The appearance of pigmentation on the body means 2 things: a reaction to some irritant or a malfunction of the internal organs. Dark spots under the arms are common in men and women aged 30 to 45 years. Such a defect often causes the development of complexes in females. Due to aesthetic problems, they do not allow themselves to wear revealing clothes. Only a specialist can accurately determine the cause of the defect, so before getting rid of dark spots on your own, it is recommended to undergo an examination by a doctor.
Why is this happening?
The appearance of dark spots in the armpits can be caused by:
- physiological reasons;
- external influence;
- health disorders.
They can be present on the skin asymptomatically, but sometimes they cause severe discomfort and are very disturbing. To know how to get rid of dark spots under the arms, you need to determine their cause.
Physiological reasons
So, the first group includes features of human physiology:
- changes in hormonal status during puberty and pregnancy. This causes the development of melasmatic pigmentation, which sometimes occurs in adolescents, as well as in women bearing a child. There is no need to worry about how to remove darkening - the hormonal levels will be restored, everything will go away by itself;
- age-related hormonal changes in the body, which provokes the appearance of dark spots on the body in people over 45 years of age.
All this refers to natural life processes and does not require treatment. You can see what the spots look like in the photo.
External reasons
The second group is associated with darkening under the arms due to external influences, which include:
- irritating effects of deodorants and antiperspirants. The components that make up them often cause severe allergies, but more often they simply dry out the delicate epithelium. If it itches or darkens, you should think about using alternative anti-sweating remedies;
- damage to the skin during shaving or depilation. Such reasons are common among women, but ladies do not always attach importance to this. When hair removal is each time accompanied by inflammation and darkening of the armpits, it is better to replace the razor and depilator with wax strips;
- friction on clothes. This happens all the time when the shirt or blouse is smaller, has an awkward fit, or contains a lot of synthetics. The epithelium under the hands rubs, changing color over time. This is accompanied by serious discomfort, so it is better to replace such clothes with comfortable and high-quality ones.
How to remove dark armpits at home - folk remedies
You can also use folk remedies to lighten the skin of your armpits. They are quite effective, affordable and at the same time completely safe for health.
The most effective and popular procedures at home:
- Lemon. A universal skin lightening product. Can also be used to whiten the skin of the armpits. Just rub half a lemon on your skin after a shower.
- Kefir. Kefir is also an excellent remedy for whitening armpits. It contains beneficial ingredients that reduce dark spots and heal the skin. It is enough to apply kefir to cleansed skin and rinse with warm water.
- Soda and chickpea flour. Using these components, you can prepare a natural scrub to remove dead skin cells. To prepare it, mix a little soda with chickpea flour and natural yogurt.
- Turmeric. To prepare a lightening paste, mix turmeric with lemon juice. Use daily after an evening shower until dark spots disappear.
- Sandalwood paste. One of the most effective remedies against dark spots. Regular use of sandalwood paste not only brightens the skin, but also eliminates the unpleasant odor of sweat and relieves irritation after removing unwanted hair.
- Rice vinegar and flour. To prepare the paste, mix rice flour with a small amount of rice vinegar and apply for 10 minutes. This product brightens the skin and makes it fresh and velvety.
- Cucumber juice. To prepare a brightening lotion, you need to grind the cucumber using a blender and give the juice. Use the juice with a small amount of turmeric to rub the armpit area daily.
- Honey. To soften and whiten your skin, apply a thin layer of honey and lemon juice to your underarms. Then take a shower and moisturize your skin with lotion.
- Potato. Potatoes are also a natural bleach. Therefore, you should prepare potato juice and apply it for 20-25 minutes on clean skin. For optimal results, use potato juice daily.
- Coconut oil. An optimal product for lightening the skin of the armpit, as well as reducing the odor of sweat. You should use coconut oil after taking a shower.
- Talc. If darkening of the skin occurs as a result of using alcohol deodorants, it is recommended to use talc. It will keep your skin dry and clean, but at the same time protect your armpits from darkening.
Causes due to pathologies
The third group of factors consists of pathological conditions. They may represent:
- functional disorders of internal organs;
- skin epithelium problems.
In the first case, a change in skin color may be associated with malfunctions of the endocrine system, dysfunction of the liver, pancreas, and other organs. All these conditions require medical supervision and medical correction. As for problems with the color of individual areas of the skin, their solution directly depends on the success of treatment of the underlying disease.
An example is acanthokeratoderma, a condition that causes darkening of the groin and other areas of the body. It is associated with disruption of the internal secretion organs and is often found in those who are overweight.
When considering skin abnormalities, it is worth taking a closer look at individual pathologies that, among other things, affect skin pigmentation.
Erythrasma
It belongs to bacterial pseudomycosis and is a contagious disease. The affected surface is covered with colored spots (from light pink to dark brown), with clearly defined boundaries. In inflamed areas, the top layer dries out and peels off.
In addition to the armpits, erythrasma manifests itself:
- in the groin, thighs and abdomen;
- in women - in the folds under the mammary glands;
- in men - near the testicles and anus.
