Elbows burst. Are Rough Elbows a Cosmetic Problem or a Dangerous Symptom? Why is the skin on the elbows dry

01.10.2019

Rough skin on your elbows may seem like a minor problem. For many, this phenomenon does not even cause discomfort, therefore they do not think about treatment. But changes in the skin can indicate serious internal problems that cannot be corrected by applying a moisturizer to the elbow.

The skin on the elbows is thin in all, regardless of body size. Sebaceous glands in this area are absent, therefore, drying out and a feeling of roughness of the skin occurs in many. The reasons may be trivial: constantly resting our elbows on a table or other surface during work, we injure the thin epidermis. And if the elbows begin to dry in winter, during the heating season, the reason will be hidden in the lack of moisture in the room.

But there are a number of more serious reasons why the skin around the elbows becomes rough and dark in color:

Deficiency of vitamins A and E in the body.
Diabetes.
Autoimmune diseases.
Dermatological diseases.
Diseases of the endocrine system.
Anemia.
Hormonal disruptions.

Pass a general and biochemical blood test.
Check hormonal levels.
Visit a dermatologist's office.
Check your blood sugar.

If no internal problems are identified, the cause of darkening of the skin should be looked for in external factors.

Treatment of rough skin on the elbows

When deciding what to do with dry and dark skin on your elbows, you may want to see a dermatologist. He will prescribe drugs that restore the skin. Depending on the individual situation, such drugs can be:

Anti-peeling ointments: zinc, salicylic, with birch tar.
Moisturizers and anti-allergic creams: Gistan, Boro plus, La-kri.
Vitamin creams: Aevit, Bepanten.
Vitamin complexes: Centrum, Complivit, Duovit.
Antihistamines: Suprastinex, Claritin, Zodak.
Medicines with iron: Ferrum-lek, Sorbifer.

Carrying out home treatment with medicines, it is necessary to take into account all the doctor's recommendations. If another negative reaction appears on the skin, inform the specialist without canceling the funds yourself. Dosage adjustments or drug changes may be required.

Folk recipes

Folk remedies will help to improve the condition of the skin on the elbows. They are prepared from available components, do not require a lot of time, and are harmless. You can try the following home remedies:

For additional skin care for elbows, use nourishing oils: olive, grape seed, coconut, even plain sunflower. They can lubricate the skin after masks or compresses. Only regular comprehensive treatment will help you get rid of dryness and darkening of the skin in the elbow area.

Folk recipes can be alternated, and not stick to just one. But they will help if the cosmetic defect was caused by an external cause, and not by internal problems. If the remedies don't work, see your doctor to understand why dry skin continues to bother you.

To prevent the skin from darkening and peeling in the future, it is worth following simple prevention recommendations.

Drink enough liquid "for internal hydration." 2 liters is average, but listen to your body's needs.
Install a humidifier during the heating season.
Eat foods rich in vitamins A, E and C, and periodically drink vitamin complexes in courses.
Take warm showers more often than hot baths to avoid aggravating dry skin.
Use moisturizers and nourishing creams, exfoliate the skin with scrubs and light peels so that it renews itself faster.
Do not apply shower gel or soap to the elbow area when showering or bathing.
Avoid the use of cosmetics with aggressive ingredients, do not allow cleaning products to come into contact with bare skin.
Cover your elbows when in the sun.
Balanced nutrition and refusal from alcohol, strong coffee.

Rough and dark skin on the elbows is a phenomenon that is difficult to surprise someone. The thin skin is not protected by a layer of fat, constantly dries out due to insufficient moisture or the habit of sitting with your elbows on the surface. Stress and lack of care most often cause darkening and flaking, but serious diseases can also cause such effects.

Even in young girls, the skin on the elbows is dry and overly pigmented. In winter, the problem is solved with the help of long sleeves of clothes, but in spring and summer it will not work to cover up ugly cracks.

