Causes
As a rule, if a problem is discovered suddenly, the reasons must be sought in the incorrect functioning of the internal secretion organs. Due to the fact that metabolic processes in the body are disrupted, the keratinized layer of cells begins to increase. This means that it simply does not have time to exfoliate naturally. The result is the appearance of keratosis, which is the name given to a condition in which dry skin appears on certain areas of the body. There is another pathology - hyperkeratosis, in which case the skin peels all over the body, and in this situation the help of a qualified dermatologist is required.
Sometimes the skin on the elbows becomes dry and rough due to mechanical stress. For example, if a person often leans on his elbows (for example, when working at a computer), then it is possible that the skin changes regardless of the general condition of the body.
If the problem appears as a result of mechanical impact, it is easy to eliminate it, and it is not at all necessary to consult a doctor. Fat creams, peeling products - and after a couple of weeks your elbows will again become soft and pleasant to the touch. In the event that the cause is a malfunction in the body, you should definitely consult a doctor, since very dry skin may indicate a number of certain diseases.
Based on the above, we can say with certainty that the main external reasons are the lack of proper care, as well as mechanical stress on the skin. But there are other, more serious pathologies, due to which the skin on the elbows begins to peel:
- Hyperthyroidism.
If the level of certain hormones in the body increases due to disorders of the thyroid gland, special processes are launched in the body, due to which the blood vessels relax and cease to perform their main functions, which leads to a number of disorders in the body, one of them is peeling of the skin. - Diabetes.
A serious disease that manifests itself as a disruption in the functioning of all systems and organs, in particular - metabolic processes change completely. If you notice frequent thirst, attacks of dizziness and uncontrollable hunger, while the epidermis is peeling, this is a reason to consult a doctor. - Avitaminosis.
One of the common causes of dry elbow skin. In order for the human body to function normally, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and trace elements must be present. Otherwise, not only your appearance, but also your general well-being deteriorates. Often, a lack of vitamins is observed in women who want to lose weight - due to a lack of nutrients in the body.
how to whiten elbows at home
Reviews
Leah: I really liked rubbing my elbows with lemon juice - natural and effective! The most important thing is not to forget to apply cream afterwards!
Karina: Baths seemed like too much of a hassle to me. At one time the result is minimal, but I don’t want to do this for two weeks.
Sveta: Dark skin on the elbows is simply poorly exfoliated, so the best solution is a scrub. The honey-coffee mixture gives simply excellent results.
Olya: My elbows turned black due to vitamin deficiency, I started taking vitamins and everything gradually went away by itself. I didn’t take any additional measures, although I systematically scrub my entire body, maybe this had some significance.
The skin on the elbows rarely attracts close attention. But if it begins to peel off or become abnormally dark, it is better not to ignore such symptoms.
Healthy skin on the elbows: what vitamins are needed?
Since vitamin deficiency is a fairly common cause of problems with the skin, let’s consider which vitamins need to be given special attention in order for the epidermis to recover:
- Vitamin C.
Takes an active part in tissue metabolism - if there is not enough of it in the body, the skin may begin to crack and peel. - Retinol.
With its deficiency, the skin regenerates much more slowly, which means that a person will be bothered not only by dryness, but also by cracks that will take a long time to heal. - Vitamin E.
The strongest antioxidant that is vital for every person. Prevents the aging of tissues and skin, helps accelerate the exfoliation of dead epidermal cells.
Important!
All of the above vitamins can be easily purchased at the pharmacy. But you need to drink them according to the instructions and the characteristics of the body, otherwise hypervitaminosis may develop. Therefore, before starting to use such medications, it is advisable to consult with your doctor.
What to do and how to treat rough elbows?
In order to restore the condition of the dermis on the elbows, you can use home techniques.
There are many different techniques that can be used to restore problem areas.
Before using any recipe, you should make sure that the source of this problem is not a disease, but external factors.
Otherwise, treatment of the root cause that caused this process is required.
- Lemon for rough elbows
In folk therapy, lemon is an excellent remedy.
Citrus juice can whiten the skin.
To carry out treatment with this product, it must be cut into thin slices and firmly secured to the hands, you can use bandages.
Keep this for an hour, and after a while apply nourishing cream.
Causes of dry elbows in women
Initially, women have much thinner skin than women, which means that the skin will deteriorate faster. That is why the fair half of humanity needs special and more thorough care for the epidermis.
Basically, the cause of pathology is physiological reasons, namely:
- Anemia.
If the body lacks iron, metabolism is disrupted, causing the skin to become flabby and age quickly. Accordingly, the epidermis on the elbows changes its structure. - Problems with hormonal levels.
During growing up, during pregnancy, during menstruation - almost throughout life, the level of hormones in the blood of women changes. All these conditions cannot but affect the condition of the epidermis. - Substance abuse.
Every woman loves to soak in a warm bath with aromatic foam - it relaxes and soothes. But do not forget that gels and bubble baths can significantly dry out the skin - it is necessary to add essential oils to the bath. Dishwashing and cleaning detergents are extremely aggressive to the skin of not only the elbows, but also the hands. During cleaning, be sure to use protective gloves.
