We’ve all been there, one day our underarms look totally normal and the next they’ve gone totally dark. But fret not because there are remedies for this issue as dark coloration is not usually a disease or medical-related condition. Dark underarms usually happen over time and it’s the skin way of responding to certain elements of products or even nature.
However, the most common causes of unattractive dark underarms would be due to shaving, sweating, underarms being poorly ventilated, gross dead skin cells and even the use of deodorants, especially those with alcohol.
Want to get rid of them? Well, there are plenty of affordable and totally natural remedies you can follow. Here are some of them
Coconut Oil
Thanks to the Vitamin E in coconut oil, using this can actually help lighten the skin and it can also act as a 100% natural deodorant.
- Apply some coconut oil on your underarms and massage
- Let it be for 10-15 minutes
- Wash off the coconut oil with a little bit of soap and lukewarm water
- Repeat a few times a day until you get the result you’re happy with
Baking Soda
To get rid of the dark underarms, you can use baking soda as a natural exfoliator, which helps remove the dead skin cells lingering. This is one of the main causes of dark underarms and any pores that are clogged can be completely cleared out.
- Make a paste by mixing water with the baking soda
- Get a dollop of the mixed paste and scrub it on your underarms
- Once you’re done, wash off the paste and pat your underarms gently
- Repeat this method a few times weekly
Orange Peel
The skin lightening and exfoliating properties of orange peel can really help brighten the appearance of your dark underarms.
- Dry out some orange peels completely by putting them out in the sun for a few days
- Grind the orange peels until they become powder form
- Get rose water, some milk, two teaspoons of the powdered orange peels and mix together until it turns into a thick paste
- Scrub your underarms with the paste and let it be for 10-15 minutes
- Once finished, rinse with cold water
- You can repeat this process 2-3 times a week
Cucumber
Cucumbers are not just great for the eyes but thanks to its natural bleaching properties, it can really help with dark underarms.
- You can get slices of cucumber and rub them on your underarms or you can also grate some cucumber and apply the juice. Repeat these methods twice daily for best results
- If you’re looking for a more pasty texture, what you can do is extract the juice then mix it with some lemon juice and turmeric powder. Leave the paste on for 30 minutes and then wash off with cold water. Only do this once daily or once every other day for best results.
Lemon
Besides having great flavour, lemon also has the power to act as a natural bleach and a strong antibacterial as well as antiseptic agent. This is why lemon is often a popular choice to fix skin problems, such as dark underarms. Keep in mind that the strong properties of lemon can also dry out your skin, so make sure you apply an ample amount of moisturiser once you’re done with any lemon-based at-home-remedies.
- Rubbing a lemon wedge on your underarms can help remove the grimy dead skin cells and also help lighten the affected area. You should leave the juice for about 10 minutes before washing it off thoroughly. If you want a more exfoliating experience, add some sugar to the combination and repeat this method a few times a week.
- You can also try mixing the lemon juice with plain yoghurt, honey or some turmeric powder and leave the mixture on your underarms for 10 minutes. Repeat 3-4 times a week for best result.
Potato
They’re not just tasty as snacks ya’ know? The very mild acidic property in potatoes also makes them a good bleaching product and because it’s mild, it will less than likely cause skin irritation.
- Rub a thin slice of potato under your arms
- You can even grate the potato and apply the juice on your underarms and leave it for 15-20 minutes and once you’re done, wash off with some lukewarm water
- For the result that you desire and a fast one, it’s best to use either one of these methods twice daily.