Why is the skin on the elbows dry?

Alas, body care is carried out very unevenly. Some of its zones receive maximum attention, while others are not remembered at all.

• they do not fall into the constant field of view of their owner;

• most of the time they are hidden under clothing;

• some consider such care unnecessary and unjustified.

Most often they are remembered with the arrival of the spring-summer period, when it is time to put on T-shirts and short-sleeved blouses, dresses and sundresses. This is where they begin to wonder: why is there dry skin on the elbows, and most importantly, how to quickly get rid of this problem, returning them to a presentable appearance?

Dry elbows: cause and treatment

This problem can cause inconvenience, as dry skin cracks, itches, and clings to clothes. If this problem happens periodically, then you can get by with moisturizing creams and lotions, but if dry elbows are chronic, then you should take it more seriously, consult a doctor, and undergo the necessary examinations. Experts will be more precise about why there are dry elbows, because the cause can be either simple mechanical damage and improper daily routine, or problems associated with hormonal imbalances.

Main reasons

1. Vitamin deficiency. If the body does not receive enough vitamins A, E and D, then this primarily affects the condition of the skin: both the elbows and the whole body.

2. Mechanical impact. This reason is more common among office workers, people in sedentary professions, whose working day is spent at the desk. Not everyone knows, but one of the rules of good manners - not to put your elbows on the table - was originally invented for young nobles. Girls were forbidden to rub their tender elbows on the wooden tabletop, so that the skin would not ruin or darken.

3. Hot foam bath. Almost every person loves to lie in a warm bath and relax after a hard day at work. It has been proven that this method really helps relieve stress, especially if you add sea salt, various aromatic additives and special foam to the water. Frequent relaxation in such a bath can lead to dry skin, as the water contains chlorine. And soap foam balls contain cocamines, which also adversely affect the neutral pH of the skin.

4. Health problems are another reason why there is dry skin on the elbows. Dark and dry elbow bends are a reason to immediately consult a doctor, primarily an endocrinologist. Because there are hormonal imbalances in the body caused by improper functioning of the pancreas and adrenal glands. Also, nervous shocks and regular stress can cause hormonal imbalances.

6. Seasonal problem. Dry skin on the elbows is more often observed in the autumn-winter period, since this time is characterized by sudden changes in temperature, as well as dry air in living and working areas caused by the operation of air conditioners and heating radiators.

Methods to combat dry elbows

As soon as the reason for dry elbows is established, you need to immediately begin to eliminate it, so as not to start and worsen the situation. There are many ways, but your doctor will help you choose the right one.

Changing food

The problem of “dry elbows”, the cause and treatment of which lies in the lack of vitamins and their replenishment, can be eliminated not only with the help of medications, but also by adjusting your own menu. For example, you should increase your consumption of sunflower seeds, almonds, and chicken eggs, as they contain a high content of vitamin E.

To compensate for the lack of vitamin D, you need to eat fermented milk products, cheese, and fish liver.

If you eat more spinach, carrots, sorrel and beef liver, then the problem of insufficient vitamin A will be unfamiliar to you.

If a change in diet does not help improve the condition of the skin, then you should avoid using more concentrated multivitamin complexes.

Dry elbows in men and children

Not only women, but also men face this problem; sometimes even children have dry elbows. In babies, this is usually due to the fact that delicate skin rubs against diapers, also due to hard water and unsuitable bathing products, so it is recommended to rub children with oil after each bath to properly moisturize and nourish sensitive skin.

If men have dry elbows, the main reason for the problem is the lack of proper care for this area of ​​the body. Strong friction may even cause calluses to appear on them. A rich cream that needs to be rubbed into the skin of the elbows twice a day for at least 10 days will help cope with this cause.

Traditional medicine recipes

The main assistant in the fight against dry elbows, according to traditional healers, is lemon.

Saving elbows with a mask

There is one old, time-tested way to improve the condition of your elbow joints. To prepare a miraculous mask, you need to take fine salt, heavy cream or sour cream, hydrogen peroxide and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Apply this mixture to softened, exfoliated elbows. All this is wrapped in cling film and left in place for half an hour.