Many women take good care of their elbows - they apply nourishing and moisturizing cream, make useful masks with vegetable oils. But all these cosmetic manipulations are of little use if the cause of the peeling is a latent disease.

Causes

Even in very obese people, the skin on the elbows is thin and dry, the articular bone is palpable right under it. In all layers of the epidermis of this part of the body, fatty tissue and sebaceous glands are completely absent, as well as in the eye area. But women take good care of the skin under the eyes, but they forget about the elbows altogether and only occasionally moisturize.

Lack of grooming is the main cause of:

small rashes,
cracks
rough scales on this part of the body.

But there are others, more dangerous factors of skin coarsening:

Hyperthyroidism. In case of disturbances in the work of the pituitary gland, hypothalamus or thyroid gland, the concentration of thyroxine and triiodothyronine in the bloodstream rapidly increases. The body starts the process of vasodilation, in which the smooth muscles of the blood vessels relax and cease to perform their functions.
Diabetes mellitus of any type. The disease is accompanied by severe metabolic disorders of fats, carbohydrates and proteins. Elevated glucose levels are found in the blood, and insulin production is reduced. Dry skin on the elbows can be a reason to see a doctor for medication.

Lack of vitamins is often the cause of flaky skin. These biologically active substances can be poorly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract or they are not enough in food.

When women are fond of monotonous diets, numerous defects appear on their skin.

The most important vitamins:

Vitamin C. Vitamin C is actively involved in the proper functioning of the connective tissue. Lack of ascorbic acid leads to disorders of tissue metabolism, in which the skin becomes thinner and covered with small cracks.
Vitamin A. With a lack of retinol in the body, the ability of cells to regenerate decreases. Cracks and wounds do not heal for a long time, and dry skin on the elbows becomes like parchment paper.
Vitamin E. The lack of this powerful antioxidant instantly affects the condition of the skin, especially the thinnest. Tocopherol protects the cells of the deep layers of the epidermis from premature aging, promotes tissue healing, and removes dead scales.

Dry skin on the elbows occurs in both women and men. The causes of keratinization and thinning of the upper layers of the dermis may differ depending on gender.

Among women

Nature is unfair in relation to the fair sex - initially their skin is much thinner and prone to faster aging.

It often depends on physiological reasons.:

Anemia. Open or latent bleeding leads to an acute lack of iron in the human body. This chemical element plays an important role in metabolism. Iron deficiency leads to thinning of all layers of the epidermis, the skin becomes dry, flabby and gray. Monthly bleeding in women may be accompanied by a latent form of anemia.
Hormonal disbalance. Throughout her life, a woman constantly experiences an increase or decrease in the level of estrogen in the bloodstream: during growing up, pregnancy, menstruation, menopause. Such hormonal shocks always negatively affect the condition of the skin.

It is no secret that women are fans of warm baths with scented foam and aromatic additives.

The procedures are undoubtedly beneficial for the nervous system and relaxation of the whole body, but extremely harmful for dry skin of the elbows.

Detergents act as aggressors in relation to this area of the skin, and the water often contains an excess of chlorine.

In men

Men like to watch TV with their heads in their palms. In this case, the elbows are set on a hard, rigid surface of the table and are subject to increased stress.

This habit is also typical for women, but the stronger sex has a greater body mass, and the skin on the elbows is subjected to greater pressure.

Men visit more often:

sports training;
swimming pools;
saunas, baths.

After all these wellness treatments, the men take hot showers. Dry steam and chlorinated water dry out and thin the skin on the elbows.

Dry skin on the elbows can be caused by hereditary skin conditions diagnosed in women and men.

Rough skin is a symptom of atopic dermatitis, a serious allergic disease.

Video: Useful Information

What to do if you have dry skin on your elbows

The etiology of the appearance of dry skin on the elbows is individual for each person. For some, regular use of complex vitamins will be enough, while others will have to take a long and difficult drug therapy.

