Have you ever raised your hand for some reason and become aware that your armpit is dark? You know you recently shaved, so it's not hair that is making your armpit look nasty. You shower regularly and do everything you know to do. How do you get rid of the dark look in your pits?
The darker pigmentation could be due to a hormonal change or a build-up of dead skin cells. A lot of weird home remedies are touted on the internet, but here are 3 you should try to see if they work. There are also 4 you should definitely stay away from.
Dos
1. Sugar and coconut oil. If the dark color is due to a build-up of dead skin cells, Cosmopolitan recommends doing some exfoliating. Combine 1 teaspoon of sugar with a small amount of coconut oil for hydration. Rub this into your armpits for a few minutes and then wash off.
Dos
1. Sugar and coconut oil. If the dark color is due to a build-up of dead skin cells, Cosmopolitan recommends doing some exfoliating. Combine 1 teaspoon of sugar with a small amount of coconut oil for hydration. Rub this into your armpits for a few minutes and then wash off.
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2. Olive oil. Olive oil is highly moisturizing, so Stylecraze recommends using it to help treat darkened pits due to dry skin. Add a little brown sugar to also exfoliate. Mix 2 tablespoons olive oil with 2 to 3 tablespoons brown sugar. Apply this to a damp underarm. Leave it for 5 minutes. Rinse it off with warm water.
3. Licorice. WebMD shares that licorice extract acts as a skin brightener and lightener. LIVESTRONG says to apply the extract directly to your armpits with a cotton ball every morning and night.
Don'ts
4. Lemon juice. Lemon juice is making its rounds as a great way to lighten your underarms. Huffington Post shares that dermatologists are warning against this remedy as it can actually make the problem worse by making the skin highly sensitive to the sun and darkening it more.
4. Lemon juice. Lemon juice is making its rounds as a great way to lighten your underarms. Huffington Post shares that dermatologists are warning against this remedy as it can actually make the problem worse by making the skin highly sensitive to the sun and darkening it more.
5. Sea cucumber. Although sea cucumber does appear to lighten the underarm area, Healthline cautions against it as many people report having skin irritation as a result of using it.
6. Curcumin. Like sea cucumber, curcumin appears to show promise in lightening, but leaves skin irritation and reactions behind in its wake. Healthline recommends avoiding this one as well until a way to use it without irritation can be found.
7. Milk thistle. Milk thistle will also lighten the dark area, but Healthline cautions that it may also leave more problems behind than help.
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Being wise about how you treat your difficulties is extremely important. If these home remedies don't work, see your doctor and see what he or she recommends.