week.

Why This Works

Coconut oil for skin is one of the best hydrating and moisturizing oils for the skin. It prevents dryness and rough skin, and the vitamin E found in it repairs the skin and lightens it in the process (3, 4). A study found that virgin coconut oil is an effective and safe moisturizer for mild to moderate xerosis. It significantly improved skin hydration and increased skin lipids, without any adverse effects on transepidermal water loss or skin pH. While both coconut oil and mineral oil showed similar benefits, coconut oil tended to improve skin symptoms like dryness and roughness slightly more (3).

3. Hydrogen Peroxide For Dark Knees

You Will Need

• 3% hydrogen peroxide
• Cotton ball

What You Have To Do

1. Dip the cotton in the hydrogen peroxide solution and apply it generously on the knees and elbows.
2. Leave it on for 15 minutes and then rinse the area with lukewarm water.
3. Pat dry and moisturize.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this every alternate day.

Why This Works

Hydrogen peroxide helps in removing dark, dead skin cells. It is a commonly found skin-lightening agent in creams and lotions. With regular usage, its mild bleaching quality will lighten the dark knees and elbows (5).

Caution

Dilute the hydrogen peroxide in equal parts of water in case you have sensitive skin.

4. Almond Oil For Dark Knees

You Will Need

Almond oil

What You Have To Do

1. Take a few drops of almond oil on your fingers and apply it to the knees and elbows.
2. Massage for a few minutes so that the oil absorbed into the skin.

How Often You Should Do This

Apply almond oil every day, once in the morning and once at night.

Why This Works

Almond oil is rich in vitamin E. It will help in repairing the skin around your knee area and get rid of the darkness (6) (7).

5. Aloe Vera Gel For Dark Knees

You Will Need

Aloe vera leaf

What You Have To Do

1. Cut the aloe leaf and extract the gel present inside.
2. Apply this gel on the knees and elbows, and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Rinse with lukewarm water.

How Often You Should Do This

Apply aloe gel twice a day.

Why This Works

Apply aloe vera gel to your knees daily and notice the difference. Aloe vera is a wonder plant that helps in healing dry knees, making them softer and brighter. It improves the uneven skin tone and also gives protection from UV rays (8).

6. Apple Cider Vinegar For Dark Knees

You Will Need

• 1 part apple cider vinegar
• 1 part water
• A cotton ball

What You Have To Do

1. Dilute the ACV in the water.
2. Soak the cotton ball in it and apply this on the knees and elbows.
3. Leave it on for 15 minutes before rinsing it off.

How Often You Should Do This

Apply apple cider vinegar three to four times in a week.

Why This Works

The acidic component of apple cider vinegar, mainly acetic acid, works a natural bleaching agent. It exfoliates the skin and lightens it (9).

7. Pumice Stone For Dark Knees

You Will Need

• Pumice stone
• Warm water

What You Have To Do

1. Take a shower with warm water.
2. Gently scrub the knees and elbows using a pumice stone. Use circular motions.
3. Rinse with cool water.

How Often You Should Do This

Scrub your knees and elbows two to three times in a week.

Why This Works

Exfoliating your knees and elbows using a pumice stone helps in removing the dark, dead skin cells. A pumice stone helps remove thickened skin. Use it on the skin directly or after using a skin-softening treatment. It works best when the skin is wet, as this helps break down the extra layers of dead skin (10).

8. Olive Oil For Dark Knees

You Will Need

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons sugar

What You Have To Do

1. Add the sugar to the oil and give it a stir.
2. Apply this mixture on the black knees and elbows.
3. Rub in circular motions for about five minutes.
4. Rinse with water.

How Often You Should Do This

Use this scrub every alternate day.

Why This Works

Sugar is an excellent exfoliant. It removes the dead and dark skin cells easily and quickly (11). In combination with the olive oil, skin scrubbing with sugar will also hydrate and nourish the skin while it is being exfoliated (12).