Eliminate the cause

Often, small cracks, pimples and non-healing wounds signal a person about the presence of a hidden serious disease.

Timely appeal to a medical institution will help eliminate the pathology at the initial stage or slow down the development of the disease.

After visiting the doctor, you will need:

take biochemical blood and urine tests;
undergo an examination using ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography.

Modern diagnostic methods allow you to determine the smallest changes in the tissues of the endocrine glands and visceral organs. The procedures do not take more than an hour, and after examining high-quality images, the doctor will prescribe the appropriate treatment.

Medicines

If a person does not have serious pathologies, you should contact a dermatologist for products that help eliminate excessive dry skin. It can be drugs for internal and external use.

Oral drugs include:

antihistamines in case of suspicion of an allergic component of the coarsening of the epidermis: Claritin, Suprastinex, Zodak, Zyrtec, Fexofast;
a complex of minerals and vitamins for saturation of body tissues with useful substances: Selmevit, Complivit, Vitrum, Centrum, Duovit;
iron preparations for heavy bleeding during menstruation: Ferrum-lek, Sorbifer, Fenuls.

Pharmacy preparations for external use will eliminate the cause of dry skin:

fatty ointments and creams with vitamins: Radevit, Aevit, Bepanten;
ointments and creams with medicinal plants with anti-allergic and moisturizing properties: La-kri, Foretal, Gistan, Boro plus;
ointments containing substances that can eliminate skin peeling and restore the upper layer of the epidermis: salicylic paste, zinc ointment, prescription ointment with birch tar.

All pharmaceuticals are capable of eliminating dry elbow skin only with regular use. During treatment, it is required to reduce the consumption of alcohol and drinks containing caffeine.

Folk recipes

To eliminate this cosmetological problem, the following healing potions can be prepared:

2 tbsp. tablespoons of aloe juice mix with 3 tbsp. spoons of fat sour cream and 1 teaspoon of olive oil; rub into this area in the morning and evening;
Mix 1 teaspoon of lemon juice with 2 tbsp. spoons of "Baby cream" and 1 tbsp. a spoonful of potato starch; apply a mask and keep until dry;
mix in 2 tbsp. spoons of cosmetic oils of apricot, grape seed, jojoba, almond and hemp, heat in a water bath; rub a warm homogeneous mixture into the skin several times a day;
put in a thermos for 1 teaspoon of bear ears, sage, chamomile, marigold, half a pala and pour 0.5 cups of boiling water; insist 3 hours, strain and lubricate the skin 6-7 times during the day;
2 tbsp. tablespoons of pharmacy thick petroleum jelly mixed with 1 tbsp. a spoonful of flower honey and 3 drops of sea buckthorn oil; rub into the skin at night.

To achieve the best therapeutic effect, you can alternate folk remedies.

Photo: Baths for elbows

Cosmetical tools

Nourishing cosmetic creams of Russian or foreign production are wonderful to cope with problem skin on the elbows.

When buying, you need to pay attention to the composition - most of it should be represented by extracts from medicinal herbs or other plant components.

Desirable, so that the cream, mask or peeling included:

cucumber extract;
sea buckthorn oil;
aloe juice;
cornflower extract;
flaxseed extract;
string extract;
cosmetic oils from fruits and seeds.

The more of these components will be contained in a cosmetic product, the more effective it will be on dry skin. It is worth taking a closer look at light moisturizing lotions and serums: sometimes they are suitable for a woman's hardened skin.

The role of water

A person's daily diet should include 2 liters of clean, non-carbonated water without salts.

Water in the body:

actively participates in the metabolism of substances;
promotes the assimilation of biologically active substances;
helps cells to renew;
prevents skin aging.

Tissues react sharply to lack of water - they lose elasticity, become wrinkled and grow decrepit. In the blood, the concentration of free radicals, the main culprits of skin aging, increases, especially as thin as on the elbows.

