How to get rid of dark knuckles

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Causes for dark knuckles || When to see a Doctor || Homemade Treatments || Treatments

Causes of dark knuckles:

1. Diabetes and pre-diabetes

A prediabetic person is an individual who has high levels of blood sugar level as compared to normal.

Dark knuckles are most commonly found in people who are suffering from diabetes.

Dark knuckles are also a sign of prediabetes. High level of insulin affects skin growth.

Prediabetes doesn’t show any symptoms, so take darkened knuckles as a warning sign, and can help you treat prediabetes before it ever becomes diabetes.

2. Addison’s disease

Addison’s disease is a disease which is caused by low levels of cortisol and aldosterone, in this condition the body attacks the adrenal glands.

Symptoms of Addison’s disease include:

1. Irregular menstrual cycle
2. Dark Skin Creases
3. Abdominal pain
4. Mood swings
5. Fatigue
6. Nausea
7. Vomiting

A person can manage Addison’s disease with hormone replacement therapy to replenish cortisol and aldosterone in the body.

3. Vitamin B-12 deficiency

Symptoms of B-12 deficiency

1. DIzziness
2. Anemia
3. Shortness of breath
4. Fatigue

One science study shows how people with B-12 deficiency have darkened knuckles, also when B-12 deficiency is cured, the skin on the knuckles will most likely return to its normal state.

Here, are some of the foods that are rich in vitamin B-12:

• fish
• meat
• poultry
• eggs
• milk
• tofu
• Animal lever and kidneys

4. Drug reactions

Sometimes certain can be responsible for the darkening of your knuckles. The drugs that can make this happen are:

1. Injected Insulin
2. Estrogen therapy
3. Growth hormone therapy
4. Oral contraceptive pills

Some people may develop darkened knuckles because of a drug they’re taking. The most common drugs that can cause this include:

• oral contraceptive pills
• growth hormone therapy
• estrogen therapy
• glucocorticoids
• protease inhibitors
• niacin and nicotinic acid
• injected insulin

If you’re taking one of these drugs, you may want to discuss alternatives with your doctor. The knuckle darkening usually disappears once you stop taking the drug.

When To See A Doctor

If your knuckles suddenly darken then it can be a sign of a serious condition and it is a good idea to talk to your doctor about this, and also tell your doctor about all other symptoms… such as fatigue, vomiting, or abdominal pain. Prediabetes and diabetes are a major concern, especially if your knuckles suddenly darken.

Homemade Treatments for dark knuckles

1. Lemon

Step #1: Mix lemon juice with water.

Step #2: Apply it in all of your affected areas.

Step #3: Let it remain there for 10 to 15 minutes.

Step #4: Wash your hands and affected area, and apply a moisturizer there.

2. Baking Soda

Step #1: Mix baking soda with water to make a paste.

Step #2: Apply the paste to your knuckles and other affected areas for 15 to 20 minutes.

Step #3: Wash it off and then moisturize your affected area.

Step#4: Repeat till you see better results.

3. Turmeric

Step #1: Mix turmeric with water to form a paste.

Step #2: Apply the paste to your knuckles.

Step #3: Let the paste rest for 10-15 minutes.

Step #4: Wash off the paste, and moisturize it.

Step #5: Repeat daily till you see results.

4. Tea Bag

Step #1: Boil water and steep a tea bag in it.

Step #2: Remove the tea bag, and allow it to cool down.

Step #3: Soak a cotton ball in the tea

Step #4: Apply the cotton balls to your knuckles and other affected areas.

Step #5: You can do this many times a day. Repeat this till you see a better result.

Treatments

Once a doctor identifies the root cause of dark knuckles and prescribes appropriate treatment, the discoloration should improve. If a medication is responsible for the hyperpigmentation, the doctor can suggest an alternative drug or adjust the dosage.

In cases where there is no underlying cause, or if the doctor chooses not to treat the hyperpigmentation, home remedies can be effective in lightening dark knuckles.

The Last Word

Most of the time, dark knuckles are not a major cause of concern. But, sometimes they are the symptoms of an underlying condition. You can consult with a doctor to determine whether your hyperpigmentation is caused by a disease or not, and after that, a person can take steps to address it. If there is no disease and hope so, you can use several home remedies or commercial products to get rid of your dark knuckles.

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