How to Get Rid of Dark Underarms
If you’re an avid shaver or sugarer (is this even a word?) you’ve probably noticed the dark patch under your underarms. A slightly darker hue even after a close shave or sugar session.
Let’s start with why this happens! Darkening is often due to a skin condition called acanthosis nigricans (AN). It causes skin to thicken and darken in folds around the body.
What causes this condition, and who’s at risk?
Your skin color is determined by pigment cells called melanocytes. When these cells multiply more, they can turn the skin a darker color.
Anyone can develop AN, but some people have a greater risk. People who have darker skin are more likely to have darkening under their arms than people with lighter skin. Other factors include type 2 diabetes, hormonal syndromes like polycystic ovary syndrome (POS) or hypothyroidism (under-active thyroid gland). Some medications including birth control and in rare cases sudden skin darkening could be a sign of cancer. When this happens, it often affects the stomach, liver, or colon. These tumors increase levels of growth factors that stimulate skin pigment cells. Another cause for dark spots is regular shaving. Using a dull blade or doing it too often will irritate your skin causing it to scar.
So, how is it treated?
If you don’t suffer from any medical conditions that are linked to dark underarms, regular sugaring can help lighten the dark spots. Sugaring exfoliates dead skin cells that build up while removing the hair from the root. Eliminating your hair in the same direction that it grows helps to treat irritation and allows your skin to heal from previous breakage.
The type of deodorant you use can also affect how your skin reacts to hair removal and growth. Some deodorants can clog your pores, allowing dead skin cells to build up. Finding the right one for you or doing a detox is a great place to start!
Here are a few natural ways to treat at home:
Lemon juice: Lemons have antibacterial and antiseptic properties, hence how it acts like a natural bleaching agent.
How to apply: Rub a lemon under the arms for 15 minutes prior to your bath. For instant results, apply the lemon at least twice a day.
Tomato Juice: Raw tomato is extremely effective in lightening the skin in the underarm area. It also helps reduce sweating which is a major cause of darkening of the area. Like lemon juice, tomato juice too consists of bleaching properties that naturally help in reducing discoloration.
How to apply: Daily, rub a slice of raw tomato in the underarms. Applying tomato juice overnight will also help.
Turmeric: Turmeric contains a chemical known as curcumin, which is an antioxidant and helps lighten the skin tone in the underarm area.
How to apply: Mix turmeric with lemon juice to make a paste. Apply it on the affected area for 12-15 minutes and rinse with water.
Vitamin E Oil: Dry skin often results in pigmentation and oil is considered as one of the most effective lubricants in order to get rid of dry skin. This pigmentation is one of the reasons for underarm skin darkening as well. Coconut oil, almond oil or in fact any kind of oil is extremely effective in such situations.
How to apply: Massage the oil for 20 minutes once a day.
Along with the aforementioned home remedies, there are certain preventive measures that you can take like opting in for sugaring your underarms instead of shaving. Sugaring lightens the skin tone and reduces the growth of thick hair in the area. Keep your weight balanced because being overweight is also a major reason for darkness of the skin. Stop using hair removal creams such as Nair or Veet as they consist of very harmful chemicals that reduce the natural order of the skin.
We also recommend talking to your dermatologist about what medications might work best for you.
Sugared Beauty Bar does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.
