What Causes Dark Underarms and How to Even Them Out?

We’ve all had that moment—standing in front of the mirror, ready to rock a sleeveless outfit, only to feel unsure about the dark patches under our arms. Uneven underarm skin tone can make us feel self-conscious, even when it’s completely normal. But the good news is, there are ways to lighten and even out your underarm skin over time.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll discuss what causes dark underarms and explore effective ways to bring back that smooth, even skin tone.

Are Dark Underarms Normal?

We’re so used to seeing perfectly white and smooth underarms on TV or social media, so having dark pits can seem strange. Despite this, having dark underarms is perfectly normal.

Contrary to popular belief, the cause of dark underarms isn’t always poor hygiene or an unhealthy diet. In fact, dark underarms can be attributed to various factors such as hormonal changes, genetics, and even certain lifestyle habits.

To better understand how dark underarms happen, let’s examine the common causes.

What Causes Uneven and Dark Underarms?

Ideally, your underarms should be about the same shade as the rest of your body. But sometimes, certain factors can cause it to darken over time. Here are some of the culprits that may be causing your dark underarms.

1. Improper Shaving or Waxing

Improper shaving or aggressive waxing is one of the main causes of dark armpits. Using dull razors or shaving too often can cause irritation and abrasion on your armpit skin. It can trigger post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, a condition that can make your underarm skin darker.

Additionally, shaving only removes the surface-level hair from your underarms. It means that the root of each hair is still in your skin. If your hair is much darker than your skin tone, the subsurface hair may make your underarms appear darker.

Waxing, plucking, or using depilatory creams without care can irritate the delicate skin of the underarms, triggering melanin production and resulting in skin darkening. These hair removal methods can also lead to ingrown hairs and further inflammation, making the darkening of the underarm area even worse.

2. Wearing Tight-Fitting Clothes

Given the conservative culture here in the Philippines, you might have been discouraged by your parents from wearing sleeveless clothes as you were growing up. This means sticking to wearing T-shirts and long-sleeved shirts as much as you can.

Although there is nothing wrong with wearing sleeved shirts, the friction they cause can contribute to the discoloration of your armpits. This continuous rubbing irritates the skin, causing dark patches in areas such as the underarms.

Switching to loose, breathable fabrics like cotton and avoiding tight garments can help your armpits breathe and minimize the risk of darkening. 

3. Excessive Use of Antiperspirants and Deodorants

Uneven underarms may also result from your underarm care routine. Deodorants and antiperspirants are essential for staying fresh, but certain brands contain harsh chemicals like parabens and alcohol that can irritate your armpit skin. 

Repeated exposure to these ingredients may lead to inflammation, which can thicken the skin and cause it to darken over time.  

Knowing what product can whiten underarms safely is essential. Opting for gentle, natural deodorants and underarm whitening gel might help minimize irritation and keep your underarm skin smooth and even-toned. 

 4. Lack of Exfoliation and Poor Hygiene

Exfoliating isn’t just for your face—your underarms need some love, too. This means that your underarm needs the same skin care routine as your face to keep it healthy. Skipping your daily shower or leaving your sweaty pits to dry without washing or wiping them clean can lead to the buildup of dead skin cells and bacteria.

Dead skin cells accumulate when you don’t exfoliate the underarms, making the skin look dull and dark. To prevent this, remove dead skin cells from your armpits. 

5. Obesity

For individuals carrying extra weight, skin folds and friction can contribute to acanthosis nigricans, a condition characterized by thickened and darkened skin. This often occurs in areas where skin rubs together, such as the underarms, creating an uneven skin tone. 

Managing weight through a healthy diet and exercise may help reduce the likelihood of developing this condition.

6. Type 2 Diabetes

Acanthosis nigricans can also be a sign of insulin resistance, commonly found in people with Type 2 diabetes. The condition leads to dark, velvety patches in areas like your underarms, neck, and other skin folds, making it more difficult to maintain an even skin tone. Proper diabetes management may help prevent further skin changes.

7. Hormonal Imbalance and Genetics

Hormonal imbalances, such as those caused by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), pregnancy, or birth control pills, can affect your skin’s pigmentation. This happens because extra hormones can trigger the skin to produce more melanin, causing patches of darker skin, a condition known as melasma. Keep an eye out for any dark spots on your underarms and other parts of your body, as early care can help prevent them from getting worse.

Genetics also plays a part. People with naturally darker skin or a family history of pigmentation issues are more likely to have dark underarms. Despite hormonal and genetic influences, proper skincare practices and professional guidance can effectively manage dark underarms.

8. Medication

Some medications, especially those that affect your hormones or metabolism, can cause uneven underarm skin tone. Drugs commonly linked to underarm darkening include high-dose niacin, birth control pills, corticosteroids, and insulin. These can trigger changes in melanin production or hormonal balance, leading to uneven skin tone.

Consult your doctor if you’ve noticed your underarms darkening after starting a new medication.

9. Cancer

While rare, sudden and severe darkening of the underarms can be a sign of a more serious health condition, including cancer. If you’re concerned about drastic changes in your skin tone, it’s always best to consult a healthcare professional to rule out any underlying issues.

10. Smoking

Smoking is an activity that not only damages your lungs. It also makes your underarms darker. When you smoke regularly, you can suffer from smoker’s melanosis. This condition causes hyperpigmentation in various areas of your skin, including your underarms.

Dark patches will continue to appear and persist as long as smoking remains a habit. One important step in how to get rid of dark underarms is to quit smoking altogether. Once you stop for good, your complexion will gradually improve, and your skin tone may return to normal over time.

