Keeping our body clean and well maintained is essential. Hence, for most people, dark armpits is a problem to concern. Although the tone of your entire body skin might contribute to the tone of your underarms, there are many other risk factors causing darkening underarms. Here is a list about the top factors contributing to discolored underarms.

What makes my armpits so dark?

There are many reasons which may cause hyperpigmentation on the underarm areas, making these areas look darker than the surrounding skin. If you have had experiences with discolored armpits, the list might be helpful in determining the things you can do to make it less visible.

Excessive shaving

Shaving sits on the top list of things causing discolored armpits. Since this is one of the simplest method of armpit hair removal, shaving is done by most women favoring simplicity and time-saving when performing self-care. However, shaving does not give any long-lasting effects of armpit hair removal. As a result, people do excessive shaving too frequently. When shaved, only the hair below the skin surface is cut off, instead of its entire root. This contributes to in-grown hair, which gives an impression of darker armpits.

What helps? Replace shaving with waxing or sugaring, since these two techniques are able to remove armpit hair from the roots, instead of cutting it off on the surface.

Dead skin cells

Accumulated dead skin cells on the underarms also contribute to darkening skin down there. These dead cells are trapped with sweats, which do not only cause unpleasant odor, but also visible discoloration.

What helps? Regular exfoliating will give a major change on discolored underarms. This treatment will remove dead skin cells which have accumulated on the area and eventually restore its natural tone.

Harsh chemicals application

Hair removal creams or antiperspirant and deodorants application also contributes on your underarms’ tone. Frequent application of these harsh-chemical products might damage the epidermis, darkening the armpits.

What helps? Stop using antiperspirant and hair removal creams containing unnatural chemicals. If you insist to wear something to minimize body odor, choose the deodorant instead of antiperspirant.

Electrolysis

For many people, this method is a great way of removing armpit hair, as this laser-based treatment gives semi-permanent result. However, lengthy sessions of electrolysis are likely to cause hyperpigmentation, which can be permanent on the underarms.

What helps? Replace electrolysis with waxing or sugaring. The result might be slightly shorter, but these two treatments are not prone to skin discoloration. Is you still preferring electrolysis, avoid lengthy sessions and sun expose prior to and post treatments.

Tight clothes

Too tight clothes contribute in causing frictions to the skin, especially on sensitive areas, such as the underarms. These frictions will give an impression about darker underarms. Moreover, tight clothes do not let your skin breath well, so that sweat is going to be trapped and thus, promote skin darkening.

What helps? Wear clothes which are breathable. Avoid synthetic fabric and instead, choose cotton. Whenever possible, wear slightly loose garments, which let your body parts move freely and your skin, breathe sufficiently.

Overweight

Weight also contribute to darkened armpits, as a matter of fact. It is because if you are overweighed, some folded fats might be accumulated under the armpits, creating frictions which trap sweats and bacteria under them. As a result, the affected skin will have a darker tone than the surrounding skin.

What helps? Control your weight and immediately lose weight when you notice some folded fats around the underarms, since those might turn into frictions soon enough, before you even noticing.

Lack of hygiene

Showering, scrubbing, and moisturizing are only some of those actions you need to do regularly in order to eliminate bacteria which may reside on certain areas of your body parts. Fail to do these hygiene-related routine will leave these bacteria trapped, which causes skin to be darker.

What helps? Take a shower regularly and do deep cleaning at least twice a week. Scrub the underarms regularly while bathing and apply moisturizer afterwards in order to maintain its natural tone. Apply natural moisturizer, such as aloe vera whenever possible, instead of whitening creams which may contain harsh chemicals.