DARK UNDERARMS? NO PROBLEM

Hi, babes! Emma here, and today I'll be sharing some tips for lightening your underarms. I'm sure that many of you, including me, have encountered this issue so here's some things that have worked for me. But first, a little breakdown on why this happens. 

How do I brighten my underarms? was a question my sister and I asked our mum when we were in our teens. She told us that this was a question she was very well used to and we weren’t the first to ask or wonder about it. She said the issue humbled her greatly because it was a hard thing to treat, but she’d try. 

So here are some tips and pearls of wisdom my mum, a dermatologist of over twenty years of experience, shared with us that I’ll in turn share with you. 

Before we get into the how, I first need to tell you the why. Underarm skin is delicate. In terms of depth, it is analogous to eyelid skin. This means that it is very easy to irritate this skin, and unfortunately, irritation also produces additional pigmentation. Next, underarm skin folds onto itself, which in turn  increases the absorption of any product applied to the area. This is significant because all ingredients that help with hyperpigmentation are irritating to some degree. So a very delicate balance is required to achieve improvement without further irritation.

Many of the tips below will focus on minimising irritation to the area. Patience and the willpower to not do the most will be required to see results. As a rule of thumb, the longer the pigmentation has been present, the longer it will take to see significant improvement.

TREAT ANY IRRITATION BEFORE YOU START LIGHTENING METHODS

The first thing you need to assess is whether you have a rash, and if you do, you need to treat that before anything else because until your rash is gone all the brightening treatments will be useless. 

A rash is a sign of skin inflammation and may present with redness, itching, flakiness, and/or local roughness to the skin. If any of these signs or symptoms are present, I recommend evaluation by a dermatologist or GP for prescription anti-inflammatory treatment.

The inflammation may be due to a chronic skin condition (i.e., eczema, psoriasis), a superficial skin infection, or an allergy to a frequently used product. Once the cause has been diagnosed and controlled, brightening treatments can be started.

INTRODUCE EXFOLIATION TO THE AREA

The next step in your underarm brightening journey is to introduce a combination of gentle physical and chemical exfoliants. Physical pressure provides no benefits for treating hyperpigmentation. (In fact, it's more likely to cause irritation and worsen the problem.) Instead, add a gentle combination of chemical and physical exfoliator into your routine a few times a week. Lactic, glycolic, and salicylic acids are effective ingredients for this area.

SHAVING 

Another solution you could give a try is to optimise your shaving routine. If you shave, then keep in mind that shaving without shaving cream can be irritating to the skin. Instead of doing this, incorporate a shaving cream into your shaving routine.

If you don’t feel like buying a dedicated product for shaving, a small dollop of your conditioner will work as well. Allow the shaving cream/conditioner to sit on the skin for 15–30 seconds before shaving. Replace your razor blades frequently to prevent dull blades from rubbing along the skin.

Waxing or laser hair removal are better hair removal options for those prone to sensitivity, irritation or if you have allergic reactions to the metal on the razor blades. 

INTRODUCE HYPERPIGMENTATION TREATMENTS 

You can use your typical topical anti- hyperpigmentation products on your underarms. Yep, you read that right. However, practice caution. Since the skin of the underarms is thin and the skin folds onto itself, absorption will be greater than if you applied the same product to your face.

To prevent irritation, start slowly, just twice a week, and remember that less is more when it comes to this treatment option; apply a very thin layer, and allow the product to dry before lowering your arm. As each week passes, you can increase the frequency by once a week as tolerated. So you may be able to use the product daily or twice a day eventually, but it will take weeks to slowly build up to this point.

CONSIDER CHANGING YOUR DEODORANT

The final thing you could give a go is to opt for a hypoallergenic deodorant. Since irritation can lead to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, the first thing you want to do is remove anything that's potentially causing or worsening the problem. 

Natural deodorants do not limit sweating, so they tend to be highly fragranced. Some people develop allergies to these plant-based fragrances. These skin allergies typically present with redness and itching. Others develop irritation and a rash from excessive sweat. These natural deodorants can cause hyperpigmentation without a rash. 

Sodium bicarbonate is a common ingredient in natural deodorants, and this ingredient has anecdotally been linked to hyperpigmentation without a rash. If you've noticed darkening of your underarms after starting a new deodorant, consider switching to a hypoallergenic antiperspirant, such as Vanicream, or a natural deodorant without sodium bicarbonate, such as Lume or Wild. 

I hope this article was helpful for you. Let me know in the comments if you've got any other tips to share that have worked for you. 

Bye for now. 

Love, 

Emma 

xoxo