During menopause in women, a significant decrease in the functions of the skin can also be noted; it becomes much drier and loses elasticity. The overall level of all hormones begins to change, and this primarily affects the condition of the skin, nails, and hair. In such cases, problems with the epidermis are far from the only symptom of problems with hormonal levels. A woman may also experience the following symptoms:
- severe hot flashes;
- decreased performance;
- drowsiness;
- mood changes, tearfulness.
After giving birth to a child, a woman’s hormonal levels also change, which can cause increased dry skin. The same applies to pregnancy and breastfeeding. It is important to provide the mother with a nutritious diet - as soon as the hormonal levels return to normal, the condition of the skin will also normalize.
Causes of dry elbows in males
Men often suffer from dry elbows due to external irritants - for example, leaning their elbows on the table while eating, watching TV, etc. Due to the fact that the stronger sex has a fairly high body weight, the elbows experience increased stress, which is why they begin to peel, the skin cracks, etc.
Thanks to research, it has been established that men often visit baths and saunas - in establishments of this type there is always chlorinated water, and this inevitably leads to severe dryness of the skin. In addition, males rarely pay due attention to their skin - not everyone uses skincare products, etc. And this is important, because in the absence of proper hydration, the epidermis becomes rough and flaky.
There are also diseases that can cause keratosis in both men and women:
- hereditary predisposition;
- exposure to aggressive environmental factors;
- fungal diseases;
- liver and gastrointestinal diseases;
- lichen;
- Sézary's syndrome.
Hypervitaminosis can also cause skin lesions on the elbows.
If the problem occurs in children
The skin on the elbows of children often cracks and thickens. This phenomenon should be regarded as a serious sign that requires a thorough examination.
First of all, it is necessary to exclude or confirm atopic dermatitis. The disease can lead to mental disorders and the appearance of severe allergic diseases in the future.
Treatment of the disease must be started immediately after its discovery. Usually in the first year of life the child makes a complete recovery.
Therefore, it makes sense to overcome both the everyday and financial difficulties that arise during therapy.
There are no minor components in the treatment.
All components of therapy are the key to good results.
Only thanks to the efforts of adults will the child be completely healthy and will not be afraid of eczema, bronchial asthma, or psoriasis.
Useful video about rough elbows
How to get rid of peeling skin: treatment methods
If you are very concerned about this problem, you should consult a doctor. This could be a therapist - he will prescribe general tests, or you can go directly to an endocrinologist or dermatologist.
As a rule, in order to find out the cause of the pathology, you need to undergo the following studies:
- hormone analysis;
- skin scraping;
- general blood analysis.
Based on the results of the study, the doctor will prescribe treatment, because if the cause of rough elbows is precisely a malfunction of the body, it is necessary to eliminate not external causes, but to influence the factors that provoke the problem.
As a rule, the therapy is prescribed as follows:
- use of vitamin complexes;
- hormonal drugs;
- antifungal drugs;
- exfoliating and moisturizing cosmetics.
The doctor will also prescribe a special diet. The diet should include nuts, fresh vegetables, cold-pressed vegetable oil, various types of greens, liver and chicken eggs. Such food contains a large amount of vitamins, which means it will eliminate their deficiency in the body.
If there are no pathologies in the patient’s condition, then it will be important for him to visit a cosmetologist’s office. The specialist will prescribe special procedures that will restore the smoothness of the skin, make it elastic and soft to the touch.
Rough elbows - a cosmetic problem or a dangerous symptom?
Hello friends! For an unknowing person, rough elbows will not cause any particular suspicion. At best, he will apply some kind of emollient to make the problem go away.
But in reality, everything is much more complicated, because this is not just a cosmetic defect, but often a sign of a disease.
If you have roughness in your right or left elbow, you need to start solving this issue as quickly as possible.
Why? Read on.
From this article you will learn:
Traditional methods of treatment
According to many people who practice traditional medicine, the surest remedy in the fight against dry elbow skin is lemon. The procedure is carried out as follows:
- Steam your skin - to do this, you can take a warm bath, or hold your elbows over a bath of hot water.
- Next, the steamed skin should be thoroughly rubbed with a rough brush.
- Cut the lemon in half and apply it to the skin for at least 20 minutes.
- After applying almond oil to the skin, glycerin or any cream that contains petroleum jelly is suitable.
Dry elbow skin is not such a big problem if you can pay attention to it in a timely manner. Make moisturizing compresses, use care products - and in this case, keratosis will not threaten you. If nothing helps, and the pathology continues to bother you, you need to consult a specialist.
how to remove dark spots on elbows
Rough elbows - care recommendations
Having found out the cause and effectively eliminated it, it is necessary to start preventing dry skin.
Scrubs. Exfoliate rough skin on your elbows with scrubs, nourish the skin and moisturize it with oils and creams, both ready-made and purchased at specialized retail outlets.
Oils. Natural products based on coconut oil have a very good positive effect. It is deservedly considered one of the best substances in this “field”.
Lemon. Turning to traditional medicine, you can hear the following advice: lubricate the skin with lemon, rice broth, sauerkraut juice, all these methods allow you to whiten the skin and, to a certain extent, soften it.
Homemade mask. Homemade recipes are almost as good as purchased creams and masks: 1 tsp. fine salt, cream, hydrogen peroxide and lemon juice.
Mix everything and apply to softened skin of the elbows, wrap and leave for 30 minutes. After applying the mask, the skin must be softened with creams.
By following these recommendations, you can achieve your goal, and your elbows will always be beautiful and soft.