Looking for remedy for severe hyperpigmentation on daughter's knees

[Noseyaf]

DD7 has extremely dark knees compared to the rest of her body. Her knees look very ashy despite frequent moisturising. The skin on her knees is also very tough. I never had this problem myself and just wondering if I can get any recommendations from anyone who might have had a similar issue or do I leave it alone and they will even out as she grows?

If the skin feels particularly tough could it be a type of eczema/dermatitis rather than just hyperpigmentation.
I was always aware of my knees being darker but just exfoliated well and used sunscreen on my knees even on days I wouldn’t have applied it to the rest of my body

Hyperpigmentation is very normal on knees, elbows and armpits. I’ve never known any products aimed at children, however there are some aimed at adults which usually contain harsh ingredients. Personally I’d leave it be, unless it’s causing her distress. In terms of moisturiser, perhaps try a thicker oil based one, perhaps palmers cocoa butter.

I would leave it, unless it's distressing her. A lot of vitamin c body creams are aimed at reducing or evening pigmentation.

I use them and I still have dark knees and knuckles. Always have. It's normal not to have even skin tone as black person.

Thank you for your replies ladies, its not causing her any distress at all, I will take your advice and just leave it and use thicker moisturisers

Without going too deep, think deeply as to why the idea of "extremely dark" knees makes you so uncomfortable you want to fix them? What is the root of this feeling? In reality most black people if not all, are not evenly toned. Some parts are darker than others. It's natural. It's not a pathology that needs to be remedied. I say think deeply because it matters what kind of ideas and feelings you are passing on to your daughter (and keeping for yourself).

@GingerScallop

Without going too deep, think deeply as to why the idea of "extremely dark" knees makes you so uncomfortable you want to fix them? What is the root of this feeling? In reality most black people if not all, are not evenly toned. Some parts are darker than others. It's natural. It's not a pathology that needs to be remedied. I say think deeply because it matters what kind of ideas and feelings you are passing on to your daughter (and keeping for yourself).

Fgs! I’m black and I know exactly whT OP means by having black knees because I have it too. It’s nothing to do with ‘what is the root of this feeling’ not comfortable with your blackness perhaps....because that is what you are implying. She is talking about hyperpigmentation that more than the norm which frankly speaking does look unsightly.

OP I don’t know what the answer is, I’ve suffered from the black knees you describe all my life and black knuckles as well. The knees I managed to reduce it by not kneeling as much on the floor but recently with the sun coming out they’ve gone jet black again. The issue is the The contrast with colour of my hands and knuckles, and legs and knees draws attention and stand out like pandas eyes. Growing up it was a joke, ‘have you been dragging your knuckles through the sand?’ from family and friends. Yes those parts of the body usually have hyperpigmentation but what OP is talking about is more than that.

I do use moisturiser which seems to tone it down a little but I just learned to live with it.

@GingerScallop

Without going too deep, think deeply as to why the idea of "extremely dark" knees makes you so uncomfortable you want to fix them? What is the root of this feeling? In reality most black people if not all, are not evenly toned. Some parts are darker than others. It's natural. It's not a pathology that needs to be remedied. I say think deeply because it matters what kind of ideas and feelings you are passing on to your daughter (and keeping for yourself).

The fact that the OP doesn't have the issue herself and it's her child it is more likely she is checking whether it is a medical issue.

When I was younger I had darker skin on my knees, knuckles and finger joints. I also had and still have dark lines in my skin creases.

Now if I didn't know as a child that I had a few other family members with them, don't you think myself or my mum would be worried?

Now many people tend to go online go ask about issues that they think could be a medical problem but aren't sure.

I have this on my elbows, it was much more noticeable when I was younger and used to just make sure to moisturise. As a PP has said there's some creams but the ingredients in them are very harsh, so I would personally recommend just using whatever moisturiser she normally uses often, and look into something more if it starts affecting her more.

@RedMarauder and @Rege. Thanks for correcting me. I said think about it not that it is. I said it because I come from a place where there is a lot of whitening knees, armpits etc because they are too dark. Even putting pads on babies in the hopes that their knees won't be dark. So that's why I said consider if that's the issue. Am sorry I caused offence but that was not the intention which is why I said think if, not you are doing this to ...