You cannot raise your hands even if you dare to wear a sleeveless top! Being cautious every time means so much sacrifice of freedom. Let’s not do this. Your underarms may have gone dark due to some of your mistakes including shaving or using chemical laden hair removing creams and deodorants, let’s not leave them dark.
Listed are few simple, safe and easy remedies you can try at the comfort of your home. With some patience and effort, you can surely reduce the discoloration and wear those lovely outfits.
1
Baking Soda
Process:
- Mix baking soda and water to create a paste and apply to your underarms.
- Gently scrub for a minute, then wash off with clean water and pat dry.
- You can dust baking powder on the skin for a lighter appearance.
- Alternatively, you can use rosewater instead of water.
- Repeat 3 to 4 times a week.
- Note: you can simply wipe your underarms with baking soda and water solution.
Tip: To neutralize body odor, mix equal parts of baking soda and corn starch and dust it on underarms.
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2
Lemon
Process 1:
- Cut a lemon into thick slices.
- Rub it on dark underarms for few minutes.
- Let the lemon juice stay on skin for 10 minutes.
- Rinse it off with water thoroughly.
- Repeat Daily.
- Note: Apply moisturizer after bath to avoid dryness.
Process 2:
- Mix 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and ¼ teaspoon each of honey, yogurt and turmeric powder.
- Apply this to the dark underarms and massage for few seconds.
- Leave for about 10 minutes.
- Wash and dry the area.
- Repeat 3 times a week.
Tip: For better exfoliation, sprinkle a little sugar on the lemon wedge and massage it on the underarms.
3
Potato
Process:
- Cut 1 medium sized potato into slices.
- Rub a slice onto your underarms and let it dry for 10 minutes.
- Rinse with lukewarm water.
- Repeat 2 times a day will give fast results.
- Note: You can also grate the potato and apply the juice instead of rubbing slice.
Tip: Generally, potatoes rarely cause any skin irritations. So it is very safe to use for all skin types.
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4
Cucumber
Process 1:
- Cut a cucumber into slices and rub onto the dark underarm.
- Allow to sit for a few minutes.
- Repeat this process 1 or 2 times in a day until you achieve the results.
- Alternately, just apply the juice of the cucumber.
Process 2:
In this process lemon acts as a bleaching agent and turmeric prevents discoloration.
- Squeeze crushed cucumber to extract the juice and then add the lemon juice and turmeric.
- Stir well and apply on the affected area.
- Leave it on for 30 minutes and then rinse it thoroughly with water.
- Follow this daily or every other day.
5
Milk
Process 1:
- Mix 2 teaspoons of full fat cream milk, 1 tablespoon each of plain yogurt and gram flour.
- Apply the milk paste on your dark underarms.
- Leave for 10-15 minutes.
- Rinse the area thoroughly with cold water.
- Repeat 4 times a week.
Process 2:
- Mix 1 teaspoon each of milk and honey.
- Now add pinch of turmeric or few drops of lime juice.
- Apply on dark armpits and let it dry.
- Rinse with cold water and pat dry.
- Repeat daily.
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6
Coconut Oil
- Massage coconut oil on underarms for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Rinse it off with mild soap and lukewarm water.
- Repeat 2 to 3 times daily.
Tip: Coconut oil also acts as an effective and natural deodorant.
7
Yogurt
- Take a tablespoon or two of yogurt and apply to the armpits.
- Gently rub the yogurt all over the dark armpits and wait for few minutes
- Then wash it with water and repeat daily.
- Note:you can add a tablespoon of honey for added benefits.
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8
Honey
Process 1:
- Take a tiny amount of honey and apply it on the armpits.
- Spread this evenly all over the underarms and let it dry completely.
- Rinse off with warm water and repeat this to get the best results.
Process 2:
- Mix 1 teaspoon each of lemon juice and honey and stir well.
- Apply this concoction to the armpits and leave for 15 – 20 minutes.
- Wash completely and then pat dry.
Alternatively: The mixture of sugar and honey will exfoliate the underarms which reduce the discoloration gradually with regular use. Combine 2 teaspoons each of sugar and honey. Scrub the mixture gently under the arms and rinse off with water. Repeat this process 2 times in a week until you lighten them.
Prevention Tips:
- Moisturize:Use natural moisturizers like aloe vera, lecithin or coconut oil to moisturize the underarms at least 2 times a day.
- Stop Shaving & Start Waxing:Shaving thickens the hair and causes discoloration under the arms. But waxing removes hair from the roots and accumulated dead cells leaving lighter and softer skin. If you have a sensitive skin, ask your beautician to use some herbal wax or special wax formulation made for sensitive skin.
- Skip Deodorants:The chemicals present in deodorants darken underarms. Natural deodorants and antiperspirants that include baking soda, coconut oil or rose water can be a better alternative.
- Avoid Hair Removal Creams: They contain harsh chemicals which lead to rashes, itching, irritation and other skin disorders. It is best to adopt waxing instead of them.
- Don’t Skip Shower:If the weather is hot, you should bathe more often. Neglecting bath can lead to accumulation of bacteria causing sweat and pigmentation. Mix few drops of any citrus oil to your bathing water for a heavenly smell and to prevent dark discoloration under the skin.
- Let the Skin Breathe: Avoid wearing tight clothes especially synthetic ones. Friction due to tight and synthetic clothes don’t let the skin breathe, trap the sweat inside which gives rise to bacteria and leads to friction causing rashes. It is recommended to wear cotton or skin friendly clothing. Make sure your clothing is loose enough to provide enough room for air flow.
- Don’t let your weight go out of control:Fat can get accumulated under the arms, rub against the clothes and lead to dark discoloration under the arms.
- Don’t compromise with basic hygiene:Regular exfoliation removes the accumulated dead skin cells that cause bumps and dark spots. Make sure be gentle while exfoliating as the skin is very delicate under the arms. Harsh exfoliation can lead to scars and rashes.
- Use pumice stone (light-weight, abrasive volcanic rock) for exfoliation. Wet it and gently scrub the underarm area.
- Keep an Eye on Diabetes:Make sure diabetes doesn’t go out of the control. If you are suffering from Type 2 diabetes, high levels of insulin can lead to pigmentation.
- Avoid Electrolysis:Using electrolysis for hair removal can lead to discoloration.
- Stop Taking Pills:Oral contraceptives can also lead to discoloration. To check if this is the reason, stop using it for a certain time period and see if the condition improves.
- Cinnamon capsules or fenugreek can also cure darkened underarms.
- Change Diet:Modify your diet to restrict starches and sugars to control diabetes.
- If you are not suffering from hypergydrosis, darker skin is normal in skin areas that include eye lids and thighs where the skin is very thin. It is not a physical flaw.
- Bleaching and excessive exfoliation can
- Cause scarring
- Hair follicles, pores and sweat glands in your armpits can be infected.Close proximity to your lymp nodes can quickly spread infection throughout your system, possible causing a septic shock.
- Consider all the pros and cons before you decide to tamper with the delicate skin under the arms. Consult medical professionals first.
If you didn’t achieve results with home remedies, consult the doctor for a treatment.
If you are suffering from aacanthosis nigricans (a skin disorder which results in velvety, light brown to black markings in areas that include armpits, then you have to consult doctor for treatment. This condition occurs as a result of obesity or an endocrine disorder. It is found in people with diabetes and most commonly among people of African descent.
Other possible causes include Addison’s disease, pituitary gland disorders, growth hormone therapy, hypothyroidism or use of oral contraceptives. This condition can only be treated by doctors.
