Spots under your arms can make you feel self-conscious while wearing sleeveless shirts or a swimsuit. Even if you're diligent about shaving or other hair removal methods under your arm, your armpits look unclean and unshaven with dark patches. Perhaps it's not your hair-removal methods that are the problem, but the actual pigmentation of your skin. Dark spots have a variety of reasons, so consider each possible cause and treat it accordingly.
Symptoms
When you suffer from spots under the armpit, you may see darkened patches of skin when you raise your arm that don't seem to go away with hair-removal efforts. The coloring may be mottled and grayish in appearance. When you run your fingers over the surface of your armpit, it may also feel bumpy, depending on the cause of your dark spots.
Causes
Spots under the armpit are caused by three distinct conditions. The first, and most easily treatable, is your hair-removal practices. You may get red spots under the arms as a result of razor burn or ingrown hair. If the spots are darker, they may be caused by the bluntly growing armpit stubble. Spots can also be caused by dead skin cells clogging the pores under your arms, creating dark patches, according to the Beauty Brains website. Finally, the spots could be caused by acanthosis nigricans, a condition that causes darkening in the folds of the skin.
Risk Factors
MayoClinic.com notes those with darker skin are more likely to suffer from hyperpigmentation, but the other causes of dark spots under the armpits can affect nearly anyone. If you shave rather than waxing, plucking or another method of hair removal, you're sure to get stubble and note those dark spots or ingrown hairs. Your skin naturally sloughs off dead skin cells, making it likely for your pores to become clogged as well.
Remedies
You can try and treat the dark spots at home. If you shave, consider switching to another form of hair removal that removes the hair from the root rather than cutting it straight across. Or you can exfoliate dead skin cells using an exfoliating scrub and a loofah, suggests "Glamour" magazine. If your spots are the result of hyperpigmentation, an over-the-counter cream containing hydroquinone can be used on a short-term basis to help fade the spots.
Medical Treatment
Spots under the armpits aren't usually cause for concern, but sudden hyperpigmentation of the skin may be the cause of a hormone or thyroid condition. Schedule an appointment with your doctor if you're concerned; you may need to begin hormone therapy or a prescription ointment to fade the spots for smoother, clearer armpits.
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