Home Remedies to Get Rid of Dark Armpits

Home Remedies to Get Rid of Dark Armpits


Feeling embarrassed about wearing sleeveless tops in public because of your dark underarms? Can’t find a way to make those dark ugly patches in the skin under your arms disappear? Don’t worry as you have come to the right place. We have brought some of the effective home remedies to get rid of dark underarms. But, before knowing about the home remedies, let’s find out the possible causes of dark armpits.

Causes of Dark Armpits
Before moving onto the home remedies for dark underarms, it is imperative that you understand why the skin in that region is dark in the first place. While dark underarms can be attributed to a medical condition called Acanthosis Nigricans in some cases, the more common reasons for this discoloration happens due to the daily habits that we follow. These include shaving, use of hair removal creams, poor ventilation, chemical-laden deodorants and sprays, improper hygiene, excessive sweating, and buildup of dead skin cells in the region.

Home Remedies to Get Rid of Dark Armpits
Unless the issue is caused by a medical condition, there are plenty of ways you can get rid of dark underarms at home itself. Take a look at these tried and tested remedies for the same purpose.

Vegetables to the Rescue
A number of vegetables that you eat on a daily basis can help you treat dark underarms effectively. This include:

Potatoes

Potatoes have natural bleaching properties that can lighten the skin in the armpits in no time at all. You can use potatoes in a variety of ways to get rid of dark underarms.

Method 1: Potato Slices
The mild acidic properties of potatoes help lighten the underarm area without harming your skin, thus making it the best choice for those with sensitive skin.

What you need:

Raw potato – 1
What you need to do:

• Cut the potato into very thin slices.
• Rub 2-3 potato slices on the underarm area.
• Also, place a few slices under the armpits after rubbing the area with potato slices. Wait for 15 minutes or so and remove the slices. Wash off the area with lukewarm water.
• Repeat this remedy twice a day to get fairer underarms.

Method II: Potato Paste
If you find it uncomfortable to place potato slices underneath your arms, consider opting for potato paste instead.

What you need:

Potato – 1
Honey – 1 tsp
Lemon juice – 1 tsp
Turmeric powder – a pinch
What you need to do:

1. Grate the potato and extract its juice.
2. Mix 1 tbsp of this grated potato with 1 tsp each of honey and lemon juice, and a pinch of turmeric powder to form a paste.
3. Apply this paste evenly on the underarm area and wait for 10 minutes or so for it to dry.
4. Wash off the paste with lukewarm water afterward.
5. Repeat this remedy at least once a day to lighten the underarm

Cucumbers
Like potatoes, cucumbers also possess skin lightening properties that help treat dark underarms very effectively. And like potatoes, you can use cucumbers in a variety of ways for the purpose.

Method I: Cucumber Juice
Applying cucumber juice on the underarm region will lighten the skin as well as soothe the bumps under the armpits.

What you need:

Cucumber
Cotton balls
What you need to do:

• Peel a cucumber and grind it to extract the juice.
• Apply this juice on the armpits evenly with the help of cotton balls.
• Wait for 15 minutes or so and wash it off with lukewarm water.
• Follow this remedy once every day to get rid of dark armpits.

Method II: Cucumber, Turmeric, and Lemon Paste
While cucumber soothes the skin, the natural bleaching properties of the lemon and turmeric will get rid of dark underarms for good.

What you need:

Cucumber – 1
Lemon juice – 2 to 3 tsp
Turmeric – a pinch

What you need to do:

• Peel and grate the cucumber to extract its juice.
• Mix a tsp of this juice with the other ingredients to form a paste.
• Apply this paste on the underarm region and wait for about 20 minutes for it to dry.
• Wash off the paste with cold water.
• Repeat the process at least thrice a week to lighten underarms.

Lemons

Lemons contain bleaching properties that will help in lightening the skin. It also contains potent antiseptic and antibacterial properties that help get rid of bacteria in places like the groin and armpits. You can use lemons to treat your dark underarms in the following ways.

Method I: Lemon and Sugar Scrub
Along with sugar, lemon contains exfoliating properties that will help get rid of the dead skin cells in the armpit region. This, in turn, would make the underarm area become fairer with time.

What you need:

Lemons – 1
Sugar – 1 tsp
What you need to do:

Cut the lemon and squeeze it to extract the juice.
Mix 1 tsp of lemon juice with the sugar to form a coarse, sticky paste.
Rub this paste on the underarm region in slow, circular motions for about 5 minutes.
Wash off the paste with lukewarm water afterward.
Do this at least twice a week to get rid of dark underarms.

