Before you start to treat your underarms, you will have to pinpoint the causes for it. If you do not determine the cause of the darkening, the treatments will have little or no effects.
There are several factors that cause the darkening of the skin under the arms Shaving: Shaving can cause the skin to either darken or just look darker. Shaving cuts off the hair that is visible above the skin but there is still a little of it left below the skin. As this hair starts to grow, it comes towards the surface of the skin. This causes what is commonly known as a "five "clock shadow". Since your hair is darker that your skin, it tends to make your skin look dark as it is just below the surface of the skin. There is not much that you can do to eliminate this except to use other methods of hair removal. However in some cases, the darkening can be caused by incorrect shaving methods. This may damage the skin in this area and if the damage is on a regular basis, it can cause darkening. It is therefore important to use a new blade and shave in the direction of the blade. It is better to shave your underarms after you shower so that your hair is softened and cuts easily.
Hair Removal Creams: Most hair removal creams contain harsh chemicals that dissolve the hair. Unfortunately these chemicals can also cause discoloration especially after prolonged use. If you use a hair removal cream, it would be advisable to stop at once. You can consider waxing as an alternative method. Waxing pulls out the hair from its roots and therefore it does not cause any discoloration. The first few sessions may be quite painful but it lessens over time as the roots weaken. In addition to this the weakened roots also produce thinner and scantier hair.
Antiperspirants, deodorants, tight synthetic clothes and constant chaffing from rough materials can cause the skin to darken.
In addition to this, there are several home remedies for dark underarms that you can use to get rid of any discoloration.
- Scrub your underarms with a pumice stone when you go in for a shower. This will help to exfoliate your skin and get rid of the oil, dirt and sweat that collect in this area.
- The underarm area has a distinctly unpleasant odor because of bacteria that thrive here. Some research supports the fact that the discoloration may be caused by this bacteria. Mix equal amounts of apple cider vinegar and water and soak two large cotton pads in this solution. Keep the pads under your armpits for at least 15 minutes before throwing them out and rinsing your arms. Vinegar is acidic in nature and kills these bacteria.
- Lemon juice is a natural bleach so you can apply some fresh lemon juice to your underarms before you go to bed. Do this on a regular basis to eliminate the underarm discoloration.
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