BEAUTY SOS

BEAUTY SOS

Rough elbows and knees

Having a thick skin is usually a good thing—unless it’s on your elbows and knees. Between the minimal oil glands and the constant friction caused by bending and leaning, these often scaly spots can become— and stay—soft only with some TLC from you. Here, three tactics.

1. Add a buffer.

Dry skin is hereditary, but certain activities exacerbate it. “When planking or kneeling in yoga, for example, the skin on your elbows and knees thickens to protect itself, just like the calluses do on your feet,” says Robyn Gmyrek, a dermatologist in New York City. Create a shield by opting for workout gear that covers these trouble spots. Other helpful hints: Go easy on the moisture-sapping A/C, or use a humidifier. And take lukewarm, not hot, showers. In the heat, wear full-coverage layers of thin fabrics (as opposed to bare skin) to seal in moisture.

Written by

Jenny Jin

Photograph by

Aaron Dyer

2. Exfoliate more.

Sloughing off dead cells helps ingredients penetrate. Buff gently with a glycolic cleanser or a scrub two to three times a week. “If you feel pain or stinging, you’re removing healthy tissue. Apply less pressure, or scale back to once a week,” says Gmyrek. Try Glytone Exfoliating Body Wash ($32, skincarerx.com) or S.W. Basics Body Scrub ($22, swbasics.com).

3. Moisturize better.

“At least twice a day, and definitely as soon as you get out of the shower, apply a thick cream or ointment to the areas,” says Gmyrek. Look for urea or lactic acid on the ingredient list. Both help break down dead skin cells, which allows for better absorption of your products. Try Avène Akérat Smoothing Exfoliating Cream ($31, dermstore.com).

SERIOUS STUFF

If you notice any of these symptoms—cracked skin; thick, white patches; the area is red, painful, or hot to the touch; or the dryness doesn’t subside within two weeks of consistent treatment—see a dermatologist to determine if you’re suffering from psoriasis or another condition.

SMOOTH TALK FROM THE PROS Find out how dermatologists take care of their own skin at realsimple.com/ dermsecrets.