How to Get Rid of Rough Patches on Knees and Elbows
Dry, rough patches on your knees and elbows can be irritating and downright annoying. Your knees and elbows are two of the most common dry spots on your body. Getting rid of rough patches often means adjusting your skincare routine and giving these areas some extra TLC. Keep reading to learn the top causes of rough patches and how to get smooth skin!
Causes of Rough and Dry Skin on Knees and Elbows
Why is it that when you get dry skin, it almost always shows up on your knees and elbows? Turns out, it’s your skin’s way of protecting itself. The skin on your knees and elbows is designed to move with you so that you’re able to stretch and bend. Due to this unique feature, the skin in these areas tends to contain fewer sebaceous glands. These glands produce oil that helps naturally moisturize your skin. With less sebaceous glands on your knees and elbows, the skin here tends to be thicker and more prone to dryness.
In addition to your knees and elbows being more prone to dry, rough skin, here are a few common causes of dry skin that may be affecting your knees and elbows:
- Dry Air (such as winter weather or a dry climate)
- Dehydration
- Nutritional Deficiencies (especially due to a lack of calcium, vitamin D, or vitamin E
- Aging
- Smoking
- Irritating or Drying Soaps and Body Washes
- Skin Conditions like Contact Dermatitis, Psoriasis, and Eczema
How to Get Rid of Rough Skin
If you want to get rid of rough skin, regular moisturizing should be at the top of your skincare list. Use the following tips to help deeply moisturize your skin and soften rough patches.
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Avoid Using Alkaline Soaps and Surfactants
The products you’re currently using may play a role in your dry skin. Take a look at your current products to see if they contain irritating ingredients that may be drying out your skin. Additionally, make sure you’re not overcleansing your skin. Washing your skin too often can cause it to dry out and lead to rough, patchy skin.
Moisturize Daily with a Lotion for Dry Skin
Look for a lotion designed for dry skin. To make sure you don’t miss any sections, apply moisturizer all over your body and then apply a second layer to your knees and elbows.
Gently Exfoliate Your Skin to Remove Dead Skin Cells
If you have dry or flaky skin, gentle exfoliation can help remove roughness caused by dead skin cells and reveal smooth, healthy-looking skin underneath. Exfoliation can remove natural oils on your skin, so make sure to apply a body lotion after exfoliating to replenish your skin’s moisture levels. If you have sensitive or broken skin, avoid exfoliation as it can sometimes irritate your skin.
Nourish Your Skin from the Inside Out with Proper Nutrition and Hydration
Rough patches can also show up when your body doesn't receive the nutrition it needs. Keep your skin hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day. You can also look into adding skin-benefiting vitamins and minerals, like vitamin D, collagen, vitamin C, and fish oil to your diet. Read our healthy skin tips for even more tips to help improve the look and feel of your skin.
Use an Ultra Healing Body Balm for Extra Dry Skin
If you have extremely dry skin, look for a body balm to give you instant relief. Look for a body balm that contains vitamin E and vitamin B5. These ingredients are known to help combat extremely dry skin and improve the look and feel of your skin. If you have rough, itchy skin on your hands, try a healing hand cream to soothe and hydrate dry skin.
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Use a Thick Body Butter Overnight for Deep Hydration
Compared to lotions, body butters are thicker formulas designed to deeply moisturize your skin. Since body butters tend to be richer than lotion, apply body butter at night so it has time to soak into your skin. You can also use this type of moisturizer as a spot treatment on dry areas like your knees and elbows.
Key Takeaways
- The skin on your knees and elbows tends to be thicker and not produce as much oil as the rest of your skin, making it prone to dryness.
- To help soften your skin, use a body scrub to remove dead skin cells, followed by a deep conditioning moisturizer to nourish your skin.
- Prevent dry patches by using moisturizing cleansers and regularly applying lotion to your knees and elbows.
- For additional nourishment, apply a body butter at night and pay extra attention to your knees and elbows.
