Dark underarms can be annoying. The ideal scenario would be to not feel self-conscious about raising your arms to grab hold of a rail in the subway, wave to someone in public or play volleyball in a sleeveless top.
Dark armpits can be categorized as the dark area of your skin under your arms that looks darker compared to the rest of your body. Men and women can both have this condition, but women tend to be more anxious about it because it just ins’t appealing.
What causes this skin condition and how do you get rid of it?
What Causes Dark Underarms?
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Shaving
Shaving is one of the main causes of dark armpits. When you shave, you only cut the hair on the surface of the skin, leaving thick hair follicles trapped underneath. This leads to thicker hair under the skin visible, which causes skin pigmentation and darkening of the area.
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Use of Deodorants
Deodorants have chemical irritants that can cause inflammation to darken the skin when used for a long time. Some ingredients that may cause discoloration or hyperpigmentation are paraben, alcohol and aluminum (which are present in some deodorants and can irritate or clog pores).
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Excessive Rubbing
If you think that rubbing your underarms clean will make it lighter, then you think wrong. Repetitive trauma and friction will cause your skin to darken because it will retaliate by becoming thicker. The thicker the skin, the darker it will become.
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Sweating Profusely
Sweating can cause bacteria to form and get trapped in the skin causing it to darken.
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Genes
There are cases when dark underarms are caused by hereditary factors like hormonal imbalance or weight problems which can lead to darkening of the skin and other pigmentation problems.
Tips to Lighter Underarms and More Even Skin Tone
Dark underarms can be a source of embarrassment for some people. The good thing is that you don’t have to live through it. There are natural remedies you can use as well as technologies that can help you gain a more even skin tone for your underarms.
Here are some solutions to apply.
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Stop Shaving
Shaving is out. So what’s the alternative? You can wax but avoid doing it frequently. If you’re likely to develop ingrown hairs then avoid it. This can lead to trauma and inflammation in the long run. An alternative, although painful, is using an epilator. This will help eliminate the shadow under your arms and like waxing, it will remove hair from root to tip.
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Use a Potato
A natural bleach and an anti-irritant, potato is an effective natural remedy to lighten dark spots. It also gives instant relief from itchiness.
To use, just apply a thin slice to your armpits and leave it on for 15-20 minutes. You can also use potato juice if available. Use it once a day or twice a day for more effective results.
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Rub with Lemon or Lime
Lemon is known for its acidic properties. It’s also a natural cleanser that helps eliminate dark underarms.
To use, squeeze a lemon into cotton and then gently dab it on your underarms before taking a bath. Leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes. Another natural recipe you can use is the lemon, cucumber, turmeric powder mix. All you have to do is mix lemon juice, cucumber juice, and turmeric powder, then apply it on dark underarms for 15 minutes. Rinse as usual.
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Massage with Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is rich in vitamin E, which provides moisture to your skin and is a natural skin lightening agent. You’re going to need this after rubbing lemon or potato on your skin which are drying ingredients.
To use, massage your underarms with coconut oil every day and leave it on for 20 minutes. Wash it off with warm water.
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Permanent Hair Laser Removal
Dark underarms can completely be removed with the help of permanent hair removal laser treatment. Not only will it encourage finer hair growth and hair-free underarms, but it will also treat dark areas as well.
Dark underarms can be a concern for most people and if it does bother you, then the tips above might help. Consult with a professional or a physician so that they can diagnose and guide you for better treatment.
