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Elegant elbows
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If dark and creased elbows and knees stop you from wearing the short sleeves or shorts, check out this simple list.
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ARE YOUR elbows grey, grooved and dull? Well, the joints are prone to friction, because of the innumerable times you rest your elbow and mull over the world at large or the knees that take so much pressure every time you kneel.
Causes: " The skin around the joints— the elbows, knees, knuckles and ankles, is put to extremes of stress and strain. To compensate for this stretching, the skin in these areas becomes corrugated— thickest when the joint is at rest and thinnest when the joint is flexed.
Understandably, when the skin is corrugated, the surface area is multiplied manifold, which also increases the presence of melanin in the same proportion leading to darkening of the area. Adding to the pigmentation, when the skin becomes corrugated, dirt, sweat and dust accumulates in the folds and cleansing becomes more difficult. Therefore it is recommended that these areas be cleaned more thoroughly than others," says Laila Kakade, Begums' (56559296, 23203314).
The solution: To deal with the callus thus formed in the areas of the joints, it is essential to follow a regular cleaning regimen. "The affected area can be cleaned using an appropriate scrub like apricot, oatmeal or rice. Rub in the scrub and wash away. A small amount of bleach which is used for facial or body hair can be mixed with some apricot scrub to give it coarse quality and rubbed in a circular motion on the affected area for about 4-6 minutes and washed away thoroughly. This not only removes the dirt but also lightens the darkened skin by bleaching the underlying melanin," says Laila.
A handy tip: "An easy home remedy is a lime halved and rubbed over the elbows and knees. This works well because lime juice is acidic in nature and it neutralises the alkaline secretions of the body and reduces surface tension on the skin, which works on the same lines as that of a soap," says Laila.
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