Brown knees

[Ryer]

My knees have brown spotches on them. The brown spotches are right on the knee cap and down below the knee cap.

[dana71]

I have had brown knees and elbows since I was a child, but they are getting darker and I want to know how to get rid of them or lighten them.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Such brown splotches can be due to hyperpigmentation of the skin or sun spots or lentigenes. Sun spots or lentigines, are harmless, flat, brown discolorations of the skin which usually occur in people older than 40 years of age. They are caused by the skin being exposed to the sun over many years and are a sigh of sun damage. The only way to prevent age spots is to use liberal amounts of sunscreen before the age of forty, avoid the sun, and wear protective clothing. The newest treatment for age spots is an alpha hydroxy acid gel or beta hydroxy acid gel.  Retin-A cream, alpha hydroxyacid peels, and liquid nitrogen therapy are other options.

If still the symptoms do not improve then pls get a clinical examination done by a dermatologist as without examination,confirmation of a diagnosis is tough.

I hope that helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional doubts.Kind regards.

[jagesh50]

Pic will be ideal to give a reply.