Bruises, bumps and scrapes are a part of life, and two body parts that take the beating (quite literally!) are our elbows and knees. Growing up, as kids and teenagers we all came home with these as badges of honour, didn’t we? Later, added to this things like hyperpigmentation, accumulation of dead skin cells, friction, or lack of moisturisation continue to lead the skin around the areas to darken and become rough and scaly. If you’re dealing with this too, read on to find out what can be done.
While dark and dry patches on one’s elbows and knees are harmless, you may want to brighten and more importantly, soften it with proper hydration. Let’s be honest, these are not the first areas we tend to scrub clean or deeply moisturise in our skincare routines. To tackle rough, dark patches to a certain degree, a skincare routine including gentle body scrubs, chemical exfoliants, and nourishing lotions and creams can come to the rescue. We round-up a few products you can try…
1. Re’equil Unveil Neck, Knee & Elbow Cream
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With ingredients like mucor miehei (mushroom) extract and daisy flower extract which help in shedding away dead cells and lightening the skin, this cream helps treats rough and scaly skin in these specific areas to provide deep moisturisation and gentle exfoliation. Additionally, pentylene glycol, a humectant, helps increase moisture retention in the skin keeping the skin hydrated and refreshed.
2. Victoria’s Secret Honey Body Scrub
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Slough off dead skin cells with this nourishing, glow-boosting blend that smooths with sugar crystals and pure honey to reveal radiant-looking skin. Gently rub in a circular motion on the knees and elbows for about 30 seconds each before rinsing off.
3. The Derma Co. Kojic Acid + Glutathione Daily Syndet Soap
Crafted with ingredients such as kojic acid and glutathione, this body soap deeply cleanses while brightening skin. Kojic acid helps lighten sun spots and photodamage, while alpha arbutin and glutathione reduce pigmentation and melanin production to make the skin brighter. This syndet bar is also formulated with nourishing ingredients to gently cleanse the skin without drying it out.
4. Sadhev Herbal Body Lotion
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This Ayurvedic formulation carefully repairs and restores dry and rough patches thereby gently hydrating and polishing the skin. Massage it into your elbows and knees for luminous and smooth skin. It also relieves discomfort from dryness and calms irritation and tightness in these areas.
5. Fixderma Nigrifix Cream
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A customised formulation, this product helps treat hyperpigmentation associated with a skin condition known as acanthosis nigricans which causes a dark discolouration in body folds and creases. It helps lighten and soften and reduce pigmentation in body parts like the back of the neck, elbows, knees, inner thighs and back.
6. Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Body Polish
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Infused with ground luffa fruit, a natural exfoliant, as well as jojoba butter, sweet almond oil, shea butter and honey, this body polish exfoliates skin without over-drying. It needs to be massaged onto moist skin and worked into a lather, then rinsed off to reveal soft, supple skin. Remember this polish is only for the body and must not be used on the face.
7. Suganda Lactic Body Lotion
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Formulated to improve your skin’s texture, this lotion helps smooth bumpy skin, reduces ingrown hair, brightens skin tone and eliminates rough patches on elbows & knees. Lactic acid resurfaces dead skin, and niacinamide supports the skin barrier and reduces uneven skin tone while calendula oil nourishes and soothes skin. The key is to apply it immediately after bath on damp skin so that the skin absorbs it well.
8. Pilgrim Volcanic Lava Ash Body Scrub
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This body scrub crafted with volcanic lava ash exfoliates and promotes skin cell regeneration, while yugdugu (nutmeg) reduces pigmentation, and white lotus improves skin elasticity, leaving it bright and rejuvenated. The scrub contains self-melt granules which dissolve and wash away as they gently exfoliate the skin.
9. Bath & Body Works Fairytale Moisturizing Body Cream
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As the elbows and knees tend to be drier than other body parts, a nourishing body cream can help moisturise and soften the skin. Try Bath & Body Works body cream that is infused with hyaluronic acid and shea butter. Hyaluronic acid attracts water and moisturises the skin leaving it hydrated and replenished. A bonus is the fragrance from this cream that will linger on the skin—a combination of pomegranate nectar, fresh orange blossom, vanilla and warm amber.
