Harmless causes of darkening of the elbows
When working with your elbows resting on the table, your elbows become rough and dark.
Rough, dark elbows are often found in people who work in an office or at home using a computer . The habit of leaning your elbows on the table leads to squeezing of the delicate skin, chafing, and the appearance of growths. Another reason why elbows are dark and even black is changes in temperature and humidity . During the heating season or during hot weather, the skin dries out due to lack of moisture in the body.
Elbows may be rough and dark due to vitamin deficiency. Due to a deficiency of retinol and tocopherol, the skin on dense areas of the body darkens and dries out. If you do not take care of the epidermis in time and do not take a course of multivitamins, it will change its condition for a long time.
Why do elbows get dark?
As you know, the skin contains subcutaneous fatty tissue, dermis (the skin itself) and epidermis. The epidermis has five layers. Of these, the uppermost one, the horny one, is characterized by high resistance to external irritants. A healthy stratum corneum serves as a barrier to pathogens of infectious diseases; its scales are regularly replaced by new cells.
However, when certain diseases occur, such as hyperkeratosis (increased thickening of the stratum corneum of the epidermis), the rejection of old scales slows down, as a result of which the skin of the elbows thickens, becomes rough, and is prone to the appearance of black spots.
When dark spots appear on the skin of the elbow joints, you need to think about some metabolic disorders and digestion. The reason for this may be lack of hygienic body care, deficiency of thyroid hormones, and insufficient intake of vitamins A and E.
To improve the situation and maintain the normal condition of the skin, between seasons it is recommended to take useful complexes containing vitamins A and E. The following foods should always be included in the daily diet:
- Dairy products, orange and red fruits, vegetables, fresh herbs, beef liver, which are rich in vital vitamin A.
- Vegetable oil: almond, olive, sesame, containing large amounts of vitamin E. Moreover, sesame oil, thanks to its healing properties, restores damaged skin and hair, and improves complexion. It is prescribed for the treatment and prevention of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
How to get rid of dark spots on elbows yourself
If your health is fine, black elbows can be cured at home . To do this, they use various means, ranging from natural products to cheap pharmaceutical drugs.
Baths for rough spots
Warm baths have a comprehensive effect on the problem, soften the skin, enrich it with nutritional components, allowing them to penetrate into the deep layers of the dermis. The following recipes are most effective :
- 50 g of baking soda, 100 g of table salt , pour in 2 liters of water/potato broth and immerse problem areas in the resulting solution for 15 minutes. Afterwards, rub the skin with a waffle towel and apply a moisturizing cream/lotion.
- A small spoonful of liquid toilet soap and ammonia is diluted in 1 liter of water. Place your elbows in the resulting mixture for 30 minutes. The procedure is performed daily for 2 weeks.
- 300 g of dry leaves of stinging nettle are poured into 1 liter of boiling water and left for half an hour. The infusion is poured into a container without straining, and the elbows are lowered for 15 minutes, after which a moisturizer is applied.
- 6 large spoons of olive oil are heated in a water bath, poured into two containers and the elbows are dipped in them for 10-15 minutes. The softened epidermis is rubbed with pumice, washed with water and lubricated with baby cream.
Baths quickly, painlessly, and effectively eliminate roughness and darkening of the skin. Products in the form of peeling scrubs will help enhance their effect.
Skin cleansing scrubs
If mechanical cleaning procedures are not carried out, the condition of the integument will gradually deteriorate. To cleanse, you can use scrubs :
- Coffee grounds are mixed with candied honey in equal proportions. Apply the mixture with light movements, leave for 10 minutes and rinse with warm water.
- High-fat sour cream with coarse salt and rubbed into the problem area.
If dark elbows are peeling, the reason may be hidden in a deficiency of nutrients. Treatment at home is supplemented with masks, compresses, and lotions.
Nourishing masks, compresses, lotions
You can saturate the epidermis with vitamins and minerals, get rid of dermatitis, make the skin soft, elastic, velvety even on the elbows, using this mask:
- grate raw carrots on a fine grater;
- add 1 large spoon of olive oil;
- spread the resulting mass onto two cotton sponges and press it to your elbows;
- fixed with a plaster or bandage;
- After half an hour, wash off with warm water.
