A Doctor-Approved Guide to Lightening Skin on Your Hands and Feet

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Brighten your hands and feet safely with our comprehensive guide

Co-authored by Kaveri Karhade, MD

Last Updated: December 22, 2024 Approved

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Lightening Your Skin

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Keeping Skin Clean and Moisturized

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Preventing Skin Darkening

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Video

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Expert Q&A

There are several factors that can cause darker skin on the hands and feet, including dirt, medications, environmental and chemical factors, infections, inflammation, and exposure to the sun’s damaging rays. Several beauty and cosmetics companies make skin lightening treatments, which can often be found in drug stores or pharmacies. However, there are also numerous foods that can be applied topically to help lighten the skin, so you don’t have to go any farther than your kitchen to find the ingredients for skin lightening remedies. It’s important to remember, though, that the best way to keep your skin healthy and radiant is by eating a healthy and balanced diet, exercising regularly, leading a healthy lifestyle, and taking care of your skin.

Things You Should Know

Apply a thin layer of plain yogurt to your hands and feet before bed. Leave the yogurt on for 5-10 minutes, and rinse with warm water.
Apply freshly squeezed lemon or orange juice to the skin on your hands and feet with a cotton ball before bed. Leave it on for 30 minutes, then rinse it with warm water.
Mix one teaspoon of turmeric with enough cucumber juice or plain yogurt to make a runny paste, and apply it to your skin for 20-30 minutes before rinsing it off.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Lightening Your Skin

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1
Apply foods containing lactic acid. Lactic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid, which is a group of acids naturally occurring in certain foods. These acids remove the top layer of dead skin, and are often used in commercial skin care treatments to alleviate dry, scaly, or darkened skin. Only use lactic acid products at night, as it can make your skin even more susceptible to UV damage.^{[1]
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- Apply a thin layer of plain yogurt to your hands and feet before bed. Leave the yogurt on for five to 10 minutes, and rinse with warm water. Repeat a couple times per week.
- Remember that even if you do this, you will still need to wear SPF 15 or higher sunscreen during the day to prevent sun damage.
2
Apply citrus foods high in vitamin C. The citric acid present in citrus foods will act as an exfoliants and help lighten dark marks, while the vitamin C will tone your skin and help with hyperpigmentation.^{[2]
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Research source} Hyperpigmentation is a patch of darker skin caused by excess melanin.^{[3]
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Research source} Never apply citrus foods to your face, and use them with caution elsewhere, as the acid can disrupt your skin’s natural pH level, and make you more susceptible to UV. Don’t use citrus foods on your skin more than once a week.
- Apply freshly squeezed lemon or orange juice to the skin on your hands and feet with a cotton ball before bed. Leave it on for about 30 minutes, then rinse off with warm water.
- Dry orange peels in your oven and grind to a powder. Mix with plain yogurt and apply it to your skin before bed. Rinse off after 15 to 20 minutes.
- Mash one-quarter cup of fresh papaya flesh into a pulp, and apply it to your skin. Try this method in the bathtub, as the papaya can be runny. Rinse after 20 minutes.^{[4]
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- Apple cider vinegar can also be used as a topical application that is a natural anti-fungal and can help to lighten skin. Dilute the vinegar with equal parts water, then apply it to your hands and feet and let it dry.^{[5]
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3
Make skin masks with spices, flour, or clay powders. Turmeric, gram (chickpea) flour, and Multani mitti (also known as Fuller’s earth) have long been used to lighten skin. These ingredients can all be mixed with water or other liquids to create pastes that are easily applied to the skin.
- Mix one tablespoon of Multani mitti or gram flour with enough rose water to make a thick paste.^{[6]
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  Research source} Apply it to your hands and feet. Allow to dry, and then rinse with warm water. Repeat two to three times weekly.
- Mix one teaspoon of turmeric with enough cucumber juice or plain yogurt to make a runny paste. Yogurt will produce a thicker mixture. Apply it to your skin and let it rest for 20 to 30 minutes before rinsing off. Repeat every two or three days.^{[7]
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4
Apply soy or starch topically. Soy-based foods like tofu and starchy foods like potatoes and rice can have a skin lightening effect. Tofu can be mashed into a paste and applied to the skin, and a potato can be sliced and rubbed directly onto the hands and feet. Rinse tofu puree or potato juice off skin after 10 to 20 minutes. With rice, you can use a flour paste or rice water:
- Mix one tablespoon or rice flour with enough water to make a paste and apply it to the skin. Let sit for 10 to 20 minutes and rinse.
- To use rice water, rinse one to two cups of rice with water before cooking. Strain the rice and reserve the water. Soak hands and feet in rice water for 10 minutes, then rinse.
5
Purchase a commercial skin lightening cream. There are many creams and lotions on the market that are designed to lighten the skin, and these can be found in most beauty, drug, or cosmetics stores. Many of these products work by reducing the amount of melanin in the skin, which is what gives skin its pigment.^{[8]
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Research source} However, there are risks associated with these products, and you should talk to your doctor before using them.
- Avoid products that lighten skin with mercury.
- Many skin lightening products contain hydroquinone, and long-term use of this ingredient has been linked to cancer, so you may want to avoid any products that contain it.
- Consider talking to a dermatologist to see if they recommend a cream that contains hydroquinone, azelaic acid, or kojic acid. However, only use these under your doctor's supervision.^{[9]
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  Expert Source
  
