Do you have dark armpits? Well, if we’re being honest, almost every woman we know does. And truth be told, it can be very embarrassing. Sometimes, it’s difficult just raising your arms in public, especially when you know people can see your armpits. And annoyingly, we sometimes don’t even know the causes of dark armpits so we can stay away from them. But that’s about to change. This post is all about the causes you should know.
There aren’t a lot of causes of dark armpits. In fact, if we really narrow things down, there are only about 5. Let’s take a look at them.
Shaving
If you’ve ever guessed that you have dark armpits because of shaving, then you guessed right. But you might not know how. If you have really dark hair (hair darker than your skin) then this could be the reason why your pits are dark. The dark hair lying under your armpit skin gives the illusion of darker skin. And shaving doesn’t remove the hair under your skin.
(Photo: Brayden Olson for Refinery 29)
We suggest switching to a more thorough hair removal process like hair removal creams or waxing. These methods get rid of hair under the skin, giving you lighter looking pits.
Dead skin
Just like your body or face, your armpits can gather dead skin. Sometimes, the cast of dark skin we see on our underarms is actually a build-up of dead skin just sitting there.
(Photo: ChloeDosh)
So the next time you’re exfoliating and cleansing, extend some of that love to your armpits. Use a gentle body scrub to scale off the dead skin and you’ll see progress in a short while.
Antiperspirants
We’ve always suspected this one but had no idea how it affected our underarms negatively. Antiperspirants have been our best friend that keeps sweaty and stinky armpits at bay. But, in addition, they could be making our pits look darker. Some deodorants contain chemicals that could be irritating our skin, which would eventually lead to discolouration. So even if they’re helping keep your armpits feeling and smelling fresh, you need to be mindful of what is in them.
(Photo: Brayden Olsen for Refinery 29)
A great solution is looking for products that are fragrance-free or contain Pro-Vitamin B5 to curb irritation.
Excessive friction or rubbing
This point also answers why your thighs and certain parts of your body appear darker. Besides shaving, which can graze your skin excessively and lead to discolouration, some of our lifestyle habits can also lead to darker armpits. Be sure to watch out for clothes made from tough or itchy fabrics that could cause strain on the skin or irritation to the skin.
(Photo: PopSugar Fitness)
Acanthosis Nigricans (AN)
Lastly, your dark armpits could be the result of a medical condition. Acanthosis Nigricans (AN) occurs when pigment cells in the skin multiply faster than usual. This leads to dark lines appearing across places like the armpit, neck and groin.
(Photo: HealthLine)
AN typically occurs in people that suffer from obesity or diabetes. This is because diabetic women usually suffer from insulin insufficiency and this can affect obese women too.
So there you go – causes of dark armpits you need to be aware of. Tell us, what causes have you discovered?
(Featured Image: Brayden Olsen for Refinery 29)