Dark underarms are a common problem that many women face. Many fair-skinned women too have dark underarms which make them self-conscious of their appearance when wearing sleeveless tops and raising their arms. People claim that rubbing lemon juice, potatoes and cucumbers (due to their bleaching effect), coconut oil massages (due to their vitamin E content) have helped lighten the skin on their underarms. Here its causes and remedies.

Cause #1: Lots of friction will always cause undue darkening. And sweat or wetness in the area increases friction, worsening its effect.

Remedy #1: Try and keep the area dry by bathing regularly. Only wear clean, fresh clothes and use deodorants. To help eradicate the darkness, look for products containing alpha-hydroxy acids or topical retinoids (Vitamin A derivatives).

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Cause #2: Fungal infections are common in areas such as the underarms. These infections often show up as a darkening with a mild itch as well.

Remedy #2: Visit a dermatologist who can prescribe the correct treatments for you.

Cause #3: Many people have a genetic predisposition towards diabetes that can show up on the skin as a condition known as acanthosis nigricans. In acanthosis nigricans, you get a velvety dark pigmentation on the back of the neck and often in the underarms. This signal lets doctors know that you need to be really careful and avoid high-glycemic and high sugar foods to prevent diabetes.

Remedy #3: To treat this, we often recommend alpha-hydroxy acids or topical retinoids. Chemical peels and laser therapy can also be effective.

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