A lot of people among us must be concerned about dark and pigmented underarms especially during the summer season when you want to wear your sleeveless and enjoy the summer vibes. However,the skin under your arms does not let you do so. It is important to understand the reasons behind darkened underarms so that you can get rid of it gradually with care and consistency.
There could be a plethora of reasons behind your discolored skin such as melanin rich skin, pH due to hormonal imbalance, fungal and bacterial infections or medications. Notably, your underarm skin is analogous to eyelid skin. It easily gets irritated that ultimately adds to pigmentation and unfortunately we have this underlying fear of anyone catching a glimpse of your dark underarms.
It is certainly not a medical condition as it can be caused gradually by improper cleaning and accumulation of dead cells, shaving, excessive sweating, and using harsh cosmetics such as deodorants or creams which are unsuitable for your skin. Moreover, persistent skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and fragrance allergy can prove to be a double whammy for your underarm skin.
What causes dark underarms?
Excess Melanin Production
People who have dusky complexions have higher melanin content in their skin. At times it leads to hyperpigmentation in your underarms.
Hair Plucking Harms Your Underarm Skin
Hair plucking can be deleterious for the surface of your skin under your arms and leads to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Shaving is Unsuitable for Your Underarms
Certainly, the skin on your underarms is quite sensitive as compared to the skin on the rest of your body. A razor can harm your skin by causing irritation, redness, razor burns, and cuts that can convert into hyperpigmentation and scarring.
Excess scrubbing creates stress
Scrubbing your underarms too often can be harmful for your skin as it gradually damages the outer layer of your skin that acts like a protective shield against external stressors. This ultimately leads to darkening of your skin.
Accumulation of Sweat and Dirt
Excessive sweating can accumulate your dead skin cells along with impurities. This darkens your skin after some time and appears like pigmentation.
Dryness Darkens Your Underarms
We often tend to use deodorants, perfumes or cosmetics which do not suit our skin and it leads to dehydration in that particular area that causes itchiness, irritation, and ultimately underarm pigmentation.
Hormonal Changes
Studies have shown that hormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy or menopause can lead to underarm darkening. It can be resolved with proper care and the right kind of products.
WAYS TO LIGHTEN UNDERARMS
Your underarms needs sun protection
Try to wear clothes with sleeves to prevent your underarms from ultraviolet rays. Besides, you should apply a water resistant sunscreen on your underarms and areas around it.
Follow a Hair Removal Aftercare Regime
Hair removal leads to inflammation and irritation on your underarms. It is important to follow some precautionary measures as well as post hair removal care. The best way is to massage your skin on that particular area with an ice cube to soothe burns and redness after the hair removal procedure.
Moisturize your Underarms Well
After shaving your underarms apply a hydrating moisturizer or oil every night for a week at least. Make sure you use gentle and natural products for your underarms.
Wear Breathable Clothes
Prefer cotton clothes and avoid wearing tight sleeved clothes. You should completely avoid rough fabrics and tight clothes to avoid pigmentation in your underarms.
Healthy Lifestyle is Crucial
It is important to follow a well-balanced diet and exercise in your daily routine for overall wellness and stay away from any kind of lifestyle disorders, especially obesity.
Here are some natural remedies to lighten and brighten your underarms;
Apple Cider Vinegar
It is highly rich in amino and lactic acid that helps clear dead skin cells and reduce the scars. It has astringent properties that unclog the pores and work effectively to remove the darkness on your skin. Apply apple cider vinegar with a cotton pad in the armpit and leave it for some time to let it dry then wash it off with lukewarm water.
Aloe Vera Gel
Aloe vera gel has antibacterial properties that calms the inflammation and corrects the complexion of your skin. You can buy Ningen’s Aloe Vera Gel as it is pure or you can also extract it fresh from aloe vera leaf. Apply a layer of aloe vera on your underarms and leave it off for 15 minutes then rinse it with water.
Baking Soda and Lemon Works Like Magic
Baking soda mixed in lemon becomes a powerful exfoliator that opens and cleans your skin pores and apparently reduces the darkness on your underarm skin. You can mix1 tablespoon of baking soda and lemon each to make a paste. Scrub it over your underarms for about 5 minutes, wash it off using lukewarm water then apply a hydrating moisturizer.
Bleach your Underarms with Cucumber
Cucumbers are rich in vitamins and minerals and it has a tremendous bleaching property. Rub a cucumber slice on your underarms for a few minutes so that the juices can rejuvenate your skin then rinse it off with water. Use this method daily for effective results.
The Potato Remedy
Potatoes work astoundingly when it comes to reducing the darkness, pigmentation, or discoloration in the underarms. Peel and grate a potato to get its juices and apply it on your underarm skin, leave it there for at least 15 minutes then wash it off with lukewarm water.
Multani Mitti
Fuller’s earth popularly known as multani mitti can be quite effective for your dark underarms. Add 2 tablespoons of multani mitti with 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and gulab jal(rose water) and make a thick paste. Apply it on your underarm skin and leave it to dry for at least 15 minutes then clean it off with lukewarm water.
Medical Treatments
Skin injury, itchiness, redness, dryness, skin discoloration might lead to post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Moreover, acanthosis nigricans, polycystic ovarian syndrome, obesity and hormonal disorders such as insulin resistance or increase in serum cortisol levels can also cause darkening of the underarms.
A well balanced diet followed by daily exercise along with a healthy cleaning and skincare regime can ward off several skin related issues. A little care and concern and consistency can surely give you desired results.
A glimpse at some products to lighten and brighten your underarms skin;
- Ningen Bearberry Underarm lightening cream with added calendula and jojoba extracts
- Mamaearth Vitamin C Underarm Cream with Vitamin C & Turmeric for Brighter Underarms
- Dot and Key –Underarm Color correction serum and mask
- Nat Habit- Underarm Ubtan
- Sanfe –Underarm depigmentation serum
