Home Remedies No. 20 For Dark Underarms

Dark underarms

Dark underarms are often the cause of embarrassment when you wear your favorite sleeveless top. Dark underarms are of more concern to fair people because it is visible more on fair skin. Dark Underarms Symptoms Following are the few symptoms of dark underarms Dark skin at armpits, It may be accompanied by itching, sweating and bad odor. Dark underarms Symptoms, Causes, Remedy and Diet Dark Underarms Causes Some of the causes of dark underarms are as follows Friction due to tight blouses and tops that brush against the skin, Excessive sweating, Infections due to improper washing of underarms, Shaving, Dead skin buildup, Chemicals, alcohol and strong fragrance in deodorants. Body odor and darkened underarms often occur together as both can be caused by the presence of certain types of bacteria. Sweat does not have any odor but bacteria that thrive on perspiration are the root cause of the problem. One of the most common types of bacteria responsible for dark underarms and an unpleasant odor is called Corynebacterium. This type of bacteria is generally found in the areas under the arms and around the groin and they metabolize sweat and sebum which results in the formation of odorous compounds that are responsible for the foul smell. These bacteria also cause the skin to darken over a prolonged period of time. There are several methods to lighten your skin but most of these are temporary measures and do not offer lasting results. The best home remedies for dark underarms are those that help to treat the discoloration as well as treat the root cause of the problem which is the bacteria. Your choice of clothing also plays a very important role in preventing dark underarms. Rough fabrics, especially synthetic fabrics will rub against your skin and cause mild chaffing that may even go unnoticed. However, in time, the skin in this area would begin to darken. Dark underarms are a very common problem as any movement of your arms causes friction between your shirt and your underarms. Constant chaffing invariably causes discoloration which is why some people also suffer from discoloration on their inner thighs. People who are overweight are most likely to suffer from this problem. In order to treat this type of discoloration, you would therefore first need to eliminate the friction. Apply a small amount of powder to your underarms after your shower. You could use an antibacterial powder or even talcum powder and you should reapply it at least once in the course of your day. Dark underarms home remedies and natural cures, Questions and answers Remedies for Armpits Rub lemon slices on your armpits. Use alum powder instead of deodorants. After a shower rub some baking soda on your armpits. Apply vitamin E oil on your armpits. Wash your armpits with coconut oil. Make a paste using 1 tsp of lime juice, 1 tsp of cucumber juice and a pinch of turmeric powder. Apply it on your armpits and rinse after 20 minutes. This is a very effective remedy for dark underarms and so you should use it at least four times a week. Lime juice is acidic in nature and will help to get rid of any excess sweat, oil, and grime on the surface of your skin. It will also help to get rid of the upper layer of dead skin and this will help to whiten dark underarms. This dark underarms solution is also excellent in reducing body odor. The cucumber juice in this remedy will help to soothe the chaffed skin and aid the healing process. Turmeric is well known for its effectiveness in treating minor skin problems due to its high antioxidant levels and helps to reduce skin discoloration. Remedies for Underarms Apply a paste of 1 tbsp. curd, 1 tsp. gram flour, pinch of turmeric and 1 tsp. milk on your underarms. Rinse with cold water when it dries. Apply paste of rose water and sandalwood powder on your underarms. Curd and yogurt are both extremely effective in treating discolored underarms as they contain several vitamins and fatty acids that help to prevent as well as treat skin damage. Use unsweetened and unflavored curd or yogurt that has been made from whole milk and not skim milk. Sandalwood and rosewood are extremely soothing and would help to reduce discoloration caused by constant chaffing. You can also make your own rejuvenating skin cream that you can apply to your underarms at night to help treat the discoloration. Pour two tablespoons of pure water into a small bottle and then add three drops each of olive oil, wheat germ oil, jojoba oil and any citrus oil. Shake the contents well so that it forms a milky emulsion and then apply this lotion to your underarms. Olive oil is rich in natural oleic acid which is an excellent skin moisturizer while wheatgerm and jojoba oils contain several fat soluble vitamins and fatty acids. Citrus oils are acidic in nature and help to bleach the skin naturally. You could use this cream on a daily basis as it is an excellent dark underarms treatment. Rubbing raw potato juice on the underarm skin is also an effective home remedy for whitening dark underarms. Potato juice contains natural bleaching properties that can help in restoring the fairness of underarm skin. Similarly tomato also has great bleaching properties and rubbing raw tomato slices on the underarms for at least 10 minutes every day can help lighten underarm skin considerably. A mixture of one tablespoon each of lemon juice and honey can be applied to the armpits before a shower or bath and left to dry for 25-30 minutes. It can then be rinsed off with warm water. This is another effective home treatment for lightening dark underarms. Another good home remedy can be prepared by mixing a tablespoon of fresh yogurt with some dried orange peel powder. This mixture can be regularly applied to the armpits to effectively remove dark underarms. Licorice is one of the herbs which can help in getting rid of dark underarms. A licorice paste can be applied regularly for the effective whitening of dark underarms. Licorice root extract can also be mixed with raspberry and aspen extracts to treat the discoloration of the underarms. These herbal extracts contain medicinal properties that can stimulate the production of pheomelanin, which in turn helps in lightening dark underarms. Apart from external application remedies, there are also a few remedies that work from within when consumed. A spoonful of fenugreek