Dark underarms, though not a serious condition, can cause a lot of embarrassment and give rise to social awkwardness. For an otherwise fair skin, dark underarms may look quite bad. Dark underarms are generally accompanied with symptoms like itching, sweating, and foul odor. Generally, dark underarms are a result of friction due to improper or rough shaving, or due to wearing tight clothing that constantly brush against the skin of the underarm. It can sometimes be an indication of lack of hygiene and use of improper deodorants.
There are a few home remedies you can try to treat dark underarms. One of the most effective home remedy is to use lemon. Take slices of freshly cut lemon and run on your underarms. In place of regular deodorants you can also use alum to rub on your underarms. Baking soda can also be used instead of deodorants. Use alum or baking soda on your underarms after a bath. To remedy dark underarms, Vitamin E oil can also be beneficial. Besides these you can also use coconut oil to rub on your underarms. Another effective remedy would be to make a paste of cucumber juice, turmeric, and lime juice, and apply it on your underarms. Keep this paste applied for about 15-20 minutes and then wash it off with water. A similar paste can be made by mixing curd, turmeric powder, milk, and gram flour. A mixture of sandalwood powder and rose water may also work fine.
Besides these home remedies you should also take care about the clothes you wear. Choose cotton clothes over synthetic clothes as cotton clothes give your skin more comfort and allow your skin to breathe properly. Also, do not shave your underarm as they may harm your skin; instead, wax them regularly. Waxing will remove the hair on your underarms more smoothly and will also remove any dead cells that are accumulated there. You should follow a proper hygiene and wash your underarms properly every day. Cut down on the use of anti-perspirants and deodorants as the chemicals in them may not be good for your skin. Should any other cosmetics you use on your underarms seem to irritate your skin, you must avoid them as well.
If the condition persists and the dark color of your underarm shows no sign of improving you may want to consult a dermatologist and seek proper medical advice to treat it effectively.
answered by M W