DIY Recipe to Rescue Super Dry and Scaly Elbows, Knees & Feet

Following the earlier article about appropriate oils for the pubic area, I received an email asking about other neglected body parts too.

Coincidentally, I’ve been testing out a mix on my elbow and knees for some time and was going to write about it later on.

We all take baths/showers every day but there is a tendency for the areas around the elbow and knees to turn dark, rough, scaly, patchy, and/or dry.

The area under your feet could suffer from this issue as well but if you have regular manicures and pedicures, this shouldn’t be an issue.

What Causes Scaly Elbows, Knees & Feet?

These problem areas are brought about by the build-up of dead skin cells over time.

This is due to the constant movement of those areas i.e. leaning on the elbows, kneeling on the knees, walking, etc.

There’s not much you can do about that. However, you can engage a variety of things to make sure the dead skin cells don’t build up over time.  

Get ready to check in to your own spa at home and start paying special attention to those areas.

It may look like a lot of work but once the initial preparation is done, it doesn’t take that long and the results are worth it.

How to Get Rid of Scaly Elbows, Knees & Feet

Prep Work – Remove the Dead Skin Cells with an Exfoliating Scrub

You can buy an exfoliating scrub at any store but I like to DIY as much as I can so I use this exfoliating scrub I made myself.

Ingredients

• ½ cup of brown sugar or sea salt (I use brown sugar)
• ¼ cup of sweet almond oil
• ¼ cup of olive oil
• 5 drops of vitamin E oil
• 5 drops of lavender essential oil
• 3 drops of vanilla oil (optional)
• Airtight mason jar
  

DIY Exfoliating Scrub Recipe

• Add the brown sugar into a bowl then add the sweet almond oil and olive oil.
• Whisk thoroughly.
• Add the vitamin E oil, lavender essential oil, and vanilla oil. Whisk again.
• Pour into the mason jar and store in a cool, dry, place.

How to Use

• Apply to your elbows, knees, and feet areas during a shower.
• Massage gently in circular movements for a few minutes then rinse off. You can use a pumice stone like Zenda Naturals Pumice Stone under your feet as well. 
• Do not use the pumice stone on your elbow and knees.

Zenda Naturals Pumice Stone for Foot Callus

If you would like a ready-made exfoliating scrub for this step, popular recommendations include:-

• Skinfood Black Sugar Mask Wash Off Exfoliator
• Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub, Moroccan Rose
• ArtNaturals Himalayan Salt Body Scrub

Step 2 – Moisture, Moisture, Moisture

After you start using the exfoliating scrub, you want to focus on moisturizing the area afterward for up to 4 weeks before moving onto the butter recommended in the maintenance step.

The key to getting rid of the scaly knees, elbows, and feet is what you do post exfoliation. I use oils exclusively for this step after a shower.

Ingredients

• 5 tablespoons of hemp seed oil
• 5 tablespoons of sweet almond oil
• 5 tablespoons of sea buckthorn oil
• 5 drops of lavender essential oil
• 2 oz glass dropper bottle

DIY Body Moisturizing Oil

• Pour the hemp seed oil, sweet almond oil, and sea buckthorn oil into the dropper bottle. 
• Close and shake. Open the bottle and add the lavender essential oil.
• If you would like a pleasant smell, you can add a few drops of vanilla oil as well.
• Apply to the problem areas after every shower. Massage until absorbed then apply your regular body lotion.

Step 3 – Maintain the Areas

It took me some trial and error to settle on this gorgeous butter developed specifically for my elbows, knees, and feet area.

I use it twice a day and now have soft and supple skin in those areas even as I continue to use them for everyday stuff.

Ingredients

• 4 oz shea butter, mango butter or cocoa butter (I use shea butter and cocoa butter)
• 1 tablespoon of sweet almond oil
• 1 tablespoon of grapeseed oil
• 1 tablespoon of avocado oil
• 2 teaspoons of tamanu oil
• 2 teaspoons of watermelon oil
• 2 teaspoons of vitamin E oil
• 5 drops each of tea tree essential oil and ylang-ylang essential oil
• Airtight amber jar

DIY Moisturising Body Butter

• Pour 2 oz each of two types of butter into a bowl and soften it over a bigger bowl of boiling water.
• Mix with a balloon whisk like this one until smooth.
• Add the sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, and avocado oil. Whisk again.
• Add the tamanu oil, watermelon oil, and vitamin E oil. Whisk some more.
• Add the tea tree essential oil and ylang-ylang essential oil. Whisk until it’s soft, creamy and well blended.
• Pour into the amber jar and keep sealed.

How to Use

After 4 weeks of using the body moisturizing oil, switch over to this butter recipe to maintain the areas. You can also use this butter as a body butter. 

Plant Guru Mango Butter

Majestic Pure Shea Butter

Essential Depot Organic Cocoa Butter

Amber Jar

You can grab all the ingredients with free shipping when you sign up, risk-free, for Amazon Prime. Try Amazon Prime HERE. 

If you try all of the above recipes over a period of 6 – 8 weeks and the problems still persist, it could be due to something else and you should consider seeing a dermatologist just in case. 

Do you have any favorite DIY recipes for scaly elbows, knees, and feet? Share in the comments section.

Abi is a curly hair expert who delved into the world of natural oils after severe hair loss issues. Through her research, study, and testing, she was able to regrow her bald spots & a healthy head of hair. She is the founder of Healthy Natural Hair Products & Ade Ori Hair Care, and the author of the highly-rated Healthy Hair Care Series. She continues to study hair science, Ayurveda, and natural and healthy solutions for hair and skin. Learn more about our Editorial Guidelines…