If you are faced with such a common problem as dry elbows, the cause and treatment should be determined as soon as possible, and the course of healing should be continued for at least 10 days, and for better results it should be extended by a month. The next stage is prevention, which consists of lubricating your elbows with cream every two days, and taking moisturizing and nourishing baths 2-3 times a week.

If you regularly take care of the skin on your elbows in the same way as on your hands, then there will be no serious problems with them, and they will always look healthy and soft to the touch.

The elbow is perhaps the most inconspicuous part of the hand. Often it becomes the object of attention only when some painful symptoms appear. The latter, however, may appear not due to lack of care, but due to illness, which will be discussed below. You will also learn about how to deal with the symptom.

Description of the symptom

Initially, the skin on the elbows is rougher and thicker than on the rest of the arm. This is due to the fact that at the bend site - the elbow joint, it is subject to constant stretching, and, in fact, becomes as strong as possible - thick and rough. In addition, there are quite a few sebaceous and sweat glands in this area, so there is simply not enough natural lubrication.

Dry skin on the elbows means a condition that causes discomfort:

1. thickening noticeable to the touch and coarsening;
2. roughness, literally relief;
3. peeling, and the scales peel off with great difficulty, painfully, in some cases bleeding appears during peeling;
4. cracks in the skin, sometimes deep;
5. itching – usually occurs with excessive peeling;
6. darkening – too slow renewal of the top layer leads to the accumulation of horny scales. Accordingly, the color in this area changes - the skin becomes gray or brown;
7. redness and pain are usually a sign of a secondary infection.

Roughness, cracks and itching on the elbows appear regardless of skin type. Moreover, there is no data to suggest that this phenomenon is less common in women with oily skin.

The reasons for the appearance of this annoying drawback are very diverse.

1. Most often, the appearance of dry skin is associated with insufficient care. The denser and thicker top layer is renewed too slowly. This leads to thickening of the skin, dirtiness, and the appearance of cracks, since the moisture content in the stratum corneum is, in principle, very low - 7–10%.

To avoid troubles, it is more than enough to scrub your elbows periodically - 1-2 times a week, and lubricate them with any moisturizer.

1. Another most common reason is a basic lack of vitamins.. The skin is known to be a protective barrier and receives nutrients on a residual basis. If there is a lack of vitamins and minerals in the diet, they will, first of all, be used in important areas - to ensure the functioning of internal organs. Accordingly, with constant poor nutrition, the skin becomes drier, thinner and rougher not only on the elbows, but the latter are a kind of “first bell”.

Most often, the cause is a lack of vitamin D and A. Therefore, in the spring, this symptom is observed in literally every second person - the lack of sun affects it.

1. Purely mechanical reasons contribute to the appearance of rough and cracked elbows, for example, the habit of resting your elbows on the table while working.
2. Too frequent baths, as well as visits to swimming pools with highly chlorinated water, irritate the skin no less, and can also lead to drying and roughening of the skin.

Possible diseases

Insufficient care, synthetic clothing, and even an incorrect diet are quite easy to correct. In this case, the condition of the skin on the elbows will recover on its own. However, the same phenomenon can be observed in a number of diseases.

1. Dermatitis – an inflammatory skin disease that appears as a result of a variety of mechanical and chemical factors. The complexity of the disease is represented by the activation mechanism: dermatitis refers to ailments based on an immediate or delayed allergic reaction.

Dermatitis manifests itself in the form of rashes, itching, swelling, sometimes inflammation and fever. There are acute and chronic dermatitis. The latter manifests itself slowly, is weakly expressed, but its consequences are very difficult to treat.

1. Hyperkeratosis – disturbance in the mechanism of exfoliation of the upper stratum corneum of the skin. In this case, the scales die off before they dry completely, do not separate, but accumulate. As a result, in the places where the skin is most stretched - elbows and knees - the skin becomes rough, dry, and covered with painful cracks.
2. Psoriasis – red spots with a specific “waxy” coating, consisting of small white and gray scales. The elbow joint most often becomes the first focus of the disease. The disease is extremely difficult to treat, is prone to relapses and causes not only physical but also psychological discomfort. Care for skin affected by psoriasis is determined by the attending physician.
3. Eczema – usually rashes are observed in areas exposed to the provoking factor. But if we are talking about solar eczema, then the elbows are also affected.

