Some deodorants/antiperspirants may contribute to dark skin in the underarms, as do some other external factors such as shaving, use of harsh scrubs and depilatories.
For most people, dark underarms are caused by something called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), which is a darkening of the skin due to irritation or damage.
You've found a natural deodorant that works well, but suddenly your pits are noticeably darker. This darkness is caused by melanin—and melanin is created by your body to protect skin that has been damaged or is suffering from prolonged irritation.
Use a gentle deodorant like Dove to keep you protected from odour and sweat and avoid wearing tight clothing that can cause friction and eventually darken your underarms. For beautiful, even-toned underarms, Dove Ultimate Repair Dark Marks Corrector is the answer.
Like brushing your teeth or washing your face, putting deodorant on every day might seem like one of those rituals crucial for basic hygiene. But your decision is most likely based more on personal and cultural preferences than any potential medical necessity, dermatology experts say.
How long does it take to adjust to natural deodorant? The length of a detox phase (as well as the amount of odor and sweat) varies from person to person, but most people say it takes them about a month to fully adjust. This adjustment typically happens in a few different stages.
It may be a sign of insulin resistance and can be a warning sign for developing diabetes. It can also be seen in people who have underlying medical conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome. Occasionally medications like insulin and steroid tablets can cause acanthosis nigricans too.
If you're concerned about your dark underarms, Dr. Vij stresses the importance of talking to a doctor to get a diagnosis. “Once you've gotten a diagnosis and you're getting the right treatment, then skin-directed therapies like creams or laser therapy can be used to help lighten underarms,” he continues.
Yoghurt. Just the plain yogurt can also help to lighten darker skin patches. It also helps to calm skin irritation and rashes. Apply the yoghurt on the skin area for 10-15 minutes and wash it off with lukewarm water.
An armpit detox is a mask that can be applied to your underarms for around 15 minutes. The mask can be made at home with common household items like baking soda and cornstarch, or some beauty brands offer their own masks or scrubs.
The culture of bacteria is able to re-balance and stop overproducing odor-causing bacteria. What this means is that you will likely notice excess odor starting to decrease. Underarm moisture levels will also normalize. It will take some time to get used to sweating under your arms.
For antiperspirant deodorant, apply two upstrokes and two downstrokes to clean, dry skin before bedtime. This allows the formula to set completely. If done correctly, antiperspirants should keep you dry for a full 24 hours.
As your body continues to become accustomed to living without aluminum, its sweat and odor levels will self-regulate and begin to function normally. That means you'll sweat slightly more than when you used antiperspirant, but considerably less than if you were to use nothing at all.
"Deodorants have paraben, alcohol, fragrances etc. that can irritate the skin and cause inflammation leading to thickening and darkening of the skin over time. Many antiperspirants also use aluminum as an active ingredient, which clogs up the sweat ducts causing dryness and pigmentation" says Dr.
Also, let's remember that it blocks your pores in order to keep the sweat IN, but sweat is a normal process used by our body to remove harmful toxins (similar to going to the bathroom…). We need that process to function properly. Stopping it is not healthy.
Between 80 and 95% of East Asians have little to none of that typical acidic body odor smell. And it all comes down to a gene mutation. While some extra deodorant swipes can feel like a necessity during these sweltering temps, there's one group that's not really sweating it.