Honey, papaya and even some ice cream can get rid of the rough, dark skin on your elbows and knees. Monica Palta tells you how Elbows and knees take second, third or sometimes even the last priority where skincare is concerned. Most people spend hours fussing over their face and hair but not enough time on other parts of the body like the elbows and knees for one. The most common reason being that these parts are generally unexposed to the sun. In fact, when exposed, courtesy sleeveless tops, kurtas and blouses or short skirts and shorts, they bring to the fore some 'dark' truths. Atmospheric pollutants and sitting habits that include leaning on hard surfaces are major culprits that make the skin on these areas scaly, dry and dark. Here a few natural beauty aids that can help repair the damage. Papaya is a great exfoliating agent and is very effective in softening the skin on the elbows and knees. You need to rub these areas with a cube of ripe papaya. You could use the inside of a papaya peel instead. Another convenient and easily available product is some homemade ghee (clarified butter). Apply a drop or two on the elbows and knees and rub it in. Ghee has emollient properties and will moisturise and soften dry, rough skin. Mix 1/4 teaspoon of sugar in about 1/2 a teaspoon of curd. Add a drop of lemon juice to it and mix well. Apply this to your elbows and knees and leave it on for about 10 minutes. After that, gently rub the mixture off your elbows, regardless of whether the mix has dried off or not. Using this mask regularly will help smoothen the skin and prevent pigmentation. Alternatively, halve a lemon, mix a pinch of sugar in two drops of oil and apply this mix on the surface of the lemon halves. Place one of your elbows on a lemon half and rotate the lemon around your elbow gently. Alternate with the other elbow after five minutes. The same can also be used on the knees. The next time you are indulging in your favourite ice cream or treating the kids to one, apply a dab of it on your elbows (and knees, if possible). Ice cream's heavy cream-and-milk content works as a rich moisturiser on these areas. Honey is also a good and healthy alternative, albeit a sticky one, for softening and moisturising very dry skin. Rub a little on just before a bath and leave it on for about 10 minutes. Doing this regularly is very effective because honey has very good emollient properties.