Prophylaxis

Dry skin on the elbows in women will not appear throughout the year, if you follow a few simple rules:

in the morning and in the evening, lubricate problem areas with your favorite nourishing cream;
once a week, pamper the skin of the elbows with masks with cosmetic oils;
while taking a bath and using peeling, do not forget about the elbows;
include fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet;
drink plenty of clean water;
cover your elbows when in the sun;
limit the amount of alcohol and strong coffee consumed.

To improve the condition of the skin on the elbows, take a contrast or relaxing shower.

Dry and loose skin of the elbows in women significantly reduces the quality of life and affects self-esteem. A little patience, effort and quality cosmetics will help you forget about this problem forever.

Attention and careful care is required both for the body as a whole and for its individual parts. Dry skin on the elbows is a common problem for many people. But many do not attach any importance to this, and in vain. And they bring the condition of the elbows to severe roughness and crackling of the skin.

Causes of dry elbows

As a rule, the main cause of this cause is an endocrine disorder in the body (hypothyroidism). This manifestation is observed in diabetes mellitus, various dermatological diseases or iron deficiency anemia. Or the reason is a lack of vitamins A and E. In the modern world, this problem is often encountered among office workers. Since the day goes by at the table, on which, as a rule, they lean their elbows. This also affects the roughness of the skin. Some people experience irritation and dryness from wearing synthetic clothing.

It is better not to self-medicate and consult a dermatologist to identify the cause of dryness and prescribe treatment.

Treatment for dry elbows

Initial treatment should start with drugs that have exfoliating and softening properties. Lubricate your elbows with moisturizing ointments and nourishing creams.

If the dry skin of the elbows is due to a lack of vitamins, then a dermatologist will prescribe vitamin complexes for you. Also, to eliminate the causes of dry elbows, it is worth adding more foods rich in essential vitamins to food.

If the reason lies in a violation of the endocrine system, then it is imperative to undergo treatment with an endocrinologist. And after that, it is imperative to systematically care for the skin of the elbows in order to prevent recurrence of the disease.

Due to inadequate care, the skin of the elbows begins to crack and you should not close your eyes to this. The situation needs to be changed urgently. After each wash, you need to nourish and moisturize your elbows with various creams with added oils. It is very useful to use creams with the addition of chamomile or alfalfa. In addition to moisturizing, these creams have healing properties.

Also, the appearance of the skin of the elbows is affected by the change of seasons, temperature differences.

For dry elbows, it is helpful to use olive oil or sunflower oil. You can make baths or compresses at night with the addition of these oils. If you decide to do a bath, then after it you need to remove the top layer of the skin with a special brush, and then moisturize the skin. The cream should include calendula, nettle, chamomile, cinquefoil or plantain.

Prevention of dry elbows

After treatment and recovery, one should not forget about prevention, which includes the use of scrubs, daily hydration and nutrition, and also nourishing masks for a week. The use of all this in a complex gives the skin of the elbows smoothness and tenderness. During exacerbations, experts recommend using medications such as Radevit ointment, Pitival and Atoderm cream, and much more. For treatment, you can use ready-made cosmetics or homemade ones. The main thing is to find the source of this problem.

Folk remedies for dry elbows

To reduce the redness of the skin of the elbows, lemon juice, sauerkraut juice or a decoction of rice have long been used. After all, these components have a whitening property. You can also make compresses based on sour cream or kefir for 10-15 minutes. The use of the above listed products is not recommended in the presence of wounds and cracks in the elbows. This can have the opposite effect.

A homemade mask made from grated cheese or potatoes mixed with honey is useful for healing the elbows. This mask is applied for half an hour. And after removal, it is useful to anoint with a fat cream.

Here's another recipe for solving this problem: take a bowl and mix in it one teaspoon of salt, cream (or fatty sour cream), a little hydrogen peroxide and one teaspoon of lemon juice. Mix the resulting mask thoroughly and apply to the exfoliated skin of the elbows, previously steamed in a bath. After removing, lubricate the skin of the elbows with a nourishing cream.

