Certain areas of the body can be prone to dark discolorations, especially those parts of the body that are often neglected, like elbows and knees.

Here are home remedies to fade dark knees, elbows, and other joints. *

If your dull, ashy and rough-looking knees and elbows are just from a lack of moisture, all you need is to exfoliate and moisturize.

• Mix sugar with oil (almond, coconut, olive oil are good choices)—just enough to make a thick scrub and not dissolve the granules.  Gently rub the sugar scrub onto the knees in a circular motion, and then wash off.

For more information about the right way to exfoliate your skin, read Should You Exfoliate Skin of Color? and Are You Over-Exfoliating Your Skin?

Lemon juice is often used with other ingredients, like sugar, to bleach and exfoliate discolored skin.  It can be used alone, as it is a natural bleaching agent.   Depending on the degree of discoloration, you can apply lemon juice one to two times daily until you notice lightening.  If lemon irritates your skin, apply aloe vera gel to the skin.  (If it is still too irritating, use only once a day or every other day.)

• Rub lemon slices or squeeze lemon juice over finger and toe joints and other darkened areas and leave on for 10 - 15 minutes, then rinse off.
• Mix granular sugar with a little lemon juice and rub into the areas 5 – 10 minutes.
• Mix cornmeal with 2 tablespoons of lemon or lime juice and 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel. Massage into knees for a few minutes, every other day and then wash off.
• Combine 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 1-tablespoon olive oil with ½ cup of sea salt.  Mix together into a paste-like scrub and massage to knees with a gentle, circular motion for 10-15 minutes.  Rinse.

• Combine 1 teaspoon of coconut oil with ½ teaspoon of lemon juice.  Gently rub onto the area, wipe off pulp and leave on for 15 – 20 minutes.   Rinse off, pat dry and apply moisturizer.
• Mix ½ cup of cornmeal with 1-½ tablespoons of fresh lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of aloe vera gel and massage onto elbows and knees.  Rinse.

For smoother and softer skin texture, the lactic acid in milk and yogurt, is a less irritating type of alpha hydroxy acid that serves as a humectant while sloughing off dead skin cells that can build up on knees, elbows and heels.

• Grind two almonds and mix with a tablespoon of yogurt and massage into the joints.
• Mix baking soda with a little milk and apply to the areas to be treated.  Let dry and then rinse off.
• Mash a slice of papaya and mix with yogurt to make a paste and apply on the knees or other areas that need treatment.  Wipe off with a soft wash cloth and then rinse.
• Blend two tablespoons of yogurt with two teaspoon of white vinegar into a paste and apply to elbows, massaging with circular motion.   Massage for 10 minutes and let sit on the skin for another 20 minutes and then rinse off.  Finish by moisturizing the skin.
• A popular lightener for discoloration comes from India combines heavy cream and turmeric.  Boil the heavy cream until it thickens and mix with a half-teaspoon of turmeric and gram flour (besan) and blend into a paste.  Apply to knees (or elbows) in a circular motion and rinse off. 

*If home remedies do not have an effect on skin darkness, you might have to try over-the-counter lighteners and creams.  You should also consult a dermatologist for a more effective skin care routine as well as to find out if the cause is due to genetics, skin and medical conditions or medications.

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