Apart from that, you should use natural products like coconut oil, potato, or aloe vera to remove dead skin cells and lighten the hyperpigmentation of the underarms. Today in this blog, I, Chaunacy, a licensed aesthetician from Arizona with 8 years of experience, will explain all the reasons, solutions, and prevention p rocesses step by step.
What Causes Dark Underarms?
There are 7 main conditions that can be the reason for Dark Underarms like, friction, shaving, dead skin buildup, certain deodorants or antiperspirants, product reactions, sun exposure, and medical causes, which are the main reasons for dark underarms. So, without any delay, let’s see how it happens with the owner of Sugar & Wax Haven.
Friction
Most of the time it happens due to Chronic Inflammation, Tight Clothing, Shaving Irritation, Skin Fold Sensitivity which we also. Consistent rubbing effects on skin, which causes excess melanin and this process form post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), as a result, skin darkening, which is the main reason for friction.
Shaving
Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH), Stubble Effect, and Friction are the main causes of black underarms after shaving. It happens due to mechanical irritation and microtrauma, and as a matter of fact, inflammation happens, and the skin produces more pigment to protect itself, which is the main reason for skin darkness. Now, have a look below and know in more detail how it happens.
- Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH): When you repeatedly drag a razor on the underarm, small/minor injuries will be created, and as a matter of fact, dark spots occur.
- Stubble Effect: Well, shaving only cuts hair, not removes the roots, as sugaring does. However, those roots look dark, which appears as a dark spot.
- Ingrown hair & razor burn: Shaving is one of the main reasons for ingrown hair. It not only creates dark spots but also creates pain.
Dead Skin Buildup
Accumulation & dullness, Irritation & inflammation, Friction enhancement and Underlying Skin Conditions are the reasons for dead skin. In general, compared to other skin areas, the underarm exfoliates less, and as a matter of fact, without regular exfoliation, this will increase and create darkness on your underarms.
Certain Deodorants or Antiperspirants
Alcohol, fragrances, aluminum compounds, and baking soda are the main reasons for dark underarms. This happens when your underarm skin has become irritated. It reacts by producing melanin, which is responsible for skin color.
Product reactions
Products that have fragrances & alcohol, aluminum compounds, baking soda, and harsh shaving products & techniques are another reason for dark underarms. Typically, ingredients like deodorants, antiperspirants, and hair removal products have such chemicals, and that is why using such products can darken your skin.
Sun Exposure
This is one of the biggest issues that happens in Arizona. This sun exposure triggers the melanin production, which is the main reason for UV Damage. Well, though sunlight can’t be directly exposed to sunlight, UV still can reach your area, especially when wearing sleeveless clothes.
Medical causes
If someone faces Insulin Resistance and Diabetes, a hormonal disorder, obesity, and medication side effects, these are some of the main reasons for medical issues. These issues will make the skin condition worse.
What should you do to prevent & Get Rid of Dark Underarms?
To get rid of and prevent dark underarms, you should use sunscreen, avoid friction, maintain a routine, use skin-friendly cosmetics, exfoliate regularly, avoid tight clothes, moisturize underarms, apply natural remedies, and take oral medicines or laser therapy. But before applying any method, you should consult with experts from somewhere like Sugar & Wax Haven. So, let’s break down more about the solutions.
Wear Sunscreen
This is an effective product to reduce dark underarms. It will protect you from the harshness of UV rays, including hyperpigmentation, which is the common reason for skin darkening. Now, have a look at the points and know how sunscreen can reduce the darkness of the underarms.
- Reduces UV-Induced Pigmentation: Sunscreen will protect your skin from harsh UV rays, which saves and removes underarm darkness.
- Protects Post-Inflammatory Skin: If you just waxed or shaved the underarms, then you may face friction, which is the main reason for inflammation. At this stage, sunscreen will act like a protector and prevent this inflammation from becoming a dark spot.
- Works with Other Treatments: Sunscreen is a suitable companion to other treatments for extra protection. If you are using products like niacinamide, Kojic acid, or vitamin C to lighten underarms, then you can use them to save your skin.
Note: This is my personal suggestion to use SPF of 30 or higher for the extreme conditions of Arizona.
