9 Tips for Treating Hyperpigmentation on Your Knees, Straight From Dermatologists
Have you ever slipped into a pair of shorts for a workout and realized the skin on your knees is darker than the rest of your legs? It may appear patchy, or it could cover your entire knee area. This darker skin, also known as hyperpigmentation, is common and can have various causes, such as a rash, sun exposure, a medical condition, blue light, or even hormonal changes.1
Knee hyperpigmentation usually isn’t harmful, but many people still may want to get rid of it. With the help of expert advice from board-certified dermatologists Jennifer Baron, MD, and Azadeh Shirazi, MD, we’ve broken down everything you need to know about dark skin on your knees—from why it happens to how to treat it.
What Causes Dark Skin On the Knees?
People can develop dark skin on their knees for many reasons, Shirazi and Baron tell us. Some of the most common causes include friction, rubbing, pressure, a buildup of dead skin cells, sun exposure, genetics, eczema, or other skin conditions. Increased melanin production is a common cause of dark knees, particularly among people with darker skin tones, explains Shirazi.
Hyperpigmentation on the knees can also develop for less common reasons, the experts tell us, such as burns, medication or chemical reactions, inflammation, infection, or vitamin B12 or folate deficiencies.
How to Treat Hyperpigmented Knees
If you’re looking to treat dark skin on your knees, here’s what dermatologists recommend:
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Determine What’s Going On
To figure out the best and safest treatment for your specific situation, it’s important to take some time to determine what’s causing your darkening skin. Treatment varies depending on the cause, so this step is really important.
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Protect Your Skin
“If friction is the primary concern, then a good skin-lightening approach would be to protect the knees from trauma with physical barriers like clothing or knee pads,” Baron says. Avoiding friction and pressure on the knees is helpful because it reduces the buildup of skin cells and darkening of the skin, Shirazi explains.
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Use Alpha- or Beta-Hydroxy Acids
“When your skin is repeatedly damaged, even just from pressure or slight rubbing over a period of weeks or months, the epidermis will ramp up its barrier functions by overproducing and retaining its surface cells,” Baron says. “In this hyper-activated state, the melanin-producing cells are also sent into overdrive.”
For this type of darkened skin that’s been damaged and thickened over an extended period of time, alpha- or beta-hydroxy acids such as glycolic acid can help dissolve dead cells, Baron says. A strong retinol can then help return the skin’s cell turnover to a healthy, normal rate.
Shirazi recommends using a medicated spray like AziMD’s the ONE ($38) with glycolic and salicylic acid, which lightens hyperpigmentation and removes skin buildup.
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Moisturize
Keeping your skin well moisturized with rich skin emollients like lanolin and plant oils is a good way to treat dark skin on the knees that arises because of friction, Baron says. Additionally, moisturizing with an SPF cream helps protect the skin from producing more melanin, Shirazi says.
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Use Prescription-Strength Hydrocortisone
“A short course of prescription-strength cortisone ointment may occasionally be needed to break the cycle of damage and inflammation,” says Baron. “It should be noted that cortisone preparations can thin the skin, cause poor wound healing, and over-lighten the skin if they are not used with care.”
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Try a Tyrosinase Inhibitor
Tyrosinase is an enzyme that plays a big role in the production of melanin, which gives skin its color. Some skincare products contain tyrosinase inhibitors, which treat and prevent hyperpigmentation and even your skin tone.2
Shirazi says skincare products that contain tyrosinase inhibitors such as hydroquinone, azelaic acid, kojic acid, Arbutin, and vitamin C help lighten discoloration and pigmentation.
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Avoid Scrubbing
As counterintuitive as it may sound, scrubbing your knees isn’t a good idea. “The worst thing you can do to try to reverse skin darkening is to scrub it with a sand or metal file, pumice stone, or use an exfoliating product that contains any gritty material,” Baron says. “This would only add to the injury and force your skin to get thicker and darker.”
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Practice Caution With Whitening Creams
In some cases, using hydroquinone creams may not be a good idea, either. Hydroquinone is a chemical compound that reduces the activity of an enzyme that’s involved in the production of melanin pigment. Products containing hydroquinone are often used to lighten dark patches of skin, but there is a bit of debate over whether the compound carries harmful side effects. Cosmetics containing hydroquinone have been banned in the European Union for more than 20 years because of mercury contamination. However, in the United States, prescription skin-lightening products that contain hydroquinone are approved by the FDA.3
“Hydroquinone applied to the skin for more than two months continuously may lead to deposits of a dark material in the skin,” Baron says, adding that the risk can be eliminated by taking a two-week break for every two months of daily treatment. She suggests talking to a dermatologist who can direct you to a pharmacy or manufacturer with responsible standards in order to avoid products that may be contaminated with mercury.
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Skip the Hydrogen Peroxide
“Avoid hydrogen peroxide,” Shirazi says. “As a bleaching agent as it causes damage to skin cells and may end up causing inflammation, worsening hyperpigmentation.”
When to See a Doctor
In most cases, hyperpigmentation on the knees is harmless. But if you have any concerns about skin darkening, see a board-certified dermatologist. “There can be some significantly damaging diseases that are missed initially and show up as a spot or darkening of the skin,” Baron says. Even something like melasma—which isn’t life-threatening but can be difficult to treat—requires a dermatologist’s broad scope of knowledge and treatment options, Baron 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.
