When swimsuit season rolls around, the last thing you want to experience is embarrassment from the condition of your underarms. Dark spots can make your underarms look unshaven and unclean, no matter how close you crop the hair or how often you bathe. Before you look to bleaching creams and other remedies, see a dermatologist to help diagnose your skin condition; it may be something much more than just discoloration.
Symptoms
Dark underarm spots may be the only area on your body that you notice discoloration, or it could be one of a few different locations on your body where darker skin is present. If you have dark underarm spots you may also suffer from dark skin on your neck or around your groin, notes MayoClinic.com. The dark skin under your arms can be anything from a few shades darker than your natural skin tone to much darker.
Causes
Dark underarms are the cause of a variety of conditions and problems. The most mild of problems involves shaving your underarms. When you shave, the hair grows back bluntly and can sometimes make it look as though you have dark underarms, notes The Beauty Brains website. A buildup of dead skin cells can cause darkened underarms as well. Your dark underarms may be the symptom of a skin condition known as acanthosis nigricans, which affects folds of skin. You may also have simple hyper pigmentation issues.
Risk Factors
The risk factors for darkened underarm skin varies as to the reason for the darkening. If it's a simple problem stubble, shaving will put you at risk. Certain antiperspirants can clog the pores underneath your arms. Hyper pigmentation or acanthosis nigricans are more common in darker skinned individuals. Hypothyroidism, some oral contraceptives, growth hormone therapy and excessive sun exposure can also exacerbate the condition, notes the Cleveland Clinic.
Treatment
In some cases, treatment may be as simple as switching antiperspirants or waxing under your arms instead of shaving. Exfoliating your underarms can help dissolve away dead skin cell buildup for lighter underarms. Wearing sunscreen can help prevent darkened underarms and skin caused by exposure to the sun.
Medical Treatment
Always talk to your doctor or dermatologist before you attempt to use a bleaching cream that contains hydroquinone, as it can cause skin reactions for those with sensitive skin. Laser therapy is also available to help lighten hyper pigmentation, notes the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. Only your doctor or dermatologist can diagnose your darkened underarms and suggest a plan for care.
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