In addition to masks at home, you can prepare an exfoliating scrub: we take fine salt and mix it with sour cream and coffee grounds. Add a little honey and massage it onto the skin of the elbows for a few minutes. After the procedure, rinse off the scrub with warm water and apply a moisturizing or nourishing cream to the skin.

Baths of starch and vegetable oil are beneficial for health, which also help get rid of dry elbows. Various essential oils can be added. To prepare it, you need to dilute two teaspoons of starch in warm water. Apply a moisturizer after use.

It is great to use honey to soften the skin of the elbows. With its use, you can prepare a softening and nourishing compress. To do this, mix equal proportions of honey and warm almond oil. Gently apply the resulting mixture on the elbows with a thin layer, wrap them with any warm cloth and leave for half an hour. Then rinse with cool water and spread with nourishing cream to consolidate the effect.

With frequent and high-quality treatment of dry elbow skin, the visible effect will come in two weeks. But having achieved what you want, you should not stop. And from time to time, apply a mask, bath, use a cream.

The human body is able to give certain signals about the existing danger much earlier than the development of a particular disease. At the same time, a person should only be able to correctly recognize such signals, and also take appropriate measures in time. For example, quite often people have troubles with dry skin on the elbow bends. Moreover, such defects are rather difficult to hide under a layer of clothing, especially in summer. Before proceeding with the competent treatment of dry skin, it is necessary to identify the main reasons why the skin on the elbows peels off, after which the correct remedy is selected for the treatment.

Peeling skin on the elbows

The skin on the elbow folds has always been more dense in comparison with other parts of the body. This difference is absolutely normal, it is associated with the constant work of the joints. In addition, the skin here was always much drier, since there are practically no sebaceous glands on it. But there are also cases when the roughness of the skin and dryness becomes a real problem for a person.... And how, in this case, to distinguish the onset of pathogenic processes from the norm?

Peeling of the elbows is the rejection of dead cells from the surface of the epidermis. Therefore, it is very difficult to distinguish between normal and pathogenic exfoliation. If the skin on the folds of the elbows is soft, while it does not cause discomfort and does not cling to clothing, then there is nothing to worry about. But if the elbow became covered with an unpleasant crust, cracks began to appear on the skin, and the elbow turned gray, then this suggests that it is time to visit a specialist and pay attention to the frequency of hand care.

Causes of peeling elbows

This effect of elephant skin on the elbows can appear due to the following reasons:

Crust formation

If the skin on the elbows cracks and peels off, then the reason for this may be problems with the internal organs.:

The liver.
Adrenal glands.
Stomach.
Thyroid gland.
By the kidneys.

Whitish or almost transparent crusts on the elbows can appear as a result of a malfunction of the nervous system: after nervous strain, severe stress or increased mental activity.

If the red spot on the elbow does not cause any discomfort to the person, it does not itch and does not hurt, and the weather is cold outside, then most likely the reason for peeling is the temperature drop. To avoid such a pathology in winter, dermatologists recommend lubricating vulnerable spots with some fat cream before each going outside. As a preventive measure, you can use special supplements that include vitamins of the group, A and E.

Rough skin

Peeling of the skin in the area of the bend of the elbows in tandem with a very coarse epidermis is a more alarming signal. Such symptoms, as a rule, indicate that the development of endocrine problems in the body is taking place. In this case, it is imperative to consult a dermatologist, as well as undergo an examination for the work of the thyroid gland and adrenal glands.

Diseases associated with the work of these organs are quite difficult to recognize with the naked eye, since they are almost always asymptomatic. Due to the fact that the body produces an insufficient amount of hormones, the metabolic process begins to deteriorate. Because of which, in the future, all processes of the body slow down, including the renewal of epidermal cells.