If the skin on your elbows is severely peeling, peeling and darkening, a recipe for a fortified whitening compress will come in handy: cut the lemon into slices, tie it to your elbows for half an hour, wash it off with warm water, and treat it with a nourishing cream. Or dilute 5 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with 3 tablespoons of water. Soak cotton swabs with the resulting solution and apply to the desired area of the body for 30-40 minutes. It is not recommended to keep the product for longer, as the acid can cause burns.
You can make a compress from onions . The root vegetable is crushed into a paste, applied to problem areas, covered with cling film and a bandage. After 20 minutes, wash off. A mask made from oatmeal is also effective: the product is soaked in boiling water and applied to the elbows under plastic for 20 minutes.
Pharmacy products, creams, ointments
Special products help get rid of age spots and rough areas. They must be applied after baths, scrubbing, and compresses. The most popular are:
- Zinc ointment;
- Desitin;
- Baby cream;
- Hydroquinone;
- Melantiv;
- Clearwin;
- Revitol.
Ascorbic acid has a whitening effect . The powder is purchased at the pharmacy, mixed with a small spoon of heated olive oil, the same amount of orange juice and rubbed with massage movements into problem areas. After 5 minutes, wash off.
Another popular emollient is glycerin. 2 large spoons of the solution are mixed with chicken yolk and applied to black areas. After washing off, the skin is treated with a rich cream.
You should not use hydrogen peroxide for whitening. The drug dries out the skin, leading to the formation of cracks and wounds.
ethnoscience
Traditional treatment for black elbows is quite popular among adherents of alternative medicine. Let's look at a couple of recipes.
Burdock oil
To begin, thoroughly steam the problem area. After the bath, cleanse your skin with a scrub to remove the dead skin layer. When your elbows are clean, pour burdock oil into your palm and rub it into the steamed area with light massage movements.
How to distinguish psoriasis from dermatitis - similarities and differences
Atopic dermatitis and psoriasis are similar in the following:
- may be hereditary;
- develop in stages, periodically aggravate;
- the skin turns red and itches in the affected areas;
- microcracks and peeling appear.
In the first stages, the differences between psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis are almost invisible and a conclusion about the disease can only be drawn based on the results of examination and diagnosis. But over time, the clinical picture becomes more clear. For psoriasis:
- pale pink plaques;
- do not fade when pressed;
- do not swell;
- scales are large, whitish.
For dermatitis:
- the symptoms are acute with a transition to the chronic stage, while psoriasis is sluggish, chronic;
- no dry white plaques;
- blisters with suppuration may appear.
The difference between dermatitis and psoriasis can only be determined by a dermatologist - the sooner the nature of the lesion is determined, the faster and more successful the treatment.
How is seborrheic dermatitis different from psoriasis?
It is more difficult to distinguish between psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis. They look like lesions on the scalp with scales. The differences are as follows:
- psoriasis plaques are thicker and brighter in color;
- seborrheic scales are smaller and paler;
- seborrheic with a yellowish tint, removed without pain;
- psoriasis plaques are removed with a residual small drop of blood - blood dew syndrome.
Such subtle differences are only visible under special dermatological equipment.
Eczema or psoriasis
It is easier to distinguish eczema from psoriasis by the form of the disease. Eczema is cured faster, while chronic psoriasis is less treatable and can affect the nails and internal organs. Eczematous lesions are characterized by:
- severe itching, burning;
- lack of clear boundaries, blurriness;
- damage to the most delicate areas of the skin: folds, areas between the fingers;
- severe swelling of the affected area.
Do not try to diagnose yourself and determine whether it is eczema, psoriasis or dermatitis.
Dermatological specialists provide rapid diagnosis and effective treatment of psoriasis and dermatitis in adults and children. Modern equipment and proprietary treatment methods with 25 years of successful use are your opportunity to quickly identify and overcome skin diseases. September 9, 2021
Author of the article: dermatologist Mak Vladimir Fedorovich
