What to do for dry, rough elbows?

[lucas]

Recently my elbows are extremely dry and rough. (It is not from cold weather, as I live in South Florida.) Usually I use some kind of lotion daily but now they are even a kind of dark color. Yuck! I don't lean on them, I don't know why this is happening. I would love to have beautiful elbows! What can I do?

 

[countingthedays]

Hi, Lucas.

Try using an exfoliant and then heavy moisturizing cream twice a day until the problem goes away.

Since you are in sunny Florida (I'm envious - want some cold and snow?) it could just be from your shirt sleeves rubbing on your skin.

Good luck!

 

[KT27]

Sugar Body Scrub (you can find a recipe on the web) & lots of lotion!

 

[slo]

I have this brand new miracle cream that has done wonders for my hands and for my DH's rough elbows - it's called O'Keefe's Working Hands, and it can only be found in the hardware stores by us. It's in a green container, and it has truly been a miracle for me especially (I have Raynauds Phenomenon). Please see if you can find it, I bet you will love it too!!!!

 

[MinnieFan4ever]

My husband also has very dry elbows. He uses Doctor Burt's Res-Q Ointment by Burt's Bees. It comes in a green tin. It works REALLY good. Give it a try.

BTW- on the tin it says it also works on bumps, bruises, burns, stings and scrapes.

 

[Mickey&Donald]

For the moisturizing, I love shea butter or Crabtree & Evelyn's Gardener's Hand Therapy.

Be careful when you're exfoliating to not get too rough -- you could end up making the problem worse, or hurting yourself. A gentle sugar scrub like KT27 suggested is a good idea, maybe combined with a terry cloth.

For the darkened skin, cut a lemon in half and stick your elbows into each half, and let them soak for a while. Repeat as necessary.

 

[Lintasare]

First exfoliate with a sugar or salt scrub. And you can make them at home. Just mix granulated sugar or table salt with a light oil like sunflower oil or the extra LIGHT olive oil. You want to make sure the sugar is saturated in the oil.

After using that on your elbows moisterize with a intensive moisterizer. That should help.

 

[parrothead365]

I found that if I put down a couple of coasters before I start leaning on the bar, my elbow aren't as rough any more.

 

[JessicaR]

My husband also has very dry elbows. He uses Doctor Burt's Res-Q Ointment by Burt's Bees. It comes in a green tin. It works REALLY good. Give it a try.

BTW- on the tin it says it also works on bumps, bruises, burns, stings and scrapes.

My husband uses this too! The stuff is great.

 

[douglisa]

My father is a diabetic and is prone to dry cracked feet that will not heal easy. He found a wonderful product that I have only been able to find in the diabetic health section at walmart. No more dry feet! I used it cause I am constantly washing my hands @ work. It is awesome!!! I can not remeber the name of it but it costs $9 a tube but well worth it. I think it is "Neoteric." There are other diabetic creams in the same section that would probably work just as well.

 

[Jockaroo]

For intense moisturizing, try using Aquaphor healing ointment (http://www.eucerinus.com/products/hb_aho.html) before bedtime. This stuff is super greasy, so you might want to take a pair of old socks and cut the toes out and pull the sock tube over your elbow area. My hands are a mess in the winter and I slather on Aquaphor several times a week and sleep with sock mittens. It works great. For day use, Glysomed is a good product. It creates a barrier with silicon and won't be as greasy.

 

[lucas]

WOW! Thanks guys, for all the suggestions. I'll be trying some of your ideas real soon.

 

[ducklite]

Take an old pair of tube/athletic type socks and cut off the feet. Before bed, apply a liberal coating of Vaseline to your elbows, then pull the coks up over them. Do this once or twice a week and they'll soften right up for you.