Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Using home remedies or over-the-counter remedies
• Method 2 of 2: Go to a dermatologist for treatment
• Tips
• Warnings

Treating dark skin on the knuckles can be quite tricky. While it's common knowledge that more frequent hand washing or using bleaches can help, they can actually irritate the skin and make the problem worse. To naturally lighten dark knuckles, you can exfoliate, moisturize, and protect your knuckles from the sun. Add vitamin C, kojic acid, niacinamide or ellagic acid for an extra boost. If these solutions don't work after a few months, ask a doctor for prescription treatment.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Using home remedies or over-the-counter remedies

1. Exfoliate your skin daily. To make a homemade scrub, mix equal parts sugar and olive oil. Rub the mixture in circles on your knuckles for about five minutes. Rinse the mixture off with soap and water. Once your skin has lightened, exfoliate once a week.
   • You can also use a scrub available at pharmacies and supermarkets.
2. Use moisturizer and sunscreen every day. While moisturizers and sunscreen can't actually lighten your skin, they can help maintain an even skin tone and prevent damage. In combination with other treatments, moisturizers and sunscreen can help keep your knuckles light and smooth.
   • Sunscreen can also help prevent additional dark spots.
3. Don't wash your hands too much or use bleach. You may have heard that dark knuckles are caused by dirt and can be cleaned by scrubbing your hands often or using a bleach cream. This usually has the opposite effect, as too much hand washing or the use of abrasive products can damage your skin and make the knuckles look darker.
4. Make a paste of baking soda and lemon juice for a homemade vitamin-rich remedy. Mix equal parts lemon juice and baking soda together into a thick paste. Spread the paste over your knuckles and let it sit for about 20 minutes. Repeat this process every day for a month.
   • If the paste is too thick to spread, add more lemon juice. If it's too watery, add more baking soda.
   • Always moisturize after using lemon juice on the skin.
5. Use a kojic acid or soy cream to lighten the skin. Kojic acid is a natural ingredient found in soy. Over time, kojic acid can lighten melasma, freckles, and brown spots. Apply kojic acid cream in a thick layer on your knuckles once or twice a day.
   • Kojic acid in its natural form is unstable and less effective when exposed to light and air. Many creams use kojine dipalmitate instead, which is also an effective treatment.
6. For gentle treatment, look for a product that contains niacinamide. Niacinamide is an ingredient that helps reduce pigmentation, fine lines and inflammation of the skin. It is also generally not very irritating. If you do experience irritation, combine niacinamide with a moisturizer. The irritation should go away with continued use of niacinamide. Use niacinamide cream once a day in a thin layer on your knuckles.
   • For an even more effective solution, look for a product with both niacinamide and vitamin C.
7. For more antioxidants, add some ellagic acid to your skincare routine. Ellagic acid is a natural ingredient found in red berries such as strawberries and cherries. It stops an enzyme that produces melanin.Look for a cream with ellagic acid to lighten dark spots. Rub it into your knuckles once a day after washing your hands.
   • Ellagic acid can also help protect against UV rays.
8. Use a lignin peroxidase cream for a subtle lightening effect. Lignin peroxidase is a fairly new product that appears to be a gentle way to reduce pigmentation spots. Use the cream twice a day, only on the dark spots, and stay out of the sun. Over the course of several months, you may notice that the dark spots lighten considerably.
   • As of 2019, lignin peroxidase is only available in one product, NEOVA.
9. Take vitamin B12 supplements if you don't get enough of it from your diet. A B12 deficiency can cause the joints, including the knuckles, to darken. If you've recently switched to a vegetarian or vegan diet, you may have a B12 deficiency. Take one capsule (about 500 mcg) of B12 daily to lighten your knuckles.
   • Beef, fish, eggs and dairy are naturally high in B12.

Method 2 of 2: Go to a dermatologist for treatment

1. If home treatments aren't working to lighten your knuckles, see a dermatologist. The dark spots could be a sign of an underlying condition, or you might just need a more brightening product. A dermatologist can make a recommendation based on your situation.
   • Tell your doctor about any products you have used and any medications you are taking.
2. Apply a lightening cream once or twice a day as recommended by your doctor. Powerful lightening creams are best applied with a cotton swab so that they do not damage the skin on the fingertips. Spread a thin layer of the cream on your knuckles with a cotton swab.
   • Do not touch the skin on your knuckles for a few hours after applying the cream.
   • Use sunscreen in addition to the prescribed lightening creams. Using moisturizer and sunscreen will help reduce irritation.
   • These creams can contain ingredients such as hydroquinone, kojic acid, or azelaic acid.
3. Ask if a laser lightening treatment is right for you. Plastic surgeons can remove dark skin spots with a laser treatment. A laser treatment usually takes 30 to 60 minutes and the skin takes about two weeks to heal. Your doctor will numb you during the procedure. Your skin may feel sore or sensitive afterward.
   • A laser treatment gives quick results, but can be expensive and does not always work. Expect between 500 and 1,800 euros for a treatment, depending on the doctor and the specific laser procedure he proposes.
   • In some people, a laser treatment temporarily lightens the skin and then darkens it again.
   • A slight tingling sensation, such as with a sunburn, is normal after the laser treatment.

Tips

• Have patience. You will probably not see a change in your skin until a few weeks or even months after the treatment. Treating dark knuckles takes time.

Warnings

• Dark skin on the knuckles can be a sign of serious underlying conditions, such as diabetes or prediabetes. If you have any of these conditions, treatment for the disease can also take away the dark skin on the knuckles.
• Hydroquinone is often used to lighten the skin. However, it has become controversial and can cause irritation or even more serious complications.