Dark, stained underarms can be a major cause of concern and embarrassment especially for people with fair skin. Since dark underarms are usually accompanied by sweating, itching and body odor it is a problem that needs to be addressed to avoid embarrassment and discomfort. Dark underarms are usually caused by excessive sweating due to synthetic clothing, friction caused by wearing clothes that are tight around the sleeves, build-up of dead skin under the arms, improper washing and removal of underarm hair and also as a reaction to the perfumes and deodorants being sprayed on the underarm area. In order to avoid getting underarm stains, you should opt for loose, cotton clothing especially in hot and humid weather and use anti-fungal powder instead of an anti-perspirant which will have a high percentage of alcohol in it. You should wash your underarms properly and regularly, especially during summer to keep them hygienic and clean. You should also opt for waxing to avoid the quick re-appearance of stubble and the possibility of ingrown hair, which makes the underarms appear dark and unsightly. Waxing regularly will also get rid of the dead skin and over a period of time, the hair growth reduces.
There are several simple home remedies you can use to get rid of the ugly underarms stains. The best known home remedy for dark underarms is rubbing slices of lemon on your armpits. Lemon acts as a natural bleaching agent and will gradually lighten the skin of your armpits. You can also make a paste 1 tsp lemon juice, 1 tsp cucumber juice and a pinch of turmeric powder which you should apply to your armpit and wash off after 15 minutes. Another excellent paste can be prepared using 1 tbsp curd, 1 tsp gram flour, 1 tsp milk and a pinch of turmeric. You can apply this also on your armpits and wash it off with cold water after 20 minutes of when it has dried completely. Regular application of a paste of sandalwood powder and rose water also helps in combating underarm stains. Regular application of Vitamin E oil is said to be beneficial in treating underarm stains. Similarly washing your underarms with coconut oil helps to reduce the underarm stains and leave them smooth. After your bath, you can dust some alum powder on your armpits to avoid the problem of perspiration and unpleasant underarm odor. Alternately you can use baking powder on your armpits after a shower.
answered by G M