Dry skin on the elbows is a much more serious problem than it might seem at first glance. What are the causes of dry skin, and how to deal with it, you will learn from the article. The skin on the elbows is very sensitive and flakes off more often than on other parts of the body. This phenomenon can be caused by a genetic predisposition.
There are times when the skin does not just peel off, but also begins to crack, which causes unpleasant painful sensations. Various reasons can provoke such a phenomenon, having established which, one can begin to look for methods to eliminate increased dryness.
Why is the skin on the elbows dry?
Various factors can cause increased dryness and severe peeling of the skin on the elbows. As a rule, such a problem appears at once for several reasons, both external and internal. It can be:
- Endocrine problems … Such reasons are accompanied by certain changes in the hormonal background, which, in turn, negatively affects the condition of the skin. If, in addition to dry elbows, certain irregularities in the menstrual cycle appear, a sharp weight gain, increased sweating, swelling, shortness of breath, you should seek the help of a specialist as soon as possible.
- Sudden changes in temperature, changing seasons … It is during these periods that certain changes in the activity of the sebaceous glands begin to occur, which will affect the condition of the skin. Consequently, the skin on the elbows begins to dry out.
- Lack of vitamins in the body … For the skin to be in good condition, vitamins E and A are required. If the body experiences a serious deficiency in these vitamins, delamination of the nail plate begins, peeling of the skin on the elbows, hair loss, etc.
- Various mechanical influences … This problem often occurs in people who sit at the table for a long time every day, lean on a hard surface with their elbows. As a result, the skin begins to coarse, peeling appears, exfoliation and cracking can occur.
- Eczema - this unpleasant disease is accompanied by inflammation. Some types of eczema can appear as a result of contact with substandard synthetic items. In this case, only a doctor can help.
- Improper care … It is worth remembering that the skin on the elbows needs increased moisture and nutrition. Therefore, if it is not regularly moistened, but hard water and various aggressive detergents are constantly used, the elbows begin to dry out, crack, peel off.
- Hot tub … Probably everyone loves to soak in a hot bath, relieve stress after a hard day's work. This method helps to relieve stress, especially with the addition of sea salt to water, foam or aromatic oils. However, such relaxing treatments can provoke increased dryness of the skin, because the water contains chlorine. Skin pH is also negatively affected by the cocamins in the soap balls.
Prevention of dry skin on the elbows
In order for the skin of the elbows to always have an attractive appearance, you need to adhere to the following tips:
- You can wear only those clothes that were made from natural materials, and forget about synthetics forever, as it negatively affects the condition of the skin.
- Periodically apply masks made of heavy cream, sour cream, almond oil with honey.
- It is necessary to refuse to take very hot baths, use only soap that contains moisturizing substances for washing. Shower gels are great.
- Regularly you need to use a special scrub designed to care for the delicate skin of the elbows.
- Several times a day, including after taking a bath or shower, you need to apply various emollients. These include linseed, olive, sunflower oil, as well as creams containing glycerin, chamomile, calendula, nettle, and cinquefoil.
- Special oil baths are made several times a week.
How to get rid of dry skin on your elbows
Thanks to a large number of different methods, each girl will be able to choose the most suitable way for her to eliminate dry skin of the elbows. However, in order to achieve this goal and completely get rid of this problem, you must first eliminate the cause that provoked this phenomenon.
Honey compresses
In equal proportions, honey is taken with almond oil (slightly warmed up). The finished composition is applied to all problem areas, the elbows are covered with a simple cling film on top, wrapped in any warm cloth. This compress lasts at least one hour, but can be left on overnight.
Anti-dryness oils
For dry elbows, it is recommended to use linseed, almond and olive oil. They have an excellent softening effect, nourish, eliminate inflammation.
You can take oils and simply rub into problem areas, or add to the baths. In this case, take any oil, or a mixture of them, and slightly warmed up until they reach room temperature (you can use a microwave). Then the oils are poured into a container into which you can lower your elbows. The duration of one bath should be at least 15 minutes.
These funds can also be used for night compresses - gauze or a bandage is moistened in oil, applied to the skin, fixed with a warm cloth and left overnight.
Starch trays
Starch (2 tbsp) dissolves in 500 g of water (warm), and the elbows are lowered into the finished solution for about 15 minutes, no less. Then the skin is rinsed with clean water and a little nourishing cream is applied.
Nutrition
You can make up for the lack of vitamins with the help of special medications, or simply by changing your usual diet. Doctors recommend adding almonds, seeds, chicken eggs to your menu, which include an increased amount of vitamin E.
To make up for the lack of vitamin D, it is useful to eat cheese, various dairy products and fish liver. To solve the problem with a lack of vitamin A, spinach, sorrel, beef liver, carrots will help.
If the categorical change of the menu did not help completely solve the problem of peeling and painful cracks on the elbows, you need to take concentrated multivitamin complexes. However, here it is better to seek help from a doctor who will select the appropriate remedy and determine the required dosage.
Emollient creams
Special emollient creams help a lot. First you need to take a bath, because the skin should be steamed and softened. The water contains chlorine, which is detrimental to the condition of the skin, so it is worth adding a little glycerin. Then the skin is cleansed with a soft scrub and lubricated with a nourishing cream. You need to use only extra moisturizing or moisturizing products. Today it will not be difficult to buy such a cream.
If the cream is not suitable, or it is not possible to use it, you can replace it with any essential oil. Carriage oil is perfect - it is very useful for dry skin, and its properties are not inferior to expensive cosmetics.
Folk remedies
To reduce redness, you need to regularly use sauerkraut brine, lemon juice, rice water. These substances not only perfectly soften, but also give a whitening effect.
Compresses based on kefir or sour cream are perfect. The duration of this procedure is about 10 minutes. It is strictly forbidden to use these funds if wounds or cracks are found on the skin, as there is a risk of getting the opposite result and only aggravating the problem.
Honey softens the skin well, from which you can make nourishing and moisturizing compresses. In equal proportions, honey is taken with almond oil, which is slightly warmed up. Elbows can be lowered into the resulting solution or applied to the skin, making a compress, and removed after about 20 minutes.
Mint infusion is no less useful. To make such a remedy, you will need to take crushed leaves (1 tbsp. L.) And pour boiling water (1 glass). After half an hour, you need to filter through a fine strainer. From the resulting infusion, ice cubes are made, with which the elbows are rubbed. Thanks to this procedure, the skin is quickly smoothed, it becomes velvety to the touch.
Useful Tips
All of the above tips will be useful, but you need to adhere to the main rules of skin care:
- If the skin on the elbows does not just peel off, but rather painful cracks appear, you need to seek help from a doctor. It is better not to ignore this symptom, otherwise more serious problems may appear.
- With the onset of the cold season, you need to take multivitamin complexes, thanks to which the development of vitamin deficiency and other diseases can be prevented, in addition, well-being is significantly improved.
- The use of various baths and oils will give the desired result only if they are used regularly. At least two weeks of intensive rehabilitation therapy will be required to solve the problem. Then you need to constantly use moisturizers and nourishing products to maintain the condition of the skin.
- It is necessary to monitor nutrition - the menu should contain various products, which contain vitamins E, A, D.
- You should not lean too often and strongly on a table or other objects with a hard surface, because of this, the skin becomes very rough and rough.
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