11. Sun Exposure

Prolonged exposure to UV rays can make hyperpigmentation worse in the underarm area. UV radiation encourages melanocytes to produce more melanin, leading to darkening of the skin. 

Since the underarms are often exposed to sunlight in a country as hot as ours, especially during outdoor activities, they are particularly prone to darkening. 

Effective Tips on How to Whiten Your Underarms

Now that we’ve covered the common causes, let’s discuss tried-and-tested tips on how to lighten underarms. Whether you’re into natural remedies or prefer more clinical treatments, many options exist.

Natural Underarm Brightening Methods

Growing up, your elders may have provided you with tips on how to lighten your underarms naturally without using any medication or soothing gel. They claim that several plants, vegetables, and fruits have the power to lighten your skin with regular use.

Calamansi

Calamansi, just like other citrus fruits, has natural bleaching and anti-bacterial properties. To use calamansi to lighten your underarms, slice one and squeeze its juice out.

Apply calamansi juice on your armpits after taking a bath and let it sit for a few hours. Then, pat your underarms dry using a clean cloth or wash the area with cold water. Doing this regularly will help improve the texture and color of your underarms.

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is found in almost all Filipino households because of its amazing healing properties. It is often used to treat skin problems, such as rashes, cuts, sunburn, and dryness.

You can also use the gel from an aloe vera plant as an underarm itching home remedy. This plant can help restore the texture of your skin and soothe any irritation that you might be dealing with due to shaving and harsh products.

Papaya

If you are looking for a gentler way to lighten your underarms and get rid of chicken skin, you should give Papaya a try. This fruit contains the enzyme papain, which is effective in healing your skin and encouraging collagen production.

To use this on your underarms, crush some papaya fruit and apply it as a mask on your armpits. Let it sit for a few minutes before wiping it off and rinsing your skin. Do this a few times every week to see results immediately.

Note: It’s important to note that these at-home underarm brightening methods may take longer to show results compared to chemical-based products. Always make sure to patch-test any new natural remedy on a small area of skin first to ensure you’re not allergic or sensitive to it.

Topical Treatment

Aside from natural treatments, you can opt to buy skin care products that are specially formulated to lighten underarms. Most of the time, these products come as lotions, creams, or gels that you can apply directly to your armpits. 

Over-the-counter creams designed to lighten the skin can work wonders if used consistently. If you’re wondering what is the most effective underarm whitening, look for formulations with ingredients like glutathione, kojic acid, or vitamin C, known to reduce hyperpigmentation and improve skin tone with regular use. 

But before trying any underarm treatment, it’s best to consult a dermatologist first. This ensures that you’re addressing the root cause of the darkening.

Use Brightening and Moisturizing Products

When it comes to underarm care, choose skincare solutions that not only lighten but also nourish and protect your skin. Opting for products with brightening and moisturizing properties helps improve skin tone while keeping the delicate underarm area soft, smooth, and healthy.

Gluta-C offers a range of underarm whitening products specifically designed to target hyperpigmentation and restore skin radiance. These products are also free from harsh chemicals and fragrances, making them safe for daily use.

For instance, the Gluta-C Intense Whitening Underarm and Bikini Gel, infused with glutathione and vitamin C, is specially formulated for delicate areas and suitable for all skin types.

Don’t overlook the role of deodorants and antiperspirants in your routine. Look for formulations that not only control odor and sweat but also offer brightening benefits and are gentle enough for sensitive skin. 

Moisturizing also plays a key role. It helps repair the skin barrier, reduces friction, and prevents dryness that can worsen hyperpigmentation. With Gluta-C, you get brightening and hydration in one gentle, effective solution.

Make sure to use a mild lightening body scrub, such as the Gluta-C Shower Salt Scrub with Kojic Plus+ Whitening System, to achieve your desired results.

Apply Daily Sun Protection

Sun exposure can amplify hyperpigmentation by stimulating melanin production in the skin, leading to further darkening of the underarm area. This is why you need to protect your skin from harmful UV rays to prevent the worsening of hyperpigmentation. 

Applying broad-spectrum sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30 to the underarm area daily is needed, even on gloomy days when UV radiation can still penetrate through clouds. Broad-spectrum sunscreens offer protection against both UVA and UVB rays, which are responsible for causing skin damage and triggering melanin production.

Gentle Hair Removal Methods

Everyone wants smoother, hair-free underarms, but you don’t have to sacrifice your armpits’ health to get them! Consider a different method of armpit hair removal from traditional shaving or waxing. 

Laser hair removal offers a long-term solution by targeting hair follicles with light energy, resulting in reduced hair growth over time. Similarly, hair removal creams created for sensitive skin gently dissolve hair at the root without causing irritation or inflammation. 

Those also seeking tips on how to whiten the bikini area will be happy to know that opting for gentler hair removal methods can also give you great results!

Professional Underarm Whitening Treatments

If home remedies and over-the-counter products aren’t giving you the desired results,  you can consult with a dermatologist for personalized treatment options. Professional treatments such as chemical peels, microdermabrasion, or laser therapy can help address stubborn dark underarms more effectively, but they are significantly more expensive. 

These treatments remove the top layers of skin, which can help reduce pigmentation and promote the growth of new, healthy skin.

Be Confident in Your Skin

Feeling self-conscious about your uneven underarm skin tone is normal, but know that you’re not alone and that there are solutions to your problem. There are various ways to have smoother and brighter underarms, including medical treatments, lifestyle modifications, and natural remedies.

Remember, consistency is crucial. If you want to see significant changes, you must give your chosen strategy time to work. And when you properly care for your underarm skin, you’ll notice a change in its tone over time.

Don’t let uneven underarms diminish your confidence. Take advantage of the best solutions to confidently wear sleeveless clothes!