Dark underarm skin can be unsightly and embarrassing. Are your armpits darker than they should be? Have you ever wondered why? Here are the top causes of underarm darkening:

Shaving
When you shave, you cut the hairs off at the surface of the skin. If your hair is darker than your skin colour, they can give your skin a dark, discoloured appearance. Instead of shaving, try waxing or tweezing the hairs. This gets rid of the hair below the skin surface, reducing the visibility of the hairs.

Antiperspirant and Deodorant Usage
Antiperspirant and deodorant products contain ingredients which could react with the skin or with your individual body chemistry, causing skin discolouration. Try switching brands of antiperspirant or use just a deodorant instead of an antiperspirant product.

A Medical Condition Known as Acanthosis Nigricans 
Underarm discoloration can be caused by a medical condition called Acanthosis Nigricans. It not only causes underarm darkening, but causes light-brown-to-black markings on the neck, under the arms and even in the groin area. Areas affected feel velvety and are a dark gray or brown colour. Acanthosis Nigricans is frequently found in individuals with an insulin disorder or a glandular disorder. This condition typically occurs among people who are overweight. It is also found in individuals with Addison disease, pituitary problems, hypothyroidism, or those undergoing growth hormone therapy, using oral contraceptives or cholesterol medications containing nicotinic acid. This condition can be minimised if you watch your diet to control insulin production.

Build-up of Dead Skin Cells.
If you do not maintain proper levels of hygiene, dead skin cells are most likely to accumulate in the underarms. These dead skin cells get trapped in the microscopic “hills and valleys” on your skin, causing dark spots and bumps to develop. To get rid of this build-up, exfoliate your underarm skin regularly.

Bacterial Infection
A bacterial infection known as erythrasma can be a culprit in producing dark underarms. The infection appears as pink patches at first, and then turns into brown scales. It affects more individuals in warm climates due to excessive sweating in these conditions. Excessive sweating can cause bacteria to be trapped in the skin of the underarms and result in pigmentation of the skin area. Erythrasma is treated using oral or topical antibiotics.

Don’t be left in the dark, or in this case, with the dark! I hope this was helpful to you. Here’s to pretty underarms! 

Article by: Kelly Abrahams