How to lighten the dark patches on elbows and knees?

Sprinkle some sugar onto half a lemon and rub into the dark area. For those who are sensitive to the citric acid in lemon juice, dilute it with a bit of water.
This will help to exfoliate and bleach the skin naturally.

It is not advisable that you apply lemon juice to your skin before sun exposure as it makes the skin more sensitive to the sun.