Black elbows

Blackening of the skin on the elbows is another serious cause of flaking.... This pathology is called hypothyroidism. Quite often, this disease spreads among young girls and women. Hypothyroidism manifests itself with various symptoms, however, the most striking signs are darkening of the elbow bends. If we talk about men, then they have no such symptoms at all, for which no scientific explanation has yet been found. Some experts argue that the main reason for this is hormonal imbalance during the menstrual cycle, as well as insufficient production of hormones in the woman's body.

What to do

First of all, when peeling appears, it is necessary to consult a therapist, then to an endocrinologist, gastroenterologist, and, possibly, a gynecologist. After going through a number of diagnostic procedures, collecting a full range of anamnesis, the specialist must establish the main cause of skin peeling in the elbow area. If the cause lies within the body, then adequate medical attention is required. You can get rid of such symptoms only if you eliminate the main root of the problem.

If the experts have not established why the elbows can peel off strongly, you need to carefully approach the preparation of your daily diet. It should be fortified with foods that contain vitamins, amino acids, and healthy fats. For greater efficiency, it is recommended to take vitamins and supplements, which contain useful substances of groups A, B, PP, E. In addition, it is recommended to make it a habit to make pleasant procedures for elbow skin care at least once a week.

Nourishing masks

With the help of homemade masks, you can nourish the epidermis, cure dermatitis, externally saturate the skin with vitamins, and make the elbows softer to the touch. For this, it is recommended to use a moisturizer made from carrots. This vegetable gives elasticity and firmness to the skin, while nourishing it with vitamin A, and also helps to heal cracks or wounds in the elbow area.

Making a nourishing carrot mask:

Grate half of the raw carrots.
Mix the resulting mass with one tablespoon of olive oil.
Using two cotton pads, the composition must be laid out on the skin and fixed with a bandage.
After half an hour, the rest of the mask must be washed off with warm water.
To achieve the maximum effect, it is recommended to take carrots orally.

A simple mask based on orange and ascorbic acid is also quite effective.

Cooking an orange mask:

Heat olive and castor oil in a small container.
Add one teaspoon of freshly squeezed orange juice to the butter.
Pour a crushed tablet of ascorbic acid into the resulting composition, mix thoroughly.
The resulting mixture is massaged onto the elbows.
The mask lasts for about 5 minutes, after which it is washed off with plain water.

Creams and ointments

During the onset of cold weather, when the skin on the elbows is especially prone to peeling, the human body lacks vitamins, the hands can be nourished with the help of simple pharmaceutical products. Make it a habit to lubricate your elbows with baby cream, oily ointment, or other moisturizers after each shower or bath.

With strong manifestations from internal diseases, doctors recommend applying anti-inflammatory balms or medicinal ointments to the elbows. The following remedies will help to cope with a rash, dermatitis, as well as prevent the occurrence of cracks in the bends of the elbows:

Radevid.
Lipikar.
Atoderm.
Salicylic ointment.
Pitival.

It is worth noting that all of the above products must be applied in a thin layer only on clean skin, at most twice a day. When persistent positive results are achieved, the use of pharmacy products can be discontinued. If peeling is accompanied by roughness of the skin, before using the products, the elbows must be cleaned with a scrub.

Folk remedies

To make the skin on the elbows elastic, beautiful and smooth, you can use healing baths based on nettle. Such an event stimulates metabolic processes in the body, promotes wound healing, heals small cracks, and removes redness in problem areas. To prepare the bath, you must do the following:

You will need 300 g of dried nettle leaves.
Pour the grass into 1 liter of boiling water, let it brew for about 20 minutes.
The solution is not filtered, the resulting infusion is immediately poured into a small container, and arms bent at the elbows sink to the bottom.
It is necessary to keep your hands in this position for about 15 minutes.
After the procedure, the skin is wiped dry, and a moisturizer is applied to the skin, you can use a baby cream.

