Between the freezing winter temperatures and dry heat emitting from our radiators, we can't seem to lock in enough moisture. And our elbows are taking a brutal beating thanks to the dehydrating effects of this season.
After rolling up the sleeves on our chunky knit sweaters only to see the thick, parched skin covering our joints, we became desperate for relief, even if that meant weird beauty fixes. So here are five ways to get rid of dry, rough elbows for good:
Dab on some petroleum jelly and put a sock on it. This old-fashion remedy that was passed down to us from our grandmothers hasn't failed us yet. However, we have grown lazy, and thus, this had led to our skincare problem. Moisturizing your elbows before bed and then slipping on a open-ended sock helps to soften dry skin. But keep in mind, petroleum jelly may clog pores and aggravate people suffering from psoriasis and other skin conditions.
Grease 'em up with Zam-Buk. When HuffPost Style senior editor Ellie returned from her vacation in South Africa bearing this green miracle balm, we were a bit skeptical at first. The ointment possessed a potent herbal scent that made it unappealing to put anywhere near our bodies. But once we got over that hurdle and greased up our dry elbows, the eucalyptus and thyme oils-infused product soothe our scaly and chapped elbows.
Apply Vaseline and then... take a shower. Dr. Andrew Ordon of TV's "The Doctors" introduced us to this unconventional method to treat dry elbows. According to the plastic surgeon, applying petroleum jelly before stepping into a steamy shower will help the moisturizer penetrate deeper into dry areas.
Rub a banana peel onto your elbows. Dr. Ordon also recommends rubbing elbows in a circular motion with a banana peel to reduce dryness. As noted in the Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, bananas are a fruit rich in vitamin C (which aids in healing), and the peel has been scientifically shown to contain both antifungal and antibiotic components.
Pictured from left to right: Avene TriXera Emollient Cream, Alba Botanica Very Emollient Body Lotion Maximum and La Roche-Posay Lipikar Lait Lipid-Replenishing Body Milk
Switch out your usual lotion for an emollient cream. Emollients are a category of moisturizers often used to help maintain skin hydration and provide a skin barrier. In addition to making the skin look and feel smoother, some emollients contribute to the reduction of trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL). While perusing the ingredients label of moisturizers, look out for emollients such as glycerol stearate, lanolin, soy sterol and sunflower seed oil.
More ways to win the battle against dry winter skin:
Dry Winter Skin Fixes
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