Are you one of those people who---no matter how much you shave---it always looks like you have a five o'clock shadow under your arms? While you may think you're doomed to a lifetime of long sleeved shirts, your dark underarm skin could be the result of clogged pores and poor hair removal practices, both of which are easily remedied. Bare your underarms in a sleeveless shirt once you slough away dead skin cells and lighten underarm skin.
Step 1
Exfoliate under your arms with an exfoliating scrub that contains lactic acid, dermatologist Richard Asarch, director of the Asarch Center for Dermatology and Laser, suggests to "Cosmopolitan" magazine. What can sometimes look like darkness under the arms is often dirt, oil and dead skin clogging the pores under the arm. Using an exfoliating scrub once per week helps dissolve dead skin cells by rubbing on the skin and rinsing with cool water. You can find inexpensive exfoliating scrubs at your local drugstore---just follow the manufacturer's instructions for usage.
You may try your own scrub by mixing a cup of brown sugar with three tbsp. of olive oil and a tbsp. of milk. Scrub the area for one minute and rinse with cool water.
Step 2
Switch to waxing as your main method of underarm hair removal, suggests The Beauty Brains website. Shaving may be quick and convenient, but it cuts the hair bluntly. When the hair grows back, it can often make the underarms look darker. By waxing, you remove the entire shaft of hair---so when the hair grows back, it's finer, softer and less noticeable. If you must shave, make sure you use a sharp razor to get the smoothest results.
Step 3
Apply a lightweight moisturizer under your arms daily. Dry skin may be more prone to clogging pores and looking dark. A moisturizer can smooth the appearance of underarms and keep skin healthy. Just make sure you choose a moisturizer that isn't too heavy, as it can clog pores and cause irritation on the sensitive skin under your arms.
Step 4
Switch the brand of antiperspirant you're using or try natural forms of concealing body odor. Antiperspirant use can be a trigger for axillary granular parakeratosis, a condition where certain places on the body, including the underarms, grow dark and spotty, notes a report published in a 2009 issue of the "Journal of the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology."
Step 5
See your dermatologist if the problem persists and isn't changed by home remedies. She can prescribe a hydroquinone cream that can help in effectively bleaching the skin. However, Drugs.com warns you should only use hydroquinone under doctor supervision, because it can be dangerous to pregnant women or individuals with certain allergies. Your dermatologist can also test you for skin conditions that may cause more than simple discoloration, such as acathosis nigricans or axillary granular parakeratosis.
Things You'll Need
- Soap
- Water
- Washcloth
- Exfoliating scrub
- Moisturizer
- Waxing products
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