Method II: Lemon, Honey, Yogurt and Turmeric Paste
Lemon combines with turmeric to create a potent bleaching agent that will get rid of dark armpits. Honey will soothe the skin while yogurt would get rid of any bacteria inhabiting the region.

What you need:

Lemon – 1
Honey – 1 tsp
Yogurt – 1 tsp
Turmeric powder – a pinch
What you need to do:

Take 1 lemon and extract its juice.
Mix 1 tsp of lemon juice with 1 tsp each of honey and yogurt and a pinch of turmeric powder to form a paste.
Apply the paste in the underarm region and wait for about 15 minutes.
Rinse off the dried paste with lukewarm water.
Follow this remedy religiously every day to get rid of dark armpits.
Note: If you have sensitive skin, note that lemon can dry out your skin faster. So make sure you follow these lemon remedies with a good amount of moisturizer to keep your skin smooth and supple..



Papaya

Papayas contain enzymes that can lighten the skin and get rid of pigmentation marks caused by scars and bumps under armpits.
What you need:
·         Raw papaya – 1
What you need to do:

Peel the papaya and cut it into small cubes.
Grind the cubes to form a paste.
Apply the paste evenly on the armpit region.
Wait for the paste to dry (about 15 minutes or so) and then wash it off with lukewarm water.
Repeat this remedy thrice a week to get rid of dark, smelly armpits. 

Fruits and Nuts for Dark Armpits

In addition to vegetables, a number of fruits can help you overcome dark underarms as well. Let’s take a look at some of the most common fruit remedies for this condition.

Oranges
Wondering how to get rid of dark underarms for good? Then take refuge in an orange, one of the best-known home remedies for dark armpits. Orange peels have potent exfoliating properties that help remove dead skin cells from the underarm area. The bleaching properties of these peels also help in lightening the skin in the region. This remedy is also considered as one of the best home remedies for sweaty armpits.

What you need:

Orange peels – a handful
Rose water – 2 tsp
Milk – 2 tsp

What you need to do:

• Sundry the orange peels and grind them to make a powder.
• Mix 1 tsp of this powder with milk and rose water to form a thick paste.
• Apply this paste evenly on the armpits and scrub the area gently for about 5 minutes.
• Rinse off the paste with cold water.
• Follow this remedy thrice a week to lighten the underarms.

Apples

While the proverb ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’ is something we all know pretty well, not many of us are aware of the fact that an apple a day would also keep dark underarms at bay. Apples have many health benefits as it contains a substance called AHA, which helps remove bacteria and germs from the armpit region. Apples also possess exfoliating properties that help remove the dead skin cells from the armpit region, leaving it fair and smooth.

What you need:

Apples – 2
Wet cloth
What you need to do:

Peel the apples and mash them nicely.
Apply this paste on the armpit region and wait for about 15 minutes.
Wipe off the paste with the wet cloth.
Repeat this process at least once in two days to get rid of dark underarms.

Peanuts

You can make a great exfoliating scrub using nothing but peanuts for your underarms. In addition to removing the dead skin cells, this scrub will bleach the underarm skin and make it look fairer.

What you need:

Peanuts – a handful
Lemon juice – 2 tsp
Honey – 2 tsp

What you need to do:

• Grind the peanuts (you can also use walnuts) to form a powder.
• Add 1 tbsp of this powder to 2 tsp each of honey and lemon juice to form a thick, coarse paste.
• Rub this paste on the underarm region gently for about 5 minutes.
• Rinse off the paste with warm water.

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Oils Help Lighten Underarm Skin As Well
A number of oils help get rid of dark, smelly armpits effectively. If you are wondering how to get rid of dark underarms, here are some oils you can use for this purpose.

Coconut Oil

One of the Coconut oil benefits is it contains high amounts of Vitamin E that can exfoliate the skin as well as lighten the skin under the arms in a very short span of time. Coconut oil is also a natural deodorant that can treat smelly armpits effectively.

What you need:

Fresh coconut oil – 2 tsp

What you need to do:

• Rub the coconut oil in the underarm region and massage it nicely for about 5 minutes.
• Leave it on for another 15 minutes or so.
• Rinse it off with lukewarm water.
• Follow this remedy at least twice daily for sweaty and dark armpits.

Olive Oil

Olive oil is loaded with antioxidants that help eradicate free radicals from your body, which may otherwise lead to issues like excessive sweating and dark, smelly armpits.

What you need:

Olive oil – 2 to 3 tbsp
Brown sugar – 1 cup

What you need to do:

Mix the olive oil and brown sugar to form a thick paste.
Rub the paste gently on the armpit region for about 5 minutes.
Leave it on for 10 minutes or so and wash it off with lukewarm water.
Repeat the process thrice a week to get rid of dark underarms.

