Does baking soda work to lighten black knees after the holidays?

Apart from the elbows and armpits, the knees are an area of the skin that is very difficult to lighten. Especially if you spend a lot of vacation time in the hot sun. There are a number of ingredients that are often used to lighten knees after a vacation, one of them baking soda. Is this method proven effective?

Why baking soda used to lighten the knee?

The dull color of the knees after the holidays can be caused by several things. First, the skin on the knees is hyperpigmented, which is a condition when the skin overproduces the pigment melanin. The more melanin pigment, the darker the skin tone.

Second, your knees are often exposed to the sun during your vacation. Launch page UCSB Science Line, sunlight can damage the body's DNA. The skin also protects itself by producing more melanin. The impact, the knee looks even darker.

If the black color on your knees is due to either of these factors, baking soda may not be powerful enough to overcome it. However, there is a third cause of black knees that can be remedied with baking soda, namely the buildup of dead skin cells.

The top layer of skin is filled with dead skin cells which should shed off on their own. However, a layer of dead skin can sometimes build up, making the skin on your knees appear dull and dark.

To overcome this, many people usually use exfoliators such as scrub in skin care products, or even baking soda. An exfoliator is a variety of ingredients that can clean the dead skin layer so that the skin looks brighter.

Procedure baking soda to brighten the knee

Baking soda rated as a powerful exfoliator for the knee because it contains sodium bicarbonate which is abrasive to the skin. This means that this compound is able to erode certain parts of the skin, including the layer of dead skin that should have peeled off.

Other than that, baking soda can also lighten the skin by neutralizing the pH of the skin. The skin is protected by a protective layer called acid mantle. This layer makes the pH of the skin slightly acidic, which is about 4.5 to 5.5.

Meanwhile, baking soda has a pH of 9. Baking soda will neutralize the pH acid mantle and remove this layer. If acid mantle disappear, dust, dirt, and excess oil stuck in it will also disintegrate.

is baking soda safe to use for skin?

Baking soda it can lighten dark knee skin after the holidays, but this method is not recommended. Although beneficial, exfoliating excessively can actually cause redness, burning sensation, inflammation, and even damage to the skin.

Changes in skin pH can also cause dryness, irritation, and loss of natural oils needed to keep skin moisturized.

Instead of using baking soda, try choosing a safer exfoliator to lighten knee skin. If your skin is normal and doesn't get irritated easily, you can use a mechanical exfoliator such as scrub, sponge, or brush.

Conversely, people with sensitive skin can choose chemical exfoliators such as AHA and BHA, salicylic acid, or glycolic acid. Use an exfoliator regularly until you see results. If there are symptoms of irritation, stop using the product and consult a doctor.