Not only skin diseases can cause roughening of the skin. There are quite a few ailments for which changes in the skin are one of the symptoms.

1. Anemia – pallor and dryness of the skin accompanies shortness of breath, constant fatigue, dizziness, and in women, menstrual irregularities.
2. Hypothyroidism – When the thyroid gland, hypothalamus, or pituitary gland malfunction, the smooth muscles of the blood vessels lose their tone, which leads to a wide variety of disorders. Among other things, it leads to dry skin, brittleness and loss of hair and nails.
3. Diabetes – provokes disturbances in the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates, proteins. Dry skin and the appearance of cracks are not the most serious consequences of the disease.
4. Autoimmune diseases – scleroderma, for example. In this case, the cells of your own body are attacked. Hyperkeratosis on the elbows is a typical sign of pathology.

Read also about the treatment of dry seborrhea of ​​the scalp at this address.

If the cause of rough skin on the elbows is a disease, every effort is made to treat the disease.

Treatment methods

Treatment should be understood as both the impact on the primary disease - eczema, dermatosis, anemia, and symptomatic treatment. And the latter requires special drugs. In addition, medicated ointments and creams cannot be used continuously: as soon as the symptom disappears, use should be discontinued.

Read also about dry scalp here.

Medications

Preparations of this kind are conventionally divided into 2 types: with an antibacterial effect and those providing restoration of the skin. In this case, body creams for dry skin will also be effective.

1. Pitival – a drug with antifungal and antibacterial effect. Their use is advisable when the disease is caused by pathogenic microflora.
2. Atoderm – contains various oils and effective moisturizing components. Atoderm ensures rapid restoration of water balance.

1. Lipikar – the main purpose of this ointment is to restore lipid balance. It provides a protective film on the surface of the skin, preventing further irritation of cracks and wounds, and promotes rapid regeneration.
2. Radevit cream – normalizes the exfoliation mechanism. In addition, radevit heals microcracks and wounds and helps relieve itching.
3. Bepanthen cream – contains dexpanthenol, which is transformed in the body into vitamin B5. The cream relieves irritation, redness, and helps remove swelling.
4. Zinc ointment - one of the oldest pharmaceutical remedies against fungus and skin diseases of an antibacterial nature. The cream is greasy and quite heavy; it will not help restore the water balance, but it will protect the skin during recovery.
5. Salicylic paste - another option for an ointment with a pronounced antiseptic effect. Salicylic paste does not eliminate dryness, but it will help get rid of hyperkeratosis, destroy the causes of inflammation and ensure the restoration of the normal peeling mechanism.

We also recommend reading about Bepanten Derma cream for very dry facial skin here.

The duration of use of the drugs is determined by the doctor. As a rule, the course is 2 weeks. It is recommended to apply the cream twice a day.

Pharmacy drugs will not be able to provide the desired effect if the patient still does not receive enough vitamins.

Folk

The vast majority of products in this category are caring. Masks and homemade creams may well restore the moisture of the stratum corneum, create a protective film, and help cleanse the skin of deposits.

With the exception of formulations containing tar, other folk remedies can be used as care without time restrictions.

1. Oil masks - or rather, baths. Oil – olive, sunflower, shea, cocoa, heated in a water bath, poured into 2 containers of the required shape and lowered the elbows into the “baths” for 15–20 minutes. You can get by by simply rubbing the skin with oil.
2. A mask of a tablespoon of honey, the same amount of almond oil, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and 1 yolk placed on a piece of cloth to form a kind of compress. Hold for at least half an hour.
3. To get rid of peeling as completely as possible, resort to a mixture of cream, “Extra” salt, lemon juice and hydrogen peroxide in equal parts - 1 teaspoon each.
4. A quick way to restore tenderness to your elbows is a fruit mask. It is made from the pulp of 2–3 apricots, which are previously pureed and heated. The mixture is kept for 20–30 minutes.
5. Tar soap can help with inflammation and rashes caused by pathogenic microflora. Birch tar is a very effective remedy against skin ailments. You just need to wash the affected skin with soap.

Hardware cosmetology

There is no special procedure for caring for elbows. However, most intensive skin care methods are fine.

