Exfoliate Your Elbows for Smooth Summer Skin
The Arizona heat can dry out your skin leading to painful, cracked areas – especially elbows and heels. Soothe dry skin on your elbows by exfoliating and following up with a good moisturizer. Elbows are often forgotten so be sure to exfoliate your elbows for smooth summer skin. During summer, they are exposed to the sun and heat while in winter, elbows suffer as skin dries out and rubs against heavy coats and jackets. Unfortunately, many of us only think about our elbows when they are cracked and hurting. By exfoliating you elbows weekly you will keep skin smooth and healthy looking.
Scrubs for Exfoliating Your Elbows
Use exfoliating scrubs to slough off dead skin and reveal the younger skin underneath. Homemade scrubs are easy to make in a few minutes, or pick one up from your local beauty store. 
- Sugar Scrubs – For an at-home sugar scrub, combine olive oil and brown sugar in a small bowl. Two drops of essential oils will give the scrub an uplifting scent and moisturize your skin. Apply the scrub in the shower to damp elbows. Rub the scrub into your skin for one minute, then rinse.
- Salt Scrubs – Rub bath salts into the moist skin of your elbow for a good exfoliant. Rinse away the scrub after about a minute. Do not use salt scrubs if your skin is extremely dry or if you have cuts, scrapes or just shaved as the salt may sting.
- Microdermabrasion – Use your facial microdermabrasion kit on your elbows. Squirt or scoop out a dime-sized amount of the exfoliating liquid onto your fingertips. Rub the microdermabrasion exfoliant into your skin. It will only take a few seconds to remove the dried skin, so use caution.
Tools for Exfoliation
If you don’t have any scrubs on hand, an exfoliating tool along with some soap or gel will get the job done just as well.
Loofah – Rub the area with a handheld loofah sponge. Squirt a little soap on your sponge and lather it up. Rub the elbows with the loofah sponge in a circular motion for about 90 seconds as too much exfoliation can damage skin. Only loofah your skin once a week.
Netted Scrubie – Squirt your favorite shower gel or soap into a wet netted scrubie. Rub across the elbow area until suds appear. A netted sponge is gentler than a loofah so you can use it daily. Be sure to hang your netted scrubie to dry to avoid bacterial growth.
Moisturizing Elbows
After exfoliating your elbows, add moisturizing lotion or oil to the area. Look for moisturizers that contain Vitamin E, Vitamin A or aloe for maximum moisturize protection.
- Lotion – A moisturizer lotion with hydroxyl acid will encourage skin to renew itself. Avoid using lotions with alcohol-based fragrance as these can dry out your skin. Apply lotion to elbows daily.
- Oils – A scented oil like massage oil, olive oil or even baby oil will keep elbow skin flexible. Apply oils to elbows before bed and follow with a lotion for added moisture.