A lot of us have this problem: we love wearing tube tops and spaghetti-strapped dresses to any occasion, and bikinis in particular when we go to the beach, but we’re always self-conscious about lifting our arms—for fear of showing our dark underarms. It doesn’t help to know that men are very particular about this part of our body. So how do we get rid of the discoloration?We must first understand how it gets dark in the first place. According to Skincare-news.com, irritants found in antiperspirants and deodorants are the main causes of underarm discoloration. Shaving, waxing, and other regular hair removal techniques also contribute to the damage in this very sensitive part of the skin.
Among all these hair removal techniques (which you cannot avoid, anyway), waxing would be best for underarms, unless you can afford to have hair permanently removed. Shaving contributes the most to darkening through skin’s constant friction with the blade.
You can also try underarm lightening products available in the market, as long as you spot-test to check if you will develop any irritation before actually using it.
When choosing deodorants and antiperspirants, look for the following ingredients:
- Aluminum Zirconium Tetra Chlorohydrex Glycine, a very effective antiperspirant and deodorant, which is less likely to clog pores or cause irritation.
- Kojic Dipalmitate, a powerful and well-known skin brightener, which improves skin color with continued use.
If you’ve tried all these suggestions and still find your attempts unsuccessful, maybe it’s time to consult your dermatologist for more advanced treatments or procedures. One of the options you can inquire about is hydroquinone treatment, which is an inexpensive and noninvasive way to bleach your skin and block melanin.
Photo courtesy of Cosmopolitan Philippines
2 Comments
Add Commentzero1
lucy torres in her article a few weeks ago wrote about mucca muu, a whitening and deodorizing underarm makeup that comes in a pressed powder form... i tried it and it's great! at least there's something you can use in case of emergencies (like when you have a party) to cover up your dark underarms. it really does work like foundation and it doesn't rub off on anything. i found it in watson's.
November 8, 2008 at 5:00 pmreality
i use mucca muu. it stains the sides of my tanktop with white powder marks and doesn't deodorize very well. my suggestion is to apply a good antiperspirant before applying mucca. i've been using driclor. it really works but i'm worried about my ua getting dark. it's composed of aluminum chloride
December 15, 2008 at 1:38 pm