Dark Underarms: Top Reasons Why People Get It and How to Prevent It

Underarms are often a neglected and forgotten about part of the body. Sometimes, the skin under our armpits turns darker than the rest of our skin, and while this is not harmful, many people will try to hide it or lighten it. Here are the top reasons why dark underarms happen:

Obesity

Obesity is a leading cause of darker underarms. Being overweight can leave you at risk for insulin resistance, which in turn has an effect on the color of the skin. This extra insulin leads to added pigment on the skin.

Hormone Conditions

Some hormone conditions can affect the color of your skin. Some of these conditions include, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Cushing’s Syndrome or Hypothyroidism. If you are experiencing hyper pigmentation, visit your doctor for a checkup to rule out an underlying condition.

Medications

Certain medications can change the way your skin looks. If you are experiencing some darkening of your underarms, review the side-effects of your medications to see if this could be the cause.

So, now that you know some of the causes of hyper pigmentation of your underarms, how do you treat it?

There are several treatment options to choose from to correct this problem, and depending on the route you choose to go, the results may vary. By following these Tips and techniques for whiter underarms, you may soon be seeing your problems clearing up and will be able to wear your sleeveless shirts again without worry.

Lifestyle Changes

Of the best things you can do to help your condition is to make some lifestyle changes and get your insulin under control. Not only will this benefit your health overall, but, it will make a definitive change to your skin tone.

Natural Remedies

There are a few natural products on the market that may make a difference to how your skin is pigmented. Serums such as Sea Cucumber Extract or Milk Thistle Extract are applied topically and may reduce the discoloration and lighten the affected skin.

Medication and Procedures

Another option for changing the tone of your skin is to use medication. Some medications have side effects that lighten the skin and some of created simply for this problem. The popular medication includes retinoid pills or cream, use this with caution though as it can increase your risk of sunburn.

Another option is to try a chemical peel, these will gently peel off the top layers of the skin, allowing for smoother, softer, skin below to show through. Often, this procedure can help skin appear lighter, but this is not a permanent solution as over time, the pigmented skin will return.

Dermabrasion is also used to eliminate hyperpigmented skin, again, while not permanent, this is an easy, temporary solution to the problem.

If you are experiencing darkened underarms and are not sure what the cause is, considers visiting your health care provider for a complete check up to rule out underlying conditions or side-effects from medication. Once the cause is determined, you can then decide on a course of treatment, by changing your lifestyle or using a natural remedy. If the natural route is not working, then more invasive procedures might be in order to help resolve the problem.