Vitamin E Oil

Vitamin E oil is a common ingredient in many skin care creams and treatments. In addition to making the skin soft and smooth, Vitamin E would make your underarms look fairer in no time at all.

What you need:

Vitamin E oil – 1 tsp (capsules would also work well)

What you need to do:

Rub the Vitamin E oil gently on the underarm region and wait for 15 minutes.
Wash off the oil with a mild cleansing soap and lukewarm water.
Follow this remedy once every day to get fairer and smoother

Milk Helps You Get Milky White Underarms

Tired of that dark, smelly armpits? Then consider using milk to take care of the issue. Milk contains fatty acids and vitamins that can lighten the skin under the arms.

Method I: Milk and Curd Paste

While milk will lighten the underarm skin, the lactic acid in curd will remove the bacteria and germs from the region.

What you need:

Milk – 2 tbsp
Curd – 1 tbsp

What you need to do:

• Mix the curd and milk to form a paste.
• Apply this paste on the skin under the arms.
• Leave it on for about 15 minutes and rinse it off with cold water.
• Follow this remedy once a day to get fair underarms and get rid of smelly underarms.

Method II: Milk, Honey, and Turmeric Paste

While milk will help lighten the underarm skin, turmeric will remove the bacteria and honey will help soften the skin in the area.

What you need:

Milk – 1 tbsp
Honey – 1 tbsp
Turmeric powder – A pinch
Lemon juice – 2 to 3 drops

What you need to do:

• Mix all the ingredients well in a bowl to form a paste.
• Apply the paste on the underarm skin evenly.
• Wait for about 15 minutes for the paste to dry.
• Rinse it off with cold water.
• Follow this remedy 3 to4 times a week to get rid of dark underarms.

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Baking Soda is a Great Solution for Dark Underarms

Wondering how to lighten the underarms without spending too much for the same? Then here’s a foolproof remedy for the same and that is baking soda.

Baking soda is an excellent exfoliating agent that helps get rid of the accumulated dead skin cells. It also eliminates the bacterial growth in the region, offering you relief from sweaty, smelly armpits as well. You can use baking soda in the following ways for dark underarms.

Method I: Baking Soda Paste
 
One of the greatest advantages of using baking soda for dark underarms is that it will help unclog the blocked pores that could otherwise contribute to the discoloration. This would help you get fairer underarms quickly.

What you need:

Baking soda – 1 tbsp
Water – 2 to 3 tsp

What you need to do:

• Take 1 tbsp of baking soda and 2 to 3 tsp of water.
• Mix the baking soda and water to make a paste.
• Apply this paste on the armpits and wait for 15 minutes.
• Wash off the paste with lukewarm water.
• Repeat this process 4 times a week to lighten your underarms.

Method II: Baking Soda and Rose Water

Using a combination of baking soda and rose water not only help dark armpits it also helps to get rid of bad body odor.

What you need:

Baking soda – 1 tbsp
Rose water – 2 to 3 tsp

What you need to do:

• Take 1 tbsp of baking soda and 2 to 3 tsp of rose water in a bowl.
• Mix the baking soda and rose water to form a paste.
• Apply this paste evenly on the underarm skin and wait for 15 minutes.
• After it dries, wash off the paste with cold water.
• Repeat this remedy daily to notice desirable results in a short span of time.

Apple Cider Vinegar Does Wonders for Dark Armpits

Apple cider vinegar is again, one of the best-known home remedies for dark underarms. In addition to lightening the skin in the region, the acidic properties of vinegar will help remove the bacterial growth, thus reducing the underarm odor as well.

Method I: Apple Cider Vinegar and Water
If you are pressed for time, the simplest way to get rid of dark underarms would be to just use a mixture of apple cider vinegar and water.

What you need:

Apple cider vinegar – 2 to 3 tbsp
Water – 1 cup

What you need to do:

• Mix the apple cider vinegar in 1 cup water to form a solution.
• Rinse the underarm area with this solution 5 minutes before taking a shower each day to get rid of dark armpits.

Method II: Apple Cider Vinegar and Rice Flour Paste

 
Bacterial growth is one of the main reasons for smelly underarm and darkness. By using a mixture of apple cider vinegar and rice flour, you can eliminate the bacteria from the region and lighten the skin as well.
What you need:

Apple cider vinegar – 2 tbsp
Rice flour – 1 tbsp

What you need to do:

• Take 1 tbsp rice flour and 2 tbsp vinegar in a bowl.
• Mix the ingredients well to make a paste.
• Take a shower in hot water and apply the paste on the armpits.
• Wait for the paste to dry (about 15 minutes or so) and rinse it off with lukewarm water. Repeat this remedy thrice a week or so to get rid of dark armpits.

