Chapped knees are quite common, especially in some types of work, but can be most annoying and painful is one is required to put any pressure on the area that is chapped. Because chapped skin means the nerve endings are slightly closer to the surface, they are more likely to cause pain and discomfort.
The skin on the knees can become chapped for any one of a number of reasons. The skin may be abraded because of rubbing against fabric or kneeling on a rough surface. You will often see red chapped skin on the crawling toddler. The knees may be unprotected from winter cold and wind or from sunburn in the summer time. There may also be an allergic reaction to some substance with which the knees come in contact, although allergies generally do not manifest on the skin of the knees.
Chapped knees can be painful though, because the skin over the knees is in constant motion when standing and the traumatized skin is worked and moved over sensitized nerve endings. When sitting, again the skin over the knees is pulled and stretched. Chapped knees can result in cracks, dry skin, bleeding and scaly patches as the skin sloughs off.
No matter what the reason for the chapped knees, care should be taken immediately to treat the symptoms as any break in the skin can allow dangerous bacteria to enter the bloodstream. Washing constantly with water and soap can make the problem worse as these can further dry the skin. Hydration by drinking plenty of water daily should be a routine for every person. Drinking water and eating properly nourishes the skin from the inside out and may prevent or lessen the impact of some of the other skin chapping causes.
You should provide proper clothing to protect the skin on the knees just as you would any other part of the body. Apply sun block liberally before spending time in the sun and protect the skin of your knees from drying due to winter cold and wind.
Lotions, cr?mes and emollients may help to repair damage already done to the cells, especially is the basic cell building block ingredients are present in the emollient. Smooth it on chapped skin liberally especially at night for moisturizing and rejuvenating damaged skin cells.
In your quest for preventing or healing chapped knees, you should beware of mixing too many ingredients together and trying one after another. The combination of substances could actually cancel the beneficial effects of both.