Avoid Friction
This is one of the main reasons for dark underarms, and it occurs when you consistently rub the armpit area, which creates friction on your underarms. This happens due to wearing tight clothing, skin-on-skin rubbing, frequent shaving, and physical activity. Now, have a look below and learn more about how you can save from the friction issue.
- Change cloth styling: you should start wearing loose-fitting clothes, especially those made of cotton.
- Change Hair Removal Methods: Please stop using the shaving method to remove hair from the underarms. Instead of shaving, you can use a natural hair removal method such as sugaring for better results. In that case, you can contact Sugar and Wax Haven for the best hair removal experience.
- Gently Exfoliate: You should regularly and gently exfoliate the underarm skin for better results. In that case, you can use chemicals such as lactic or glycolic acid, which will remove the dead skin cells without increasing inflammation.
Maintain a Routine
You should maintain a proper time schedule to prevent and get rid of dark underarms, such as removing hair at the perfect time, wearing loose breathable clothes, keeping underarms clean from sweating, and using a gentle exfoliant. Now, let’s have the details of your routine.
- Use a gentle hair removal method: You should avoid using harsh methods like shaving and laser hair removal. Instead of that, you can use gentle hair removal methods like waxing.
- Don’t use harsh chemical products: As we already said, fragranced and alcoholic products are one of the main causes of dark underarms. So, you should use non-fragrant, alcohol-free deodorants.
- Use gentle exfoliants: You should use gentle chemical exfoliants like glycolic acid or lactic acid 2-3 times a week instead of Physical scrubs.
Moisturizing the underarms
This is a very important task you should do and that is moisturizing. If you ignore this, then an irritation cycle will start, which is the cause of dead skin buildup. In that case you can use Barrier creams, natural soothers like aloe vera gel or virgin coconut oil, Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), Vitamin C & Kojic Acid, Lactic Acid / AHA Lotions. Now have a look below and know the process of moisturizing them.
- Clean and dry your skin: The First step is to wash the area with a light pH-balanced cleanser and then dry it completely.
- Apply Creams: Use exfoliating lotion and apply this to your underarms.
- Add a hydration layer: If your exfoliating lotion makes your skin dry, then a basic ceramide moisturizer on top is recommended.
- Deodorant Timing: You should wait for 10-15 minutes for the moisturizer to absorb and apply a ceramide moisturizer on top.
Oral medications
Well, oral medication is sometime a vital reason for dark underarms like Hormonal Contraceptives, Corticosteroids, Insulin, Vitamins/Supplements, Growth Hormonesare some of them. These issues are very easy to solve; take a look below.
- Consult with your doctor: Please don’t even think about stopping medicines; otherwise, they may affect your health. So, you first tell your doctor about your situation and then switch to alternative medicine with proper doctor’s recommendations.
- Measure insulin Resistance: If your darkened skin is linked to acanthosis nigricans, then your doctor may suggest a blood test for checking prediabetes or hormonal disorders like PCOS.
Laser therapy
This is an effective method to get rid of the dark underarm issue. During this therapy, the laser will break the pigments into small particles, which the body will absorb or remove naturally. Now let’s have a look below and know what you can expect after laser therapy.
- Number of seasons: Though you may notice the season immediately, you may need 4-8 sessions to remove the dark spots completely.
- Sensation: Well, sometimes people feel a mild warming or snapping sensation during this procedure.
Note: This process has some side effects with restrictions, like redness after applying, or after laser treatment you cannot expose yourself to harsh deodorants or the sun.
FAQs
Which home remedies may help lighten underarms?
Some people use aloe vera, potato juice, cucumber, or coconut oil to soothe and brighten the skin naturally.
How often should I exfoliate my underarms?
Exfoliating 1–2 times a week is usually enough to remove dead skin and keep underarms smoother.
How long does it take to lighten dark underarms?
Results vary from person to person. Some people notice changes in a few weeks, while others may need more time and proper care.
Which ingredients help brighten underarms?
Ingredients like niacinamide, aloe vera, vitamin C, and gentle exfoliants may help improve skin tone over time.
Get rid of dark underarms easily
How can you get rid of dark underarms well the there are several ways to get rid of such issues. But the problem is to identify the reason and give a solution according to that. In that case, you can talk with our Sugar and Wax Haven experts, who can give you the best solution. Thanks for your time.