9. Lemon For Dark Knees

You Will Need

Fresh lemon juice

What You Have To Do

1. Squeeze out the juice from a lemon and apply this on the knees and elbows.
2. Keep it on for an hour or until it completely dries.
3. Rinse with water.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this every day to get rid of your dark knee caps.

Why This Works

Citrus fruits like lemon have natural compounds that can help reduce dark spots and skin pigmentation (13). Therefore, lemon juice acts as a skin-bleaching agent that can make your knees and elbows brighter.

EleeZia, a YouTuber, shares an organic and affordable solution for lightening pigmented areas like elbows, knees, and knuckles. The treatment involves using baking soda and lemon, with explanations about the properties and benefits of each. She says, “I’ve been quite conscious about it [dark elbows] for some time now, so I’m really excited to use this treatment to get rid of it.” She also advises that people with sensitive skin should not rub the area gently for just two to three minutes. Regarding the results, she says, “This is so amazing, the result is so sudden (i).”

10. Vitamin E Oil For Dark Knees

You Will Need

• Vitamin E capsules
• 1 tablespoon sugar

What You Have To Do

1. Open a few vitamin E capsules and pour out the oil present inside. You should have about one and a half to two tablespoons of oil.
2. To this, add the sugar and mix it in.
3. Use this as a scrub to exfoliate dark knees and elbows.
4. Scrub for a few minutes before rinsing it off.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this every alternate day.

Why This Works

The sugar removes the dead cells, and vitamin E does wonders in repairing and hydrating the skin (14). It also helps in depigmentation, thus giving you lighter and healthier skin on the knees and elbows (15).

11. Yogurt For Dark Knees

You Will Need

• 1 tablespoon yogurt
• 1 teaspoon vinegar

What You Have To Do

1.  Mix the yogurt and vinegar, and apply this as a paste on the knees and elbows.
2. Leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Rinse with water.

How Often You Should Do This

Use this daily for lighter knees and elbows.

Why This Works

Yogurt is full of nutrients that not only nourish the skin but also cleanse it. It exfoliates, moisturizes, improves moisture absorption, reduces wrinkles, and tightens pores (16). Vinegar can help enhance the effects of the yogurt by further helping in the depigmentation of the dark knees and elbows (9).

Trivia

Yogurt is a rich source of lactic acid, which can gently exfoliate the skin without causing irritation and increase cell turnover rate.

12. Turmeric Powder For Dark Knees

You Will Need

• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 2 tablespoon milk
• 1 teaspoon honey

What You Have To Do

1. Mix the honey, turmeric powder, and milk to make a paste.
2. Apply this on the elbows and knees.
3. Massage in circular motion for two minutes and leave it on for about 20 minutes.
4. Rinse with water.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this two to three times in a week.

Why This Works

Turmeric cleanses the skin’s impurities and evens out the skin tone. It also renders a natural glow to the skin (17). Milk and honey will keep it hydrated and nourished (2), (18).

13. Potato For Dark Knees

You Will Need

A potato

What You Have To Do

1. Cut slightly thick slices of the potato and rub them on the knees and elbows for a few minutes.
2. Leave the potato juice on for about 15 minutes and then rinse it off.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this once or twice daily for best results.

Why This Works

Potatoes possess mild skin bleaching properties that help in dark spot reduction. A study describes making titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles from potato peel. The potato peel extract combined with titanium dioxide helps protect the skin from UV light and can also lighten it (19). It also nourishes and brightens dry and dull skin. Potato peel extract boosts collagen production in skin cells by activating specific signaling pathways, potentially offering anti-aging benefits (20).

Quick Tip

Thoroughly scrub and clean the potato before cutting it in half and using it, as the dirt on the skin of potatoes may irritate the skin if not washed off properly.

14. Gram Flour

You Will Need

• 2 tablespoons gram flour
• 1-2 tablespoons yogurt

What You Have To Do

1. Add enough yogurt to the gram flour to make a thick paste.
2. Apply this paste on the elbows and knees and let it dry.
3. Remove this with water using circular motions to scrub the mixture off your knees and elbow.

How Often You Should Do This

Apply this pack every alternate day.

