The cold and dry winter has left its marks on our skin as well. During these months, our skin looses its moisture and becomes more and more rough and dry. The skin on our elbows is very thick, therefore elbows are one of the most affected areas of our body that suffer from dryness. There are some amazing home remedies for dry elbows that will help you to make them soft and healthy for the spring season.
Besides the unfavorable weather conditions, heavy use is also
another major cause of cracked and dry elbows. They have to undergo
a lot of wear as we lean on our elbows all the time, while working,
eating or drinking coffee. However, we usually pay much attention
to hydrate and nourish our face and body, elbows are generally left
out and neglected. They are less visible, but more embarrassing
when they are observed by others.
No wonder dry skin gets even worse and we are left with the painful
condition of sore and cracked elbows. Check out our useful tips
below, and learn how to treat and prevent the problem of dry, flaky
elbows!
Exfoliate
Exfoliation is the first important step to start with.
First of all you have to clean the rough area, removing the dead
skin cells by exfoliating with a proper scrub. In order to get rid
of the dryness you can easily purchase great scrubs in the nearest
cosmetic store.
Opt for a body scrub that is based on natural ingredients.
In order to make your skin soft and smooth it is better to avoid
those body scrubs that contain alcohol because they can even make
your problem worse. If your skin is very dry, you can repeat this
method for several days until your elbows become soft and
touchable.
After you have achieved the desired result, you will have to apply
the scrub only occasionally, when it is needed.
You can also prepare some great homemade body scrubs to exfoliate
the dry skin on your elbows:
Sugar scrub: Mix 1/8 cup of olive oil with 1/4 cup of brown
sugar and massage it gently into your elbows. Leave it on for
minutes, then rinse.
Tip: When preparing the scrub, you can even add a few drops
of vanilla for its wonderful scent.
Lemon Salt Scrub: Mix 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice, 1
tablespoon of olive oil and 1/2 cup of salt. Scrub the paste into
your elbows and gently rub off the dead skin cells. Then, lean your
elbows on two lemon wedges and stay like this for 5-10 minutes,
then rinse with lukewarm water. This scrub is amazing for getting
rid of the dark patches as well.
Moisturize
After exfoliation, the next step is to moisturize and re-hydrate
your skin thoroughly. Opt for a moisturizing cream that contains
aloe vera and vitamin E.
Homemade methods
If you want to give your elbows an even more intensive treatment,
you can also apply some
olive oil, almond oil or lavender oil to nourish your dry skin.
Although, it is important to avoid fragrant oils, as they can cause
further irritations and dryness to your skin.
After you have applied the chosen moisturizing product, cover your
elbow with a plastic sheet, and leave it on for 20-30 minutes, then
wash it off.
You can use this moist pack at night as well, when you can fix it
with a pair of socks, by cutting down the foot part, so that you
have two open ends. Remove the socks and rinse with lukewarm water
in the morning.
Repeat it as many times as it is necessary in order to have a
beautiful, smooth skin.
Tip: You can also try melting some butter in the microwave
and massaging it into your elbow. This is another great natural
moisturizer, and you can repeat the same procedure described
above.
Repeat these steps regularly in order to obtain a bautiful,
hydrated skin on your elbows. These natural remedies can be applied
to other dry body parts such as: ankles or knees as well.