seeds can be soaked in water overnight and the mixture should be consumed the following morning, after straining it of course. This is a great herbal treatment for dark underarms. Similarly, consuming a capsule of cinnamon twice a day, preferably in the morning and evening can be of great help in treating underarm discoloration. These home remedies pose no known risks and can be used in addition to traditional treatment methods. Dark underarms : Home Remedies suggested by users Dark Underarms Diet There is no specific diet for dark underarms. Other Suggestions for Dark underarms Use anti-fungal powder instead of anti-perspirants. Wear cotton clothes instead. Do not shave your underarms, instead wax them regularly. It will not only remove hair but also the dead skin. It is important to exfoliate your skin on a regular basis. The underarms are moist and warm and this is what attracts bacteria. It is not our sweat that causes body odor but rather the bacteria that are present in this area. Bacteria thrive on dead skin cells and excess sebum and sweat and so it is important to shower regularly and pay attention to these problem areas. Exfoliation helps to get rid of dead skin cells and excess sweat on the surface of the skin. You can make your own exfoliation scrub to help reduce the risk of dark underarms. Grind a handful of unpolished rice so that it becomes a coarse powder. Place this rice flour along with a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a bowl and mix it thoroughly so that it forms a thick paste. Apply this paste to your underarms and massage it slowly into your skin. It would be best to do this after a warm shower as the dirt and dead skin cells will be sufficiently loosened. Allow the paste to remain on for a few minutes before rinsing it off with lukewarm water. Apple cider vinegar is a potent but gentle natural acid and will help to eliminate as well as prevent bacterial growth. You may use this scrub at least once a week and you could use a loofa on other days to prevent the darkening of the skin under your arms. A pumice stone is another great exfoliating agent and can be used on a regular basis as part of your daily hygiene routine. Exfoliation also helps to prevent blackheads, whiteheads, and ingrown hair. Ingrown hair under the arms can be especially painful if they are not treated on time. Ingrown hair under the arms is most common in those who shave their underarms. If for some reason you cannot wax your underarms and are forced to shave, make sure that you use a razor with a sharp blade and apply a small amount of antimicrobial cream to your underarms once you are done to prevent boils. Boils and ingrown hair would cause scars which will only add to the discoloration under your arms. It is best to avoid hair removal creams completely as these creams contain harsh chemicals that are meant to literally melt your hair. These chemicals can also have an adverse effect on your skin and invariably cause darkening of the skin when used for extended periods. Unhealthy habits like smoking and drinking excessively have also been known to cause ulcers. dark underarms suggested by Sonia on Thursday, March 20, 2008 I had dark underarms for such a long time, at first I thought I was the only one with this problem, I even went to a dermatologist and was told that I had no problem at all (needless to say I never been back to the dermatologist). I know how embarrassing it is to have dark underarms, never mind the fact that you can not wear anything short sleeve or sleeveless. After so much researching I went to Sephora to purchase a skin exfoliator, a Sephora salesperson told me that   has a product called Dermadoctor Total nonscents ultra-gentle brightening antiperspirant. I have been using it less than a month and what a difference!!! I exfoliate to get rid of any dead skin and then I apply the deodorant, my armpits went from black to light brown in such a short time. Once you reach the desire skin tone, Sephora has a deodorant that you could switch to; it is very mild, antifungal, antibacterial, antiperspirant. Just wanted to share this information with everyone, if it doesn't work for you Sephora will take back any of their products no questions asked, so you can't go wrong. Good luck. Jersey girl. dark armpit suggested by Lorna on Tuesday, September 11, 2007 I used to have a dark armpit and hated to wear sleeveless tops, but I discovered a cream called Chin Chun Su and after using it for 2 wks I saw the changes and I recommend it to anyone with the same problem. It is only bought at oriental stores and I can get it for you for $5.00, try it! Dark Underarms Is Cause By Acanthosis Nigrican suggested by Laury on Thursday, May 3, 2007 Most time it is do to obesity or being somewhat overweight. You can read more about it at http://www.aocd.org/skin/dermatologic_diseases/acanthosis_nigrica.html Acanthosis Nigricans Causes Dark Underarms suggested by Laury on Thursday, May 3, 2007 Acanthosis Nigricans Acanthosis nigricans is a disorder that may begin at any age. It causes velvety, light-brown-to-black, markings usually on the neck, under the arms or in the groin. Acanthosis nigricans is most often associated with obesity. Eating too much of the wrong foods, especially starches and sugars, can cause insulin resistance. This will result in elevated insulin levels. Most patients with acanthosis nigricans have a higher insulin level than those of the same weight without acanthosis nigricans. Elevated levels of insulin in most cases probably cause acanthosis nigricans. The elevated insulin levels in the body activates insulin receptors in the skin, forcing it to grow abnormally. Reducing the circulating insulin by dieting or medication can lead to improvement of the skin problem. When acanthosis nigricans develops in people who are not overweight, a medical work-up should be done. Rarely acanthosis nigricans is associated with a tumor, most commonly of the stomach or gut. In these cases acanthosis can bee seen in extra places, such as the lips or hands and is unusually severe. Occasionally acanthosis nigricans is congenital or due to an endocrine (glandular) disorder. Treatment to just improve the appearance includes Retin-A, 20% urea, alpha hydroxyacids, and lactic or salicylic acid prescriptions. Source:  http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com/remedy/Dark-underarms.html