Method III: Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda Paste
The mild acidic properties of vinegar will help to get rid of the bacterial growth in the underarm region while baking soda would do an effective job of bleaching the area and lightening the underarm skin.
What you need:

Apple cider vinegar – 1 tsp
Baking soda – 1 tsp
What you need to do:

• Take 1 tsp each of baking soda and apple cider vinegar in a bowl.
• Mix the ingredients well to form a bubbling, frothy mixture.
• Wait for the bubbles to pop and now apply the mixture to the armpits.
• Wait for about 15 minutes for the paste to dry.
• Rinse off the paste with lukewarm water.
• Do this regularly to lighten the underarm skin.

Sandalwood is a Perfect Skin Lightener
Sandalwood has powerful skin lightening properties that can help whiten the underarm skin in no time at all. Adding rosewater to it will also help you get rid of sweaty, smelly underarms in the process.
What you need:

Sandalwood powder – 2 tbsp
Water – 2 tbsp
Rose water – 1 tbsp

What you need to do:

• Take 2 tbsp each of sandalwood powder, water and rose water in a bowl.
• Mix all the ingredients nicely to form a thick paste.
• Apply the paste evenly on the underarm skin and wait for it to dry.
• Rinse off the paste with cold water after 15 minutes.
• Do this thrice a week to prevent dark underarms.

Tips To Follow for Fairer Underarms
 
In addition to following the home remedies mentioned above, here are some general tips you can follow to get fair underarms.

Moisturize Religiously: Moisturizing the armpits regularly (at least twice a day) will prevent odor and sweat buildup in the area. This, in turn, will keep the bacteria at bay and prevent your underarms from getting darker in the long run.

Maintain Personal Hygiene: Improper hygiene is one of the main reasons for dark underarms. Clean the underarms regularly to remove dead skin cells on the surface. Exfoliate the area gently at least twice a week to remove dark spots,  pigmentation, and bumps, which may otherwise make the armpits look dark.

Shower Every Day: Skipping a shower would only lead to sweat buildup in the armpits.  This, in turn, would lead to bacterial growth in the region, thus contributing to dark spots in the area. So make it a point to take a shower every day, at least twice or so during the summer to keep your underarms fair and sweat free.

Skip Shaving or Using Hair Removal Creams: Shaving will remove only the surface hairs, leaving behind dark, ugly looking stubbles. Hair removal creams also contain chemicals that can darken the underarm skin. The best way then to remove armpit hair and make sure the area remains fair is to wax the underarms. Take the help of a professional for the same purpose and watch as your underarm skin becomes smoother and fairer with time.

Skip Electrolysis Too: Although many recommend electrolysis, it is definitely not the best answer for those who have fair skin. Electrolysis can lead to hyperpigmentation, leaving you with darker underarm skin. So opt for waxing instead.

Stay Away from Synthetic Deodorants and Scents: Synthetic deodorants, antiperspirants, and even scents contain chemicals that may harm the skin in addition to causing hyperpigmentation. This, in turn, would eventually lead to the underarm skin becoming darker and rougher. So skip these options and choose more natural alternatives like citrus oils, baking soda, sandalwood essential oil, coconut oil, and rosewater, etc to get rid of dark armpits.

Wear Loose, Cotton Clothing: Tight clothing will leave little or no room for your skin to breathe, thus causing excessive sweating in the armpit region. This would eventually lead to the accumulation of dead skin cells in the area, causing the skin to become dark. So try wearing loose, cotton clothing as much as possible to allow more space for your skin to breathe and remain sweat free.

Keep Your Weight Under Check: Obesity leads to dark underarms as well. The accumulation of more fat in the armpits causes more friction when rubbed against the clothes, thus leading to pigmentation. So if you are obese, consider losing some weight to get rid of dark armpits.

Skip the Birth Control Pills: Contraceptive pills are known to cause hormonal imbalances which can lead to dark armpits. So skip the oral pills and use other forms of contraceptives instead.

Check with a Doctor

If none of these remedies and tips works out, you may have to consult a doctor to find out the exact cause for your dark armpits. Chances are there you may be suffering from a condition called Acanthosis Nigricans, which is quite common in obese and diabetic individuals. If this is the case, then you would need to opt for specialized treatments and medications to treat the condition and get rid of the dark skin in the underarm region.

So here we are! These are some of the best-known home remedies to get rid of dark armpits you can ever find to get rid of those dark, smelly armpits. Remember, you would need to follow these remedies religiously for at least a few weeks to get desired results. Along with that, you would need to follow the general tips to ensure that once you get rid of dark underarms, you can raise your hands as much as you want and wear your favorite sleeveless tops without worrying about them recurring again.