1. Paraffin therapy – one of the most accessible and quite effective methods. Liquid paraffin is applied layer by layer to the roughened areas and held until completely hardened. Paraffin not only restores skin moisture, but also removes swelling, promotes rapid healing and resorption of various subcutaneous formations.
2. Gas-liquid peeling – the keratinized layer of skin is removed with a jet of gas under high pressure. This is the most gentle type of peeling. Since there are no abrasive particles or chemically aggressive substances, it is possible to remove roughness even with cracks and pain.
3. Microcurrent therapy - a rather specific method in which damaged areas are treated with electric current. Stimulation of this type normalizes metabolism, improves blood circulation, and, therefore, helps restore the skin, improve turgor, and relieve swelling.

We also recommend that you familiarize yourself with the Anti-rosacea products at the link.

Video

In this video we talk about the diseases that caused dryness and about traditional treatment for the problem.

conclusions

Restoring the skin on your elbows when it comes to insufficient care or lack of vitamins is quite simple. But if roughness and dryness of the skin are associated with diseases, treatment should concern not only the symptoms, but also the primary disease.

Read also about creams for atopic skin in this material.

Not long ago I encountered such an unpleasant problem as dry elbows. I work at the computer a lot and often lean on my elbows to rest or just think. But I couldn’t even imagine that such a nuisance as dryness and flaking could happen to my elbows. The most interesting thing is that I regularly use creams and always before going to bed I apply the cream not only to my hands, but also to my elbows. And then suddenly I discovered that I had a dry elbow, and just one – the left one. I don’t know why this happened, but only one was injured. Naturally, I didn’t like it, and I decided to scour the Internet and look for affordable and homemade ways to solve this problem.

The content of the article:

Cause of dry elbows

After reading the information on the Internet, I learned that my problem is quite common and is more common in women. In addition to the reasons I mentioned, there are others, due to which the skin on the elbows becomes dry, rough and begins to crack. I must say that this is quite unpleasant and uncomfortable.

So, the causes of dryness are:

1. Disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine system.
2. Vitamin deficiency, especially lack of vitamins A and E.
3. Insufficient or improper care, or its complete absence.
4. Seasonal exacerbations.
5. Diabetes.
6. Anemia.
7. Temperature changes.
8. Poor quality clothes, synthetics.

In order to get rid of this problem and choose the right treatment method, you must first accurately determine the cause. It is best to do this together with a dermatologist. , but I understand perfectly well that few of us will go to see a doctor with such a “nonsense” problem. And I’m almost certainly sure that you will try to solve this issue on your own. So that you do not harm yourself and do it as correctly as possible, I offer you several proven recipes.

Treatment for dry elbows

If the skin on the elbows has a slight thickening and has become rough, treatment should begin with the use of exfoliating and softening preparations. The best and most affordable drug is salicylic ointment. . It must be applied to dry elbows for 10 days, after which be sure to apply a nourishing cream.

If dry skin is caused by a lack of vitamins, then an experienced doctor will definitely prescribe vitamin complexes in order to replenish and restore the level of vitamins in the body. If your elbows have become dry due to a lack of vitamins A and E, then they should be taken in courses, taking a break of at least two weeks . At the same time, do not forget to enrich your diet with foods containing these vitamins. But without fanaticism, an excess of vitamins in the body also has its negative consequences.

Is the cause of dryness a failure in the endocrine system? There is no way to do this without an endocrinologist. You will never cure your elbows until you are treated by an endocrinologist and get this system working.

During an exacerbation, when the skin is especially irritated, experts recommend using the following medications: Lipikar balm, Atoderm cream or Radevit ointment . They need to be applied twice a day until the condition of the skin on the elbows improves. If you are bothered by itching in the elbow area, then use fish oil to relieve it.

If you notice that the skin on your elbows has begun to change color or become rough, crack or peel, do not let the situation worse, but take action immediately: After each water procedure, be sure to apply moisturizing and nourishing creams to them . Apply the cream with light massage movements. Pay attention to the composition of these creams; it is important that they contain chamomile. It will not only soften and moisturize the skin of the elbows, but will also promote the speedy healing of cracks. If the skin on the elbows has an uneven surface, then your cream should contain glycerin.

