Tank top season is just around the corner. Llike when you’re doing an overhead press at the gym and lose form at the sight of stubble or when you casually throw on a T-shirt and realize you have to keep your elbows locked at a 90-degree angle at all times. Here’s how to fix your most common underarm woes so you can have the smoothest pits ever.
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Pit Problem: Perma-Shadow
Have you ever checked out your armpit skin right after shaving and noticed that it was still darker than the rest of your body? While there are sometimes hormonal or bacterial reasons for this to happen, the appearance of “perma-shadow” is usually caused by coarse stubble just beneath the surface of the skin being visible, says Patricia Diiorgi, a board-certified electrologist in New Jersey.
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The fix:
“In some cases, depilatories [hair removal lotion] can make the shadow less noticeable in the long term, simply because the lotion tends to absorb into the hair follicles when applied,” says Diiorgi. “As the hair melts away, it’s doing so at a slightly deeper level than a surface hair remover, like shaving.” Just make sure to test a small patch on your leg before using a depilatory on thin, sensitive armpit skin; some of the chemicals used in this type of product can cause irritation. We like Veet Hair Remover Fast Acting Gel Cream, because it’s formulated for sensitive skin.
Pit Problem: Persistent Ingrown Hairs
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Pit Problem: Perma-Shadow
Have you ever checked out your armpit skin right after shaving and noticed that it was still darker than the rest of your body? While there are sometimes hormonal or bacterial reasons for this to happen, the appearance of “perma-shadow” is usually caused by coarse stubble just beneath the surface of the skin being visible, says Patricia Diiorgi, a board-certified electrologist in New Jersey.
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The fix:
“In some cases, depilatories [hair removal lotion] can make the shadow less noticeable in the long term, simply because the lotion tends to absorb into the hair follicles when applied,” says Diiorgi. “As the hair melts away, it’s doing so at a slightly deeper level than a surface hair remover, like shaving.” Just make sure to test a small patch on your leg before using a depilatory on thin, sensitive armpit skin; some of the chemicals used in this type of product can cause irritation. We like Veet Hair Remover Fast Acting Gel Cream, because it’s formulated for sensitive skin.
Pit Problem: Persistent Ingrown Hairs
“When shaved hair begins to grow back, it often curls back under the skin instead of straight out of the hair follicle, causing inflammation in the form of red bumps that look like pimples,” says Diiorgi.
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The fix:
Diiorgi suggests exfoliating several times a week to remove excess keratin buildup around the hair follicles to encourage hair to grow out and not get trapped under your skin. Pick a gentle scrub like Yes to Coconut Polishing Body Scrub. When you shave, do so in the direction of the hair, not against the grain, she says. Afterward, Diiorgi suggests applying witch hazel or aloe vera to soothe the skin. Bye, bye ingrown hair.
Pit Problem: Hair That Grows Back at the Speed of Light
By the end of the day, your freshly shaved underarms are sprouting hair once again.
The fix:
For hair that grows in less time than it takes you to pick out a tank top, try a mild hair inhibitor. We like Whish Deodorant Swipes, which contain natural bacterial enzymes to combat odor and are packed with protective antioxidants like chaparral extract, a natural ingredient that slows hair growth and leaves skin softer between shaves.
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The fix:
Diiorgi suggests exfoliating several times a week to remove excess keratin buildup around the hair follicles to encourage hair to grow out and not get trapped under your skin. Pick a gentle scrub like Yes to Coconut Polishing Body Scrub. When you shave, do so in the direction of the hair, not against the grain, she says. Afterward, Diiorgi suggests applying witch hazel or aloe vera to soothe the skin. Bye, bye ingrown hair.
Pit Problem: Hair That Grows Back at the Speed of Light
By the end of the day, your freshly shaved underarms are sprouting hair once again.
The fix:
For hair that grows in less time than it takes you to pick out a tank top, try a mild hair inhibitor. We like Whish Deodorant Swipes, which contain natural bacterial enzymes to combat odor and are packed with protective antioxidants like chaparral extract, a natural ingredient that slows hair growth and leaves skin softer between shaves.
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Pit problem:Nothing You Do Works
You’ve shaved up, you’ve shaved down, and you’ve given your pits space between shaves, but this relationship just doesn’t seem like it’s going to work out.
The fix:
There are semi-permanent to permanent options that can seriously lessen your armpit animosity. “Electrolysis and laser are both good ways to remove underarm hair,” says Diiorgi. “The FDA labeling indicates that electrolysis provides permanent hair removal, while laser offers permanent hair reduction.” So which one is right for you (and best for your financial situation)?
Pit problem:Nothing You Do Works
You’ve shaved up, you’ve shaved down, and you’ve given your pits space between shaves, but this relationship just doesn’t seem like it’s going to work out.
The fix:
There are semi-permanent to permanent options that can seriously lessen your armpit animosity. “Electrolysis and laser are both good ways to remove underarm hair,” says Diiorgi. “The FDA labeling indicates that electrolysis provides permanent hair removal, while laser offers permanent hair reduction.” So which one is right for you (and best for your financial situation)?
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Since lasers target the pigment of the hair, it’s most effective on dark hair. Electrolysis, meanwhile, destroys the growth center of the hair follicle by releasing electric currents through a sterile needle into the hair follicle. It works on all hair colors and skin types, says Diiorgi. Laser hair removal costs more (approximately $200 per session) but requires less frequent treatments, while electrolysis costs less (about $70 per session) but requires more frequent treatment.
Courtesy Women'sHealth
Since lasers target the pigment of the hair, it’s most effective on dark hair. Electrolysis, meanwhile, destroys the growth center of the hair follicle by releasing electric currents through a sterile needle into the hair follicle. It works on all hair colors and skin types, says Diiorgi. Laser hair removal costs more (approximately $200 per session) but requires less frequent treatments, while electrolysis costs less (about $70 per session) but requires more frequent treatment.
Courtesy Women'sHealth
