Are your dark underarms getting in your way of wearing sleeveless tops? Dark underarms can be a huge frustration since you’ll always feel uncomfortable raising your arms. But don’t fret, here are 8 natural ways to get rid of dark underarms.
8 Natural Methods to Eliminate of Dark Underarms
Learn how to get rid of dark underarms with these simple home remedies:
1. Potato
Potato is known for its natural bleaching ability due to its mild acidic properties. Compared to other bleaching agents, potato is mild and will not cause skin irritation, which is great for the sensitive skin on the underarms.
One way to use potato is to slice it thinly and rub one slice on the underarms. Another way is to grate the potato and apply its juice on the underarms and leave it for 15 to 20 minutes. Wash it off with lukewarm water.
2. Lemon & Cucumber
Yes, you guessed right! Lemon is part of the list because it is a natural bleaching agent. It is antibacterial and antiseptic too, which means that it doesn’t just whiten the underarm, it kills bacteria that can cause foul smells.
Lemon is quite strong, so you’d want to mix it with cucumber. After applying lemon juice on your underarms, soothe and cool the skin with cucumber. You can also mix lemon and cucumber juice together, add a bit of turmeric powder and apply the mixture on the underarms. Make sure to apply moisturizer to the skin after the treatment.
3. Baking Soda
Baking soda is not a whitening agent, but it does get rid of the dead skin cells on the underarms that are causing the discoloration. It is used as an exfoliating scrub that also unclogs the pores.
To use baking soda to get rid of dark underarms, simply mix baking soda and water until you make a paste mixture. Scrub your underarms with the mixture and wash it off. Only exfoliate twice a week at the most, since the underarm skin is thin and sensitive.
4. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is high in Vitamin E, which makes it a good home remedy for skin problems. But more than that, it helps lighten skin tone and also acts as a deodorant.
To use coconut oil, just massage the oil on your underarms and leave the oil for 5 minutes before washing it off. If you want to exfoliate at the same time, add brown sugar to the coconut oil and massage it gently on your underarms.
5. Milk & Honey
They say Cleopatra bathed in milk, which is how she got her beautiful, young, glowing skin. So, why not try it out for yourself too? Milk is proven to lighten skin tone because of its natural acids and vitamins. If you mix it with honey, you’ll get better results too.
Mix a tablespoon of milk and a tablespoon of honey. You can add a bit of lime juice or turmeric powder in the mix. Apply on your underarms and leave for a few minutes before rinsing.
6. Apple Cider Vinegar
This list wouldn’t be complete without apple cider vinegar, one of the most versatile kitchen ingredients you’ll ever own. It is a natural whitener and works amazingly to get rid of dark underarms.
To achieve better results, you can mix apple cider vinegar with baking soda. Apply the mixture on the underarms and let it dry. Wash with cold water. You can do this every day.
7. Limit Deodorant Use
A culprit in making underarms dark is deodorant. It contains chemical compounds that force skin pigmentation. As they say, prevention is better than cure. So if you want to avoid having dark or darker underarms, limit deodorant usage or switch to something milder than what you’re using now.
8. Don’t Shave
There’s no doubt that shaving is the most convenient way to remove hair, but what you may not realize is that shaving is also a culprit of your dark underarms. When you shave, it only cuts the hair on the surface of the skin. Waxing and tweezing remove the hair from the roots and are better alternatives for hair removal and preventing dark underarms.
These natural ways to get rid of dark underarms will definitely give you results. Nonetheless, do note that going natural will mean that you’ll have to wait longer for the results to come. But these methods are completely safe, and you don’t have to spend hundreds on expensive treatment, so they’re worth trying.