Why This Works

Gram flour exfoliates and removes the dead skin cells on your knees and elbows (21). Yogurt also may help lighten the skin tone and nourish it (16).

All these remedies can be effective in varying degrees but it is important to note that they may cause side effects or allergic reactions in some people. To ensure safety, it is always best to do a patch test before applying the product to a larger area, especially if you have sensitive skin. Keep in mind that results can vary from person to person, so the product may not have the same effect for everyone, even though it has worked for some.

Quick Tip

Always apply a nourishing moisturizer on damp skin after washing off the mask. This will replenish the moisture in the skin and won’t make it feel tight.

Is it Normal to Have Dark Knees?

Yes, it is entirely normal for the skin on your knees to be darker than other parts of your body. This is known as hyperpigmentation that occurs when your skin produces extra melanin. The darkening of the skin around your knees can occur suddenly due to irritation or injury. Melanin, the pigment responsible for our skin color, is the key player here, determining the color of your skin and hair. So, having slightly darker knees is a common and natural variation. While it’s a normal occurrence, if you have concerns about skin changes, it’s always a good idea to consult a dermatologist for reassurance and guidance.

Let’s now take a look at what causes dark knees and elbows.

Causes Of Dark Knees And Elbows

Dark knee caps may be caused mainly due to the below-mentioned factors:

• Environmental factors like sunlight
• Stress
• Unhygienic conditions like dirt and dust
• Genetics
• Friction
• Dry skin
• Skipping the knee area when exfoliating
• Reaction to medications
• Hormonal imbalances

If you are looking for stronger options to get rid of dark knees and elbows, it is best to use over-the-counter treatments or explore other medical options. Keep reading to learn more.

Treatment Options To Get Rid Of Dark Knees And Elbows

Besides home remedies, there are other treatment options available to help reduce dark knees and elbows. The treatments for skin pigmentation are also effective for these areas. They are (22):

1. Over-the-Counter Treatments: Topical creams and serums containing niacinamide, kojic acid, licorice extract, and mulberry extract are effective for lightening dark areas. Look for treatments that are free from parabens and harmful preservatives to avoid irritation.

2. Micro-Needling: In this procedure, tiny needles are used to create small channels in the skin, helping the skin produce more collagen. This promotes natural healing and can help lighten dark patches over time.

3. Chemical Peels: This treatment involves removing the top layers of the skin to reveal fresher, lighter skin underneath.

4. Professional Treatments: Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) combined with lasers can effectively remove darkness from knees and elbows. However, the procedure must be done in the clinic by a licensed professional. Similarly, you can  try plasma pen therapy that targets and removes sunspots, age spots, and other pigmentation issues. Another effective treatment is radiofrequency that breaks down melanin deposits in the skin, improving overall skin tone and texture.

A comprehensive approach that combines a few treatment options, along with effective home remedies might be your best shot at eliminating darker tones in your elbows and knees. Always consult a dermatologist to determine the best treatment for your skin type and condition. And if you want to prevent further darkening of your knees and elbows, read the helpful tips in the following section!

Tips To Prevent Further Darkening Of Skin

• Always apply sunscreen on your knees when you go out. The harsh UV rays of the sun make your knees darker. Thus, protecting your knees from the sun is very important.
• Dark knees may also be caused due to improper hydration. So, never miss out on moisturizing your knees.
• Diet also plays an important role in maintaining healthy skin. Have a diet rich in vitamins A and E. Vitamin A-rich foods include sweet potatoes, carrots, lettuce, dried apricots, etc. Vitamin E-rich foods include almonds, cooked spinach, etc.
• Do NOT lean on your knees often. This creates friction, and the result is dark knees.

Infographic: What To Look For And Avoid In Over-The-Counter Solutions For Dark Knees And Elbows

In some cases, you may need to resort to over-the-counter solutions to get rid of the hyperpigmentation on your elbows or knees. However, not all ingredients in o-t-c creams and ointments are completely safe or effective. Check out the infographic to find which ingredients to look for and which to avoid in o-t-c products.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I maintain the results after lightening my dark knees and elbows?

