7 Ways To Get Rid Of Dark Armpits

As the party season sets in, all the gorgeous ladies are ready to brave the chill and rock the night in their best outfit. But wait! What is that one thing that comes in the way of every woman and their dream dress? That rogue thing called dark underarms is the major cause of embarrassment when you decide to throw your hands up in the air and dance to your heart's content. Often we find ourselves in such awkward situations when we have to be very conscious about lifting our hands in public while wearing sleeveless outfits, so that we don't reveal the unwanted dark patches on our underarms. Moreover we have to contemplate for hours before making a choice of buying that chic sleeves dress that we always wanted to wear. But why let the dark underarms take away our will to flaunt that stylish tank top or razor-back kurti? Here are some simple yet effective steps to help you fight against the darkened armpits.

1. Maintain Your Personal Hygiene

First things first – don't compromise with your personal hygiene. No matter what remedies you try out, everything will prove ineffective if you do not take care of your cleanliness. Don't skip your daily shower. Doing so can lead to building up of bacteria in your armpit causing sweat and pigmentation of the skin. Include a quick scrubbing routine everyday during your bath time because lack of proper exfoliation can lead to accumulation of dry and dead skin causing dark patches. Use a loofah or a pumice stone (which is even better) to gently remove the dead skin from that region. If followed every day, scrubbing can effectively lighten the underarms to a great extent.

2. Home Remedies With Natural Ingredients

Before opting for chemical based solutions, try out the natural remedies which are readily available in your kitchen! For example, lemon acts as natural bleach and an effective antibacterial. Rub a slice of lemon sprinkled with some sugar on the darkened area for 2–3 times a week. But don't overdo this as lemon can dry out your skin when used too often. You can also team up lemon juice with turmeric or yogurt to make a pack. And let's not leave out our favourite veggie, potato! Yes, potato is also considered as effective natural bleach. You can either take a thin slice of it or grate it to extract the juice and apply it to your underarms and leave it on for 10 minutes before washing off. In fact potato can be used more often than lemon as it contains milder acids. Hence it can be applied almost every day for better results. Cucumber and orange peels are also great natural remedies to fight against darkened armpits.

3. Say Yes To Oils

Some oils have proven to work wonders for dark underarms when used for a prolonged period. Let us take, for instance, coconut oil. Its vitamin E content not only makes it ideal for your skin but also makes it apt for boosting your under arms whitening regime. Massage some coconut oil gently before shower. Repeat it regularly to see the difference. On the other hand, one cannot deny the miracle of Vitamin E oil when it comes to various skin treatments. In fact, Vitamin E capsules can be used if the oil is not available. Puncture a capsule to extract the oil and rub it on your underarms. Leave it for 5-10 minutes before washing it off. Vitamin E oil not only lightens the dark pigmented underarms but also makes it soft and supple.

4. Use Baking Soda Beyond Cooking

Baking soda is an excellent scrub for pigmented underarms. Mix a small portion of white baking soda with water and apply on the darkened area of your underarms and wash it off after 5-10 minutes. It unclogs the pores by removing the dead skin and keeping your armpit neat and odour-free.

5. Reduce The Use Of Body Sprays & Deodorants

Every time you are tempted to splash some deodorant spray, think of its harmful contents which are capable of turning your underarms dark and pigmented. In fact some strong antiperspirants are capable of permanently damaging your underarms. Hence try to limit the use of deodorants. If proper scrubbing and cleaning routine is followed daily, you will naturally need not use a lot of body sprays or antiperspirants.

6. Say No To Shaving Or Hair Removal Creams

Many consider shaving as a handy way to get underarm hair removal in no time. However, shaving removes the hair only from the surface and leaves behind thick stubble of hair underneath the skin. Thus the underarm appears darkened. Shaving also makes the skin of your armpit rough and dry. Instead opt for waxing, which might be initially painful but is not harmful for your skin. Another thing to keep away from is shaving cream. Don't get deceived by the numerous shaving cream ads promoted by celebrities. These advertisements may tempt you with claims like flawless underarms but resist from trying out the quick hair removal remedies. Such creams can cause rashes, skin irritation and allergies which can leave behind unwanted dark marks.

7. Seek Medical Guidance If No Remedy Works For You

If all your attempts have gone in vain, it is advisable to consult a dermatologist and seek medical advice. Many a times darkening of underarms can be due to some skin conditions which can be resolved with medical treatments. But do not experiment with medicines without proper prescription because wrong medicines and irregular doses can be counterproductive for the dark underarms. Get proper medicine and ointment prescribed by the doctors to get back the clearer and lighter underarms.

Hope these tips help you to get rid of dark underarms. Do let us know what are the tips you follow to get rid of dark underarms!

Image Source: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Contributed By: Meghna Kar