Afraid if someone notices your underarm? It’s quite understandable as this condition is quite common among us. Fortunately for us, there are various home remedies to reduce darkening of your underarm that are proven yet effective without breaking your wallet. Read on more to find out.
First thing that you need to know is dark underarms is not an unfortunate disease. The discoloration that you see (can be subtle or obvious darkening) compared to rest of your skin are caused by many factors hence it’s essential that you understand how skin pigmentation works.
General causes of underarm darkening
Do you frequently shave the hairs from your body? This common habit is also the most common cause to your dark underarms. Underarm hair is coarser, thicker, and generally darker but the stubble ones are much more and can be visible just under the surface of your skin. Over prolong habits of shaving, the skin can look dark and shadowy when it’s the just the hair that causes it.
Using plenty of creams, deodorants, and lotions on your armpit area can also make the skin darken, where the alcohols and chemicals contained in the formulation may cause allergic reaction and/or irritating the skin. This can lead your skin to thicken (a condition known as hyperkeratosis) and accompanied with hyperpigmentation, as your body thinks it’s to protect against excessive external ‘assault’ when you only use the products to keep the area look and smell nicely.
Treatments available for underarm darkening
Various over-the-counter topical cream and ointments are widely available to treat the condition where it works to inhibit the melanin production in the area, which in turn encourage the affected skin to lighten. Usually the results can be seen in few weeks.
There also few treatments that can offer short recovery period (although can be a bit expensive). Treatments using chemical peels with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) can be done to peel the outermost layer of the affected skin to reveal the brighter one underneath. Laser therapy and dermabrasion procedures can also be used to peel off the damaged outer layer of the skin.
Home Remedies to Get Rid of Dark Underarms
A simple yet effective home remedies is available and can be found right in your kitchen. And of course, these tips are proven in itself and certainly won’t cost a fortune to use it. The important thing is you need to use the method regularly as it takes some time to see the desired results.
Underarm Darkness Remedy 1
Scrubbing the affected area with a thin slice of potato is effective thanks to its mild acidic properties (yet non-irritating to your skin) as a natural bleaching agent. You can also make the juice out from potato and apply to the area and letting it dry before washing it off with a splash of lukewarm water. Repeat this remedy frequently to get a faster result.
Underarm Darkness Remedy 2
If using chemical peels sounds expensive for you, achieve the similar effect with mashed apple and apply them to the affected skin. Apple contain high amount of AHAs beneficial to kill the germs and exfoliate the skin. Over time, the affected skin will look lighter in few days.
Underarm Darkness Remedy 3
Lemon is also useful as a home remedy as it have acidic properties that can lighten your skin as well as exfoliating dead skin cells on the affected area evenly. Use the same method as you would for a potato but keep in mind to apply moisturizer as the acidic content in a lemon is quite high. Alternatively, make a paste consisting of lemon juice with a dash of turmeric and apply them on the affected area. Let the paste dry before washing them off.
Underarm Darkness Remedy 4
Although known for its soothing properties, cucumber also act as a natural bleaching agent to lighten your darken underarms. Just like the remedies mentioned above, you just need to cut the cucumber in slices and rub it across the underarms before rinsing it.
Underarm Darkness Remedy 5
It may sound a bit slippery, but coconut oil can also be used to lighten the dark skin in your underarms thanks to its high vitamin E content. Lightly massage the nutritious oil to the affected area for ten minutes before getting a shower and rinse them with lukewarm water. On the plus side, this remedy is also double as a natural deodorant.
Underarm Darkness Remedy 6
Baking soda can also be used to lighten your underarms. Use them as a natural homemade scrub by adding with a bit of water to make a thick paste. This scrub is effective to purge of the damaged and dead cell, unclogging the pores, and kill the germs living in the area and what you’ll get is a clean, odor-free, and lighten skin.
Underarm Darkness Remedy 7
Strong anti-bacterial and lightening properties in vinegar makes it useful to kill the germs that causing the odor as well as lighten darkened skin. As it’s a liquid, you need to make it into a paste by mixing it with rice flour and apply it to the affected area. Let the paste dry before washing it off.
Underarm Darkness Remedy 8
An essential oil like sandalwood is also effective and produces quick result if you use this method on daily basis. Mix enough amount of oil with rose water into a thick paste and apply to darken underarms. Let the paste work for a couple of minutes before washing it off with cool water.
Underarm Darkness Remedy 9
The high content of probiotics in yogurt can be helpful in killing off the germs while lactic acid is essential to exfoliate the skin and nourishes the new ones underneath it. The affected skin will become visibly lighter in few days if you use this method daily.
Underarm Darkness Remedy 10
Another potent ingredient for your underarms, honey is known for its anti-bacterial, soothing, and lightening properties. Simply apply a tiny amount of honey and spread them onto our skin. it does sound sticky so you need to rest a bit to let the honey dries out before rinsing them off with warm water.
Underarm Darkness Remedy 11
Saffron is one of the essential spices in culinary and also makes a potent lightening and anti-bacterial agent. Add a pinch of saffron mixed with a thick solution of milk and apply to your underarms. You need to let it sit round an hour before washing it off.
These home remedies are very useful and can be used together with conventional medical methods available (plus it won’t cost too much to get the materials). Now you know that you may have done one or two mentioned causes of dark underarms, you’ll know how to treat them with these tips and never be embarrassed by it again.
I used lemons and when i didn't use it for a few days ….the smell is much worst then the first time! lol…thank goodness I don't perspire so much now and try to go air-con places wherever possible and not to get expose too much of the sunshine…that helps!
heat 2 small limes on a spoon over heat of the stove,put lime under each arm as warm as you can stand it with your arms down,,leave until the heat of the lime is gone (bout 15mins) and throw away lime after used,,,cures the worst odors from underarms!
One of my friend recommended Qraa Underarm Whitening Cream for whitening my dark underarms .
. Within 10 days of use there were visible results . Thanks Qraa Team for such amazing products.
Thanks for the suggestion. Will add it soon in the list
The lemon remedy given here is helpful to get rid of odor as well as the black underarms