Getting rid of dark underarms

Dr. Deepali Bhardwaj

Does this sound familiar to you? You try on an outfit in the store - it’s snatching your waist, it’s complimenting your curves, it’s making you feel good. That is until you raise your arms, and the glimpse of a dark underarm makes you rethink the purchase?
For the men reading this, did you ever feel a certain hesitancy when changing your shirt in front of other men, cause your underarms and the skin near it looks darker than the rest, and makes you feel a little guarded?
Well, you’re not the only one. In fact, India leads the world in “dark underarms” being searched on a daily basis. As of 18th December, 6.6 thousand searches in 24 hours had some form of dark underarms permutation combination. So what is it about this shadowed skin that gets us into a tizzy?
Why do we have dark underarms?
The reason for dark underarms are multifold in nature. Genetics play a significant role - caucasians tend to have lighter underarms than brown and black skin people. Lifestyle diseases such as diabetes can lead due to darkening of the sensitive skin. Treatments such as waxing, bleaching, chemical induced dermatitis or even using deodorant directly on the skin can lead to darkened underarms. Some people may get a skin condition called acanthosis nigricans - which means the skins in folded areas such as your underarms get dark. This happens mostly in overweight people. Similarly, those who perspire more have a higher chance of darker underarms, due to the friction of the sweat and skin. Thus, there really is no one reason why we may suddenly have skin a bit on the darker shade than the rest.
First off though, while darker underarms may be a common insecurity, I want to be the one to remind you that it’s perfectly normal to have underarms that are not the same colour as the rest of you. In fact, the airbrushed, heavily made-up, crease-free underarms of celebrities is an unattainable beauty standard that shouldn’t weigh on you heavily.
That being said, there are a few ways you can take care to delay further darkening of the skin as well as reverse the current status.
1) Permanent hair reduction: Using a laser to remove around 80% of the hair in the underarms as well as rejuvenation of the skin. Men and women have sworn by this method as a safe procedure to undergo for satisfying results.
Gone are the days when only women of a certain age would opt for this - now more and more women and men of all ages sign up for a laser hair reduction. It’s safe, effective and results in significant improvement when done by a licensed dermatologist
2) Microdermabrasion can be used to even out the skin by properly exfoliating it, removing the top layer, taking care of the dark spots and overall, reducing the signs of aging.
3) Using skin friendly products on a daily basis: Products such as scrubs, cleansers, or masks help in reducing the skin tone of your underarms. But as with exfoliation, be careful and make sure not to scrub too hard as it may lead to hyperpigmentation (increased pigmentation). It is best to us products that contain salicylic acid, hydrioquinone, azelaic acid, kojic acid, tretinoin and tranexamic acid in your exfoliators - this would yield the best results.
4) Make sure to not use any bleaching creams or deodorants directly on your skin. This can lead to further pigmentation. The same goes for shaving - better to get waxed or get laser treatment
5) Use natural remedies such as using the juice of a potato on your skin for 10 minutes, using a combination of milk, orange and rose water, coconut oil, tea tree oil and tens of other go-to natural treatments for lightening the skin. But make sure you do your research well before trying it out - ask your dermatologist to weigh in!
The key takeaway is that patience and time need to be your friend. The first step is to get your underarms checked by a healthcare professional. If it’s a medical condition, then the treatment outline will affect the underarm skin tone. If it’s not, then your doctor will navigate this journey with you.
1. https://www.semrush.com/analytics/keywordoverview/?q=dark+underarms&db=in
2. https://www.byrdie.com/how-to-lighten-underarms-5081468
3. https://www.healthline.com/health/underarm-lightening#medical-treatments
4. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/beauty/underarm-skin-care-home-remedies-to-lighten-dark-underarms/articleshow/88322300.cms
5. https://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/skincare/how-to-get-rid-of-dark-underarms
6. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323443#uses-and-benefits
7. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323443#uses-and-benefits
8. https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/armpit-laser-hair-removal
(Dr Deepali Bhardwaj, MBBS, MD (USA.IM),DVDL, M.Phil (Cosmetology), Allergy Fellowship Munich, Germany; Cosmetic surgeries, Iran. www.skincareindia.in)