To maintain the results after lightening dark knees and elbows, keep the skin well-moisturized and avoid sun exposure by using sunscreen. Regular exfoliation is key to preventing dark patches from coming back, so, stay consistent with your skincare routine.

Are dark elbows permanent?

Dr. Ekama Carlson, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, says, “Dark elbows and knees tend to be a life-long problem. However, this condition can be improved with the use of skin products that minimize inflammation and exfoliate the skin, such as lactic acid (12%).”

How does Colgate get rid of dark knees?

According to Dr. Carlson, “Colgate is not a known effective treatment for dark knees. It is not advised to apply Colgate to the skin, as this can lead to irritation, which can actually lead to further darkening of the skin.”

How do dermatologists get rid of dark elbows?

“Dermatologists treat dark elbows and knees using skin care products that exfoliate and thin out the skin while reducing inflammation. Creams that contain lactic acid 12%, or urea 40%, and sometimes topical steroids, such as hydrocortisone, improve the appearance of FADES. It may take 3–6 months of twice daily use of this treatment before significant improvement is noticed,” says Dr. Carlson.

Are dark elbows normal?

Yes, it is normal to have dark elbows. You may develop dark elbows due to stress, overexposure to sunlight, or lack of proper personal hygiene. You can consult your doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.

How do you clean dirty elbows?

You can use soap and warm water to clean dirty elbows. Once you finish cleansing, use a moisturizer to keep your elbows hydrated and smooth.

Is it safe to use bleaching creams to lighten black knees and elbows?

While mild bleaching creams used in moderation are generally safe for normal skin, overuse may cause irritation and inflammation for sensitive skin.

Are there any medical treatments for getting rid of black knees and elbows?

Skin-lightening creams and chemical peels containing lipohydroxy acid, a derivative of salicylic acid, may help in improving the appearance of dark knees and elbows (23).

Can Vaseline fix dark elbows?

Vaseline helps lock in essential moisture and improve the skin texture of your knees and elbows. However, there is no evidence that suggests that Vaseline helps lighten dark elbows.

Illustration: Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Dark Knees And Elbows

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

Learn natural ways to get rid of dark knees and elbows! Watch this video to get rid of discoloration and achieve glowing skin with simple home remedies.

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Reviewer Expert Author Editor Fact Checker

Dr Jovana MajstorovicMD

       

Jovana Majstorović is a board-certified dermatologist with 10 years of experience. She is also the founder and owner of Derma Style in Belgrade, Serbia. She is also a fellow of the European Academy of Dermatology.

Read full bio of Dr Jovana Majstorovic

• 
  Dr. Ekama CarlsonMD Dr. Ekama Carlson, MD, is a double board-certified dermatologist with 11 years of experience in medical, cosmetic, and surgical dermatology. She is the founder and medical director of the California Center for Dermatologic Surgery in San Francisco. Dr. Carlson completed medical school at the University of California, Davis School of Medicine, California, USA.
  
  Dr. Ekama Carlson, MD, is a double board-certified dermatologist with 11 years of experience in medical, cosmetic, and surgical dermatology. She is the founder and medical director of the California Center for Dermatologic Surgery in San Francisco. Dr. Carlson completed medical school at the University of California, Davis School of Medicine, California, USA.

Kushneet KukrejaHealth & Wellness Writer

 

Kushneet holds a postgraduate degree in biotechnology from Kingston University, London, and is an ISSA Certified Specialist in Fitness & Nutrition with 2 years of experience. Her scientific background, coupled with her passion for writing, propelled her towards content writing.

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Ramona SinhaEditor

Ramona is an editor at StyleCraze with 11 years of experience in writing and editing. She has authored over 200 articles on skin and hair care. She graduated from the University of Calcutta, West Bengal, and did her post-graduation from the University of Kalyani, West Bengal.

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Swathi ESenior Beauty & Lifestyle Writer

Swathi holds a postgraduate degree in English Literature from The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and a diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Kottayam. With over three years of experience writing on beauty, health, and lifestyle, she is also a certified skin care coach.

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