With temperature changes and seasonal exacerbations, the skin on the elbows often begins to peel off and become rough, and sometimes a rash appears. This indicates that the water-fat balance in your body is disturbed. To begin with, you should avoid any hard soap, as it dries out the skin too much. . Replace it with liquid soap or gel, which has moisturizing and softening properties. You should wash your elbows carefully using a special hair brush, after applying foam with glycerin to it.

Various oils can be used effectively to treat dry elbows. , especially olive (although I personally make do with sunflower). You can make various compresses and lotions based on oil, or regular baths for the elbows. Only the oil must be preheated. After the bath, the skin on the elbows will soften greatly, you need to carefully remove the top layer of skin using the same hair brush, and at the end of the procedure, apply a rich moisturizer to the elbows. All these procedures are best done before bed, and compresses are generally ideal for the night.

After treatment is completed, you should not “throw away” elbow care until the next exacerbation. As you know, it is better to prevent a disease than to treat it. Therefore, do not forget about prevention and daily moisturizing of your elbows. For prevention, use an exfoliating scrub 1-2 times a week, and also make nourishing masks several times a week. . You can buy these products, or you can use proven advice from traditional medicine.

Folk remedies for dry elbows

Traditional medicine is an indispensable assistant in solving many problems. For example, I try to use her recipes to the maximum. She has helped me out more than once, and this time she did not let me down.

So, what does she suggest for treating dry elbow skin:

1. To lighten dark skin on your elbows, use fresh lemon or grapefruit juice, rice broth, or sauerkraut juice. . To do this, soak a cotton pad in any of the above liquids and apply to your elbows for 15-20 minutes. Kefir or sour cream, or a leaf of white cabbage are also perfect.

Attention! Do not use citrus juice if there are cracks or damage to your elbows!

1. Excellent nourishing and softening mask for elbows : 10 grams of hard cheese, grated on a fine grater, mixed with 1 potato and 1 tsp. honey and apply to elbows. Secure with a bandage and leave for 30-40 minutes, then remove (do not rinse!) and apply any rich nourishing cream.
2. And this is my favorite mask, which I use regularly and recommend to you : mix one teaspoon each of full-fat sour cream, fine salt, lemon juice and hydrogen peroxide. Mix well and apply to pre-steamed skin. Wrap in a plastic bag and leave for 40 minutes, then remove and apply nourishing cream to your elbows. The effect is amazing. But only on condition that you do this mask regularly, 2-3 times a week. Within a week, the result will pleasantly surprise you. I recommend!
3. Exfoliating homemade scrub . Combine in equal proportions: honey, sour cream, fine salt and coffee grounds, stir until smooth, then apply to one elbow and massage thoroughly for 3-5 minutes. Rinse and do the same with the other elbow. After the procedure, be sure to apply a nourishing or moisturizing cream.
4. A very simple but effective remedy - a bath for dry elbows with starch . It’s very simple: dilute 2-3 teaspoons of starch in a glass of water (37-38° C), pour into a bowl and dip your elbows in this mixture for 15 minutes. Then rinse with cool running water and apply the cream.
5. There is no need to talk about the benefits of honey . Besides all its known benefits, it is also an excellent emollient for dry skin. An excellent compress is made based on honey and almond oil: combine honey and heated almond oil in equal proportions. Dip a bandage folded several times into this mixture and apply to your elbows. Then wrap it in polyethylene and wrap it with a warm cloth on top, leave for 30-40 minutes. After the specified time, remove the compress and rinse off the residue with cool water. There is no need to apply cream after this procedure!

Finally

If dry elbows cause you discomfort, and you want to get rid of this problem quickly, then it is worth carrying out intensive treatment using both medications and traditional methods. With maximum effort, you will see results in just a week. But you shouldn’t immediately rejoice and quit the procedure. Secure the result and continue treatment for at least another 15 days . And only then you can move on to caring for your elbows in a relaxed manner. But do not forget that even in normal mode, you need to use various masks, compresses, scrubs more often and apply a moisturizing or nourishing cream to your elbows every day before going to bed.

Using my recommendations, you can easily restore smoothness to your elbows. And regular care will allow you to forget about the problem of dry elbows forever.