You can also use olive oil baths, which are able to remove flaking and make your elbows smooth. Preparing an olive bath:

In a steam bath, heat 6 tablespoons of olive oil.
The butter must be divided into 2 equal portions on saucers.
The elbows are dipped in olive oil for 10 minutes.
After this time, the skin is wiped with a soft pumice stone, and then all the remaining oil is washed off with plain water and baby soap.
At the end of the procedure, the elbow bends are lubricated with a nourishing cream.

You can also use lemon juice, sauerkraut, or rice water to reduce redness, irritation, and skin rashes. These ingredients are considered natural bleaches. You can also eliminate peeling at home with green tea or sour cream compresses. Problem areas on the elbows are also smeared with honey, soaked in a decoction of dry elecampane, chamomile and other herbs. Oil of sea buckthorn, almond or buckwheat will help soften the epidermis.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that the skin on the folds of the elbows is always beautiful, while not clinging to clothing and is soft, it is necessary to observe some preventive measures. It is recommended to drink at least one and a half liters of water per day.

Taking a bath is recommended to be replaced with a contrast shower. Do not use previously unproven skin care products. Wear clothes made from natural fabrics only. Follow the rules for caring for your elbows using moisturizers, special ointments or balms.

Regular body care will make the skin on the elbows smooth and soft. It is only necessary to perform the above preventive actions daily.

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 how to deal with the symptom.

Description of the symptom

Initially, the skin on the elbows is coarser and thicker than on the rest of the arm. This is due to the fact that at the place of the bend - the elbow joint, it undergoes 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 such a condition that brings discomfort:

noticeable thickening and coarsening;
roughness, literally bump;
peeling, and the scales peel off with great difficulty, painful, in some cases bleeding appears during exfoliation;
cracks in the skin sometimes deep;
itching- usually occurs with profuse desquamation;
darkening- Too slow renewal of the upper layer leads to the accumulation of horny scales. Accordingly, the color in this area changes - the skin becomes gray or brown;
redness and soreness are usually a sign of a secondary infection.

Without proper care and improper nutrition, the skin on the elbows first becomes dry, after which it begins to peel off and then cracks.

Elbows are rough, cracked and itchy 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 disadvantage are very diverse.

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

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

Another most common cause is a basic lack of vitamins.... The skin is known to be a protective barrier, and it 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 improper nutrition, the skin becomes drier, thinner and coarser not only on the elbows, but the latter are a kind of "first bell".

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

Purely mechanical causes contribute to rough and chapped elbows for example, the habit of resting your elbows on the table while working.
Bathing too often, as well as visiting a pool with highly chlorinated water, irritates the skin not to a lesser extent, and can also lead to desiccation and coarsening of the skin.

Possible diseases

And inadequate care, and synthetic clothing, and even the wrong diet, it is quite easy to fix. 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.

Dermatitis- an inflammatory skin disease resulting from a variety of mechanical and chemical factors. The complexity of the disease is the activation mechanism: dermatitis refers to ailments based on an immediate or delayed allergic reaction.

Dermatitis -
inflammatory process of the skin, which occurs due to the influence of various factors - infections, exposure to external stimuli, the presence of an allergic component, malnutrition, etc.

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

Hyperkeratosis - violation in the mechanism of exfoliation of the upper stratum corneum of the skin. In this case, the scales die off until they are completely dry, do not separate, but accumulate. As a result, in the places where the skin is most stretched - elbows and knees, the skin coarsens, becomes dry, and becomes covered with painful cracks.
Psoriasis- red spots with a specific "waxy" bloom, 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, prone to relapses and causes not only physical, but also psychological discomfort. The care for skin affected by psoriasis is determined by the attending physician.
Eczema- usually rashes are observed in areas exposed to a provoking factor. But if we are talking about solar eczema, then the elbows are also affected.

Redness of well-defined papules, dryness and tightness of the dermis, itching, peeling, bleeding - symptoms of psoriasis

Skin conditions are not the only cause of skin hardening. There are quite a few ailments for which skin changes are one of the symptoms.