The initial period goes unnoticed, but then unpleasant symptoms appear, which increase over time.
In summer, a secondary infection occurs from sweat and friction. The lesions grow, merging into large areas of darkening. They itch and hurt. If you do not consult a doctor on time, the pathology quickly becomes chronic.
Rubrophytia
This is a fungal infection of the armpits and groin. Externally, it appears as round red spots, which darken and peel over time.
The fungus affects the surface:
- thighs, legs and chest
- feet and hands.
In addition, it can destroy nails and hair follicles.
It all starts with the formation of bubbles, which, when opened, form plaques covered with crusts. They affect the body and hair in the pubic and armpit areas, causing severe itching.
It is important to know that an infection, including a fungal infection, can be present in the body without manifesting itself for a long time. The impetus for its active action and reproduction can be:
- chronic lack of hygiene:
- weakening of the body's defenses.
Athlete's inguinal
It is more common in men. Appears as dark areas of skin under the arms and in the groin (including the intergluteal fold).
When athlete's foot affects women, it is noticeable:
- in a warehouse under the mammary gland;
- in the pubic and buttocks area.
A characteristic feature is the symmetrical arrangement of spots with roller-shaped edges, with papules and crusts. Over time, they occupy an increasingly larger area and merge, causing real suffering to a person:
- itching and burning while walking;
- discomfort during any movement;
- pain from contact with clothing;
Athlete's foot can quickly take on a chronic form and is dangerous for relapses.
Skin candidiasis
Another pathology associated with the effects of a fungal infection. It affects the body in areas of high sweating, and is also transmitted through contact with infected people, their clothing and hygiene items.
Dark circles under the arms and large skin folds are initially red and then darken.
Dermatologists consider the characteristic symptoms of external candidiasis to be
- the presence of papules that can burst and spread to healthy areas of the skin;
- pain in the area of inflammation;
- burning and unbearable itching;
- the appearance of a purulent element in the later stages of the disease.
The fungus can spread throughout the body through self-infection when a person does not wash their hands after contact with affected areas and touches healthy skin. In especially severe cases, the infection can invade the mucous membranes of the external genitalia and penetrate the bloodstream.
In such cases, you need to worry not so much about how to remove dark spots under the arms and between the legs, but about treating the pathology itself.
Depilation
This factor has a significant impact on the quality of armpit skin.
First, prepare the skin, because it should be clean and dry. Use a product that does not dry out the skin.
When using a razor, you should initially disinfect the device. Preparations or products must be of high quality in their composition.
Hair removal occurs after growth, otherwise redness and inflammatory processes are possible, which lead to clogged pores and subsequently a change in color. After the procedure, it is necessary to moisturize the skin.
Diagnosis and treatment
It all starts with examination and taking samples of the epithelium from the inflamed areas for analysis. Clinical studies are carried out using various methods to accurately determine the pathogen, the degree of development of the disease, and select adequate treatment.
As for therapy, it includes:
- antifungal drugs for oral administration;
- immunity enhancing agents;
- antifungal ointments.
When a person consults a doctor at the initial stage of the disease, it is possible to limit himself to using only external remedies.
Today, the most effective antimycotic ointments and creams are:
- Clotrimazole is a drug with a wide spectrum of effects that allows you to fight various fungi.
- Pimafukort is a universal ointment that has antifungal and antibacterial properties.
- Lamisil has proven itself as a remedy against yeast-like microorganisms.
Whitening methods
To carry out therapy, you must contact a dermatologist. The doctor will conduct an examination and questioning, and then prescribe treatment. If pigmentation was caused by any internal disorder, you should be examined by a therapist, endocrinologist or gastroenterologist. But often therapy consists of using bleaching agents. During treatment, it is better to avoid using cosmetic products (depilatory cream, antiperspirants, shaving foam).
The epidermis in the armpit area is very thin, so you should not immediately resort to too aggressive means. First, you need to conduct an allergy test by applying the product to a small area. If there is no itching or redness, then the entire darkened area can be treated. You can find many skin lightening products in pharmacies, but it is better to consult a specialist. Products based on kojic and glycolic acids, arbutin, hydroquinone and even mercury are considered effective. The most popular products are Achromin and Vitex creams for skin lightening, as well as a line of products from Vighy Idealia PRO. They are aimed at relieving irritation and reducing melanin production. All medications have pros and cons; before use, you need to study the instructions and exclude contraindications.
Preventing underarm spots
To avoid the problem of dark spots in the armpit area, you need to follow these simple rules:
- Use only proven cosmetics for depilation and care of delicate armpit skin. Before experimenting with new products, test them on your wrist. If redness and other reactions are not noticed, then you can safely use them.
- When sunbathing, use special protective creams. This will protect your skin from ultraviolet radiation.
- To prevent infection with fungal microspores, observe hygiene standards when visiting public places, and do not use someone else’s towel, shoes, or roll-on deodorant.
- Maintain personal hygiene of the armpits. The less you sweat, the less bacteria there are on your skin.
A competent approach to the problem will help keep your armpits clean and dry. Do not self-medicate and do not use untested cosmetics.
