Mind those dry elbows

Fix dry elbows

1. Elbows suffer from sun damage every time you drive or walk outside. We put sunscreen all over our face and body but most of us neglect to protect our elbows. If you are wearing a short sleeved blouse, remember to wear sun-screen before leaving home.
2. Two wedges of lemon are enough to get rid of dry elbows. Squeeze the juice out of it, and then add salt before scrubbing it into your dry elbows. Scrub gently as this may hurt your skin. Rest your elbows for 15 minutes. Keep doing this every day until the dry areas disappear.
3. If you have dark, discoloured elbows, regular application of yoghurt will help fix the problem.

The skin on your elbows receives a lot of use on a daily basis. Just imagine how many times you bend your elbows when typing on your keyboard or even when you’re eating.

By using your elbows regularly, you also get to experience dryness on that part of your body. Unfortunately, many of us tend to neglect this area of the body.

If your elbows are flaky, chapped or discoloured due to neglect, this can easily be repaired with a regular moisturising routine.

To start with, your skin should be exfoliated with a gentle body scrub.

This will remove the dead cells over the surface of the skin. Go for a body scrub that has natural particles such as apricot.

After exfoliation, the elbow area should be re-hydrated to restore the moisture.

An intensive moisturiser would serve the purpose well. There are special moisturisers on the market created specifically for dry elbows which you can buy in the supermarket or beauty shop.

Additives

Those that contain ingredients, such as alpha hydroxyl, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, aloe, are very good for extremely dry skin. Oils can also be extremely beneficial to this part of the body and can be applied directly to the skin or they can be used in a warm bath.

Almond, lavender and grape seed oil all work especially well.

Avoid oils and moisturisers that contain fragrances as these additives can further irritate dry skin and may even make the problem worse.

Once you have chosen your moisturiser or oil, it should be applied regularly. A good time to moisturise is after a bath or shower when the skin is still slightly damp.

Simply apply the oil directly to the skin on the elbows, rubbing gently until all the excess has been absorbed. If necessary, apply a light layer once more before going to bed.

For further treatment of the skin, cut the foot off a pair of socks and place it over the elbows overnight. You can also wear a long sleeved blouse after you have treated your elbows.

Remove the socks or blouse and rinse your elbows with lukewarm water the next morning.

For better results, you can also treat your dry elbows at least once a week with butter.

Take one-teaspoon butter and melt it, then apply it on your dry elbows and massage well for about 15 minutes. Cover the elbows with a plastic paper and leave them on for about an hour. Take off the plastic paper and wash your elbows with warm water.

Besides treating your dry elbows there are habits can help prevent this problem from recurring. Dry elbows are caused by constant rubbing thus avoid leaning your elbows on rough surfaces.

It is also a good idea to apply lotion to your hands and arms throughout the day. Make it part of your routine to reapply lotion every time that you wash your hands and soon it will be a habit.

If you do not notice improvement within one to two weeks, you may want to consult a doctor or skin care specialist.

The dry skin on your elbows may be a result of a more serious condition, such as eczema, or dermatitis. In these cases, your doctor may be able to prescribe a more powerful moisturiser or medicine if necessary.