9 Tips for Treating Hyperpigmentation on Your Knees, Straight from a Dermatologist
Have you ever slipped on your shorts while working out and noticed that the skin on your knees is darker than the rest of your legs? It may look patchy or cover the entire knee area. This darkening of the skin (also known as hyperpigmentation) is common and can have a variety of causes, such as: rashes, sun exposure, illness, blue light, or even hormonal changes. 1
Hyperpigmentation on the knees is usually harmless, but many people still want to get rid of it. With expert advice from board-certified dermatologists Jennifer Baron, MD, and Azadeh Shirazi, MD, we break down everything you need to know about dark skin on your knees—from causes to treatments.
What causes dark skin on your knees?
Shirazi and Baron tell us that people can develop dark skin on their knees for a variety of reasons. The most common causes include friction, chafing, pressure, dead skin cell buildup, sun exposure, genetics, eczema, or other skin conditions. Shirazi explains that increased melanin production is a common cause of dark knees, especially in people with darker skin tones.
Hyperpigmentation on your knees can also be caused by less common causes, such as burns, reactions to medications or chemicals, inflammation, infection, and vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiencies, experts say.
How to Treat Hyperpigmentation on Your Knees
If you want to treat dark skin on your knees, dermatologists recommend the following:
01
Starting in 2009
Determine What’s Going On
In order to find the best, safest treatment for your specific situation, it’s important to take some time to figure out what’s causing your skin to darken. Treatments vary depending on the cause, so this step is important.
02
Starting in 2009
Protect Your Skin
“If friction is the main issue, a good way to lighten your skin is to protect your knees from trauma using a physical barrier like clothing or knee pads,” Barron says. Avoiding friction and pressure on your knees is helpful because it reduces the buildup of skin cells and darkening of the skin, explains Shirazi.
03
Starting in 2009
Use an Alpha or Beta Hydroxy Acid
“When your skin is repeatedly damaged over weeks or months, even with just pressure or minor friction, the epidermis works to strengthen its barrier function by overproducing and retaining its surface cells,” Barron says. “In this overactive state, melanin-producing cells also go into overdrive.”
For this type of dark skin that’s been damaged and thickened for a long time, alpha or beta hydroxy acids, such as glycolic acid, can help dissolve dead cells, Baron says. Powerful retinol can help restore skin cell turnover to healthy, normal levels.
Shirazi recommends using a medicated spray, such as AziMD’s ONE ($38), which contains glycolic and salicylic acids to lighten pigmentation and remove skin buildup.
04
Starting in 2009
Moisturizer
Keeping your skin hydrated with rich skin emollients like lanolin and plant oils is a good way to treat darkened knees from friction, Baron says. Additionally, moisturizing with sunscreen can help prevent your skin from producing more melanin, Shirazi says.
05
Starting in 2009
Using prescription hydrocortisone
“Sometimes, a short-term application of a prescription cortisone ointment may be necessary to break the cycle of damage and inflammation,” Baron says. “It should be noted that cortisone preparations can thin the skin, cause poor wound healing, and over-lighten the skin if used carelessly.”
06
Starting in 2009
Try a tyrosinase inhibitor
Tyrosinase is an enzyme that plays an important role in the production of melanin, which gives skin its color. Some skin care products contain tyrosinase inhibitors to treat and prevent hyperpigmentation and even skin tone. 2
Skin care products containing tyrosinase inhibitors (such as hydroquinone, azelaic acid, kojic acid, arbutin, and vitamin C) can help lighten discoloration and pigmentation, says Shirazi.
07
Starting in 2009
Avoid scrubbing
As counterintuitive as it sounds, scrubbing your knees is not a good idea. “The worst way to reverse skin darkening is to scrub with sand, metal files or pumice stones, or use exfoliants that contain granular materials,” says Barron. “It just makes the injury worse and forces your skin to grow thicker and darker.”
08
Starting in 2009
Be careful with whitening creams
In some cases, using hydroquinone creams may not be a good idea, either. Hydroquinone is a compound that reduces the activity of an enzyme involved in melanin production. Products containing hydroquinone are often used to lighten dark areas of the skin, but there is some controversy over whether the compound has harmful side effects. Cosmetics containing hydroquinone have been banned in the European Union for more than 20 years due to mercury contamination. In the United States, however, prescription whitening products containing hydroquinone are FDA-approved. 3
“Using hydroquinone on the skin continuously for more than two months can cause dark deposits to form on the skin,” Barron says, adding that this risk can be eliminated by using a daily treatment every two months and taking a two-week break. She recommends talking to a dermatologist, who can refer you to a pharmacy or manufacturer with responsible standards to avoid products that may be contaminated with mercury.
09
Starting in 2009
Avoid hydrogen peroxide
“Avoid hydrogen peroxide,” says Shiraz. “As a bleaching agent, it damages skin cells and eventually causes inflammation, which can exacerbate hyperpigmentation.”
When to see a doctor
In most cases, hyperpigmentation on your knees is harmless. But if you’re concerned about darkening of your skin, see a board-certified dermatologist. “Some conditions can cause significant damage that goes unnoticed initially and manifests as patches or darkening of the skin,” Barron says.Even a condition like melasma—which isn’t life-threatening, but can be difficult to treat—requires a dermatologist’s extensive knowledge and treatment options, Barron explains.
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
