Are you looking for a dry elbows treatment? Are you tired of itchy and irritated elbows? I know what it is like, just this morning I woke up with a dry, itchy elbow. I needed some relief. Like. Now.
When dealing with dry elbows, we need to use a product that seals in moisture and protects our skin from more damage, allowing it time to heal. We also need to avoid ingredients that only further irritate the skin.
I recommend using something thick, like a balm or salve instead of a lotion. Here are some tips and a treatment routine that will help you in dealing with dry elbows:
Avoid Chemicals
Most conventional products that you find in the drugstore are full of toxic chemicals. Fragrances, alcohol, synthetic preservatives and penetration enhancers can irritate the skin even more. I can’t stress how important it is to avoid these chemicals. You want to avoid things like:
- Synthetic Fragrances - a catch-all term for many toxic and carcinogenic chemicals.
- Parabens - are absorbed by the skin and can interfere with the endocrine system (the hormone system that controls everything in your body). Often listed with prefixes ethyl-, methyl-, propyl-, isopropyl-, butyl- or isobutyl.
- Phtalates - like parabens, they mess with your hormone functioning.
- Alcohol - very drying and irritating.
- Polyethylene Glycol - a chemical de-greaser, commonly contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, a known carcinogen.
- Diazolidinyl Urea, Imidazolidinyl Urea and DMDM Hydantoin - a major culprit in contact dermatitis, it contains small amounts of formaldehyde.
- Sulfates - Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and other sulfates may be derived from coconuts, but they are known skin irritants and endocrine disruptors.
Learn more about reading ingredients lists and what chemicals to avoid.
Instead use Organic and Natural
Finding products that are truly organic and natural can be tough, as labels are misleading. The best way for you to find a truly safe and nourishing product is to learn to read ingredients lists and refer to EWG’s Skin Deep Database for any ingredients you are unsure about.
Nourishing Ingredients
Sticking with some simple plant oils and butters is a great way to go. Plant oils are great at bringing moisture to the skin, as well as keeping it there. Butters (such as Cocoa or Shea) are thick and excellent at forming a protective barrier on the skin. For example, using plain ol’ coconut oil can be a simple way to treat your dryness.
Some plant-based nourishing ingredients that are great for dry, itchy skin are:
- Calendula - gentle, soothing and cooling.
- Chamomile - anti-inflammatory and skin healing
- Blue Tansy - anti-inflammatory, reduces itching
- Cocoa Butter or Shea Butter - protects the skin and holds in moisture
- Coconut Oil - holds in moisture and eases irritation
Dry Elbows Treatment Steps:
- Avoid harsh soaps and cleansers in the shower or bath. Use a cream cleanser meant for dry skin.
- Avoid fragrances and dyes in your products, as well as other irritating chemicals.
- Don’t over-exfoliate your elbows - scrubbing too ruff with strip more moisture.
- Apply a balm, salve, or plant oil right out of the shower - to lock in more moisture.
- Cover your moisturized elbow with a cut up sock (this works well at night.)
Products I have reviewed and recommend
If you are looking for a product that is great for dry elbows, there are a couple products that I have used and recommend. Read my reviews through the links below:
Suti Purity Organic Restorative Skin Balm - I used this on my dry itchy elbow and the next day, my elbow felt much better, no more dryness or irritation.
May Lindstoms Blue Cocoon Beauty Balm - a multi-use product that smells divine and is formulated for irritated skin.
Conclusion
Dry itchy skin can be a real nuisance. I know how annoying it is to have an elbow that feels hot and irritated. The best thing we can do for our skin health is to avoid toxic chemicals and instead use the bounty that nature has provided us. Plant oils and extracts are nourishing and work with our skin. We will go a lot further at healing our skin when we use natural products.
I hope this helps you with your dry elbows, if you have any questions or tips you want to add, please do so in the comments below.
Yours In Beauty,
Andrea
Jim says
Hey, thanks for this article. Great information on a topic that causes me problems from time to time.
Seems like I get the dry elbows alot in the winter time, I wonder if it’s because the humidity goes down and the air drys up.
Anyway, I’ve been using coconut oil in my home for years, but never once thought about using it on my elbows when they dry out. Awesome idea and I’m going to give it a try right now.
Thanks again.
You are right, the winter air dries out our skin more. There is less humidity and the cold sucks moisture out of our skin. Our elbows get especially dry because the skin is thin there.
Coconut oil has so many uses!
Glad you enjoyed my article
Marcus says
Parabens are very common. I have a feeling maybe even the aloe vera gel that I buy has them in. I will have to check. But it’s worth being aware of these kinds of things, because they could very well be doing harm to our bodies. It’s difficult to know really.
I am glad you mentioned coconut oil though. i recently discovered that myself, and have rubbed it on my hands to moisturize them. It also smells really nice, in my opinion of course. Have you ever used pure coconut oil on your skin?
Yes parabens are very very common, they are in almost every personal care product you use. That is one of the problems with parabens, is that we are exposed to them multiple times a day, from multiple sources.
Parabens have been found in breast cancer tissue - scary!
I have used pure coconut oil on my skin, it is excellent for dryness and eczema. I had a friend who used coconut oil on her baby when he had really bad eczema, it helps keep his skin from drying and flaking.
I find coconut oil to be very greasy on the skin, so I only use it if I am really dry.
camille says
Hi Andrea,
I suffer with dry elbows year around. In my case, I find the Shea Butter that you mentioned, to be helpful.
I love your tip about not over exfoliating. This is something I have done in the past.
Using socks to cover your elbows is an awesome idea:)
I can’t wait to try it.
Thanks for sharing this information.
You’re so very welcome Camille
Thanks for stopping in and taking the time to comment