How Do You Get Rid of Dark Knees? Cause and Treatment
Posted by Santeva on Jan 31st 2023
Dark knees are common in people of all skin types. It happens when the skin on your knees is darker than any other part of your body. It is a form of hyperpigmentation where the skin has a high concentration of melanin. The pigment that gives our skin, hair, and eyes their color is what we call melanin.
Having dark knees is harmless, and you have nothing to worry about. Though it is safe to have darker knees, some people want to lighten and get rid of their dark knees quickly to match their knees' skin color with the rest of their bodies.
Let’s have a look at the possible causes and treatments to lighten dark knees.
Dark Knees Causes
Darker skin on the knees is a common occurrence that usually affects people of all skin types. But if you have a medium-to-dark skin tone, you might have a higher chance of having dark knees because your skin is more likely to produce melanin.
Regardless of your skin tone, there are other factors that can cause hyperpigmentation on your knees. These include:
- Friction
- Too much exposure to the sun
- Build-up of dead skin cells
- Skin conditions like psoriasis or eczema
- Skin dryness
Dark knees aren't dangerous, but there are treatments that can make them lighter.
Over-The-Counter Ingredients You Should Avoid
It is important to have full knowledge of the skin-lightening products that you will use because some of them might be too aggressive for your skin. If you don’t follow the proper handling of the product, it can lead to skin damage, making the initial problem a lot worse.
Be careful with products that have:
- Hydrogen peroxide: Use this in small quantities, as this may cause blistering and irritation.
- Hydroquinone: This is an effective skin-lightening ingredient, but it can cause untoward reactions like redness or dryness, especially on sensitive skin.
- Mercury: This element has been shown to have skin-lightening properties, but it can be corrosive and can damage the skin when misused.
- Topical steroids: Due to potential adverse effects like stretch marks, thin skin, easy bruising, and others, these are typically not available as over-the-counter medications.
Dark Knee Treatments
Some treatments may speed up your cell turnover and get rid of dark knees quickly. The most popular are the following:
Vitamin C
It contains antioxidant qualities and could increase your sunscreen's ability to neutralize free radicals. Additionally, it aids in inhibiting tyrosinase, the body's primary melanin-producing enzyme.
The best product recommended to lighten stubborn dark areas of our body, such as the knees, is the Santeva Discoloration Treatment Cream. This is a very concentrated cream, specially formulated for stubborn dark areas such as darkened elbows, knees, toes, etc. This type of cream is suitable for all skin types.
Apply the Santeva Discoloration Treatment to the hyperpigmented area 2-3 times a day to even out the skin tone. It is appropriate for use during the day and at night.
Alpha-Hydroxy Acid Exfoliants
This aids in evening out and smoothing the texture of the skin by removing dead skin cells that build up.
Retinoids
Vitamin A speeds up skin resurfacing. Regular use is quite effective in minimizing skin discoloration and sun damage.
Exfoliators are good for making skin lighter, but dermatologists say you shouldn't use physical scrubs on dark knees because the friction could make them worse.
Ways to Prevent Dark Knees
It is possible and manageable to lower your chances of having dark knees. Here are some steps you can take to prevent dark knees:
Wear Your Sunscreen Regularly
Sunscreen is important since sun damage frequently results in hyperpigmentation. Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen on your knees as well as the rest of your body.
Moisturize Your Skin Daily
Moisturizing your knees with hydrating cream can improve the health of your skin and prevent it from getting dry.
Avoid Too Much Sun Exposure
If you don’t have anything to do outside, just stay indoors.
Key Takeaways
Having darker knees is not harmful. It is sometimes caused by excessive production of melanin in our bodies, especially in those with medium-to-dark skin tones. But if it bothers you and you would like to lighten them, there are things you can do to get rid of dark knees.
Before using any products, make sure you understand which ingredients to avoid because they may cause additional damage to your skin. Choose a product that is gentle and recommended for all skin types, like the Santeva Discoloration Treatment.
If your skin gets itchy, flaky, or starts burning for an unknown reason, visit your doctor or a skin specialist called a dermatologist to properly examine your condition. The best way to treat dark knees is to prevent them from happening, so always keep in mind that prevention is better than cure.
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