  Kaveri Karhade, MD
  Board Certified Dermatologist
  
  Expert Interview. 5 January 2021.}

Part 2

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Keeping Skin Clean and Moisturized

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Clogged pores and dirt can make your skin look darker. Keeping your skin clean will prevent pimples and help it look fresh and clean. You don’t need any fancy or expensive cleansers to keep your skin clean; mild soap and water will do the trick!
2
Moisturize daily. You can either use your favorite store-bought moisturizer or a simple homemade one, but be sure to moisturize your skin after washing. Simple homemade moisturizers include:
- Coconut or almond oil
- Cocoa or shea butter
- Aloe vera
3
Exfoliate your skin. One of the best ways to keep your skin healthy and help reduce darkness is by exfoliating, which is the process of removing dead cells from the surface of the skin. Avoid exfoliating more than once or twice a week. You can make a natural exfoliant for your hands and feet by mixing olive or coconut oil with:
- Coffee grinds
- Oats
- Sugar
Use your favorite lotion, aloe vera, or honey and massage your hands and feet.^{[10]
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Research source} This will moisturize your skin and improve circulation, both of which will keep your skin healthier and brighter. If you use honey, make sure to rinse it off after the massage, as it will leave a sticky residue.

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Preventing Skin Darkening

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1
Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. The best defense against darkened skin is preventing it in the first place, and a proper diet is one of the best ways to do this. Eating the right foods will keep your whole body healthy, and a healthy body means healthy skin.
- Eat the rainbow. To get the most vitamins and minerals possible from your diet, eat fresh fruits and vegetables of all colors. Consume foods that are high in vitamin C, which will help keep your skin more toned and elastic.^{[11]
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- Drink enough water. Water is important for a healthy body and skin, but too much can also be dangerous. The best rule of thumb with water consumption is to listen to your body: if you’re thirsty, drink water.^{[12]
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- Don’t shy away from healthy fats like avocado. Not only do our bodies need fat to survive, but our skin also needs it to be healthy and vibrant.^{[13]
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- Choose fresh, homemade meals over processed foods or take-out.
2
Protect your skin from the sun. One of the biggest contributors to darkened skin is exposure to UVA and UVB, because the skin produces more melanin to protect itself, and more melanin means darker skin.^{[14]
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Research source} The best way to protect yourself from the sun is to avoid it, but if that’s not an option, make sure you:
- Wear sun-protective clothing, including gloves when driving.
- Use sunscreen or sunblock, especially on your hands and feet.
- Choose makeups and lip protection that have an SPF rating.
3
Take care of your hands and feet. Darkened skin can also be caused by things like dirt, exposure to the elements, and infections, so keeping the skin on your hands and feet clean and protected is essential to healthy skin, and will help prevent skin darkening and damage.
- Avoid coming into contact with harsh chemicals if possible, as these can damage your skin.
- Be cautious and selective about manicures and pedicures, as improperly sterilized equipment can cause fungal infections.^{[15]
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Expert Q&A

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Question

Can I use a mixture of aloe vera gel and coffee grounds as an exfoliant?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Sure, this would work well, but it won't provide much moisture. I would suggest following this treatment with lotion.

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