Anemia- pallor and dryness of the skin accompanies shortness of breath, constant fatigue, dizziness, menstrual irregularities in women.
Hypothyroidism - in case of malfunctions of the thyroid gland, hypothalamus, pituitary gland, 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.
Diabetes- provokes disturbances in the process of metabolism of fats, carbohydrates, proteins. Dry skin and cracking is not the worst consequence of the disease.
Autoimmune diseases - scleroderma, for example. In this attack, the cells of their own body are exposed. Hyperkeratosis on the elbows is a typical sign of pathology.

Read also about the treatment of dry scalp seborrhea.

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

Treatment methods

Treatment should be understood as an effect on the primary disease - eczema, dermatosis, anemia, as well as symptomatic treatment. And for the latter, special preparations are required. In addition, medicinal ointments and creams cannot be used constantly: as soon as the symptom disappears, use should be discarded.

Medicines

Pitival- a drug with antifungal and antibacterial effect. Their use is advisable when the disease is caused by a pathogenic microflora.
Atoderm- contains various oils and effective moisturizing ingredients. Atoderm ensures fast restoration of water balance.

Atoderm prevents chronic dry skin.

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 faster regeneration.
- normalizes the exfoliation mechanism. In addition, radevite heals microcracks and wounds and helps relieve itching.
- contains dexpanthenol, which is transformed in the body into vitamin B5. The cream relieves irritation, redness, and helps to remove swelling.
Zinc ointment - one of the oldest pharmaceutical remedies against fungus and skin diseases of an antibacterial nature. The cream is oily and rather heavy, it will not help to restore the water balance, but to protect the skin during recovery - yes.
Salicylic paste- another version of the 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.

Salicylic paste prevents rough skin

The term of use of 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 a sufficient amount of vitamins.

People's

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

With the exception of formulations that include tar, other folk remedies can be used as care without time limits.

Oil masks - or rather, baths... Oil - olive, sunflower, shea, cocoa, is heated in a water bath, poured into 2 containers of the required shape and the elbows are lowered into the "baths" for 15–20 minutes. You can do it by simply rubbing the skin with oil.
A mask of a tablespoon of honey, the same amount of almond oil, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and 1 yolk is applied to a piece of cloth to get a kind of compress. Hold for at least half an hour.
To get rid of flaking as completely as possible, resort to a mixture of cream, Extra salt, lemon juice and hydrogen peroxide in equal proportions - 1 teaspoon each.
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 pre-pureed and heated. The mixture is kept for 20-30 minutes.
For inflammation and rashes caused by pathogenic microflora, tar soap can help. Birch tar is a very effective remedy for skin ailments. You just need to wash the affected skin with soap.

A mask of honey, almond, lemon and yolk helps to relieve rough skin

Hardware cosmetology

There is no specific treatment for elbows. However, most intensive skin care methods are fine.

Paraffin therapy- one of the most accessible and quite effective methods. Liquid paraffin is applied to the hardened areas in layers and held until completely solidified. Paraffin not only restores skin moisture, but also removes edema, promotes early healing and resorption of various subcutaneous formations.
Gas-liquid peeling- the keratinized layer of the skin is removed with a gas jet under high pressure. This is the most gentle type of peeling. Since there are no abrasive particles or chemically aggressive substances, coarseness can be removed even with cracks and soreness.
Microcurrent therapy- a rather specific method in which damaged areas are treated with current. Stimulation of such a plan normalizes metabolism, improves blood circulation, and, therefore, helps to restore the skin, improve turgor, and relieve swelling.

Video

In this video, we are talking about diseases due to which dryness appeared and about alternative treatment of the problem.

conclusions

When it comes to inadequate care or vitamin deficiencies, repairing elbow skin is easy enough. But if the coarsening and dryness of the skin are associated with diseases, treatment should concern not only the symptoms, but also the primary ailment.