Your underarms should generally be of the same skin as the rest of your body but sometimes those are of a darker tone. While dark underarms are not a cause for concern, they are definitely a cause for embarrassment for a lot of people, especially for people who love to wear sleeveless and tank tops.
The darkening of the skin happens due to a condition called acanthosis nigricans which basically causes the skin to thicken and become dark on folds all over the body. The most common areas that become dark are the underarms, back of the neck, groin, elbows, and knees.
The pigment cells on your skin are known as melanocytes which are responsible for causing the darkening of the skin. AN can be genetic but sometimes hair removal can cause it. Repeated shaving or plucking can stimulate the production of excess melanocytes which can cause the underarm to darken.
There are many reasons that can cause the darkening of underarms some of the causes are diseases like obesity, diabetes, hormone imbalances, and side effects of medications.
But darkened underarms are not a permanent condition. You can get rid of them with specific treatments and wear the tank top you always wanted to flaunt.
- Laser Hair Reduction:
One of the common causes of pigmented underarms is the constant waxing and shaving which causes the skin to produce more melanocytes. You can solve that problem immediately by choosing an alternative for hair removal. Get permanent laser hair reduction, no more waxing, and shaving. Laser hair reduction saves money and does not cause any pain or darkening of the skin
- Chemical peel treatments:
Chemical peels like retinol can work on the darkened skin and remove the topmost layer of the skin giving way to the new skin underneath which will be brighter and smoother. This typically takes time and a few sessions to see results and it also depends on the individual’s skin and how pigmented their skin is.
- Laser treatments and dermabrasion:
Laser treatments and dermabrasion can help in the resurfacing of the skin which removes the dead skin cells from the topmost layer of the skin and helps in the regeneration of new brighter and smoother skin.