DARK UNDERARMS

Dark Underarms: Treatment, Causes, and Prevention

Dark underarms are very annoying. They are hidden most of the time but a moment comes when one is trying to take Summertime selfie by angling the phone overhead and then the armpits are on full display. Then one wonders — How to deal with armpit shadow?

Many patients visit my clinic complaining of dark underarms. There are many reasons— frequent shaving (trauma & friction ),? hair removing creams like VEET, frequent use of deodorants/ perfumes/roll-ons, fungal and bacterial infections, diabetes, hypothyroidism, PCOD , obesity, insulin resistance and acanthosis nigricans. 

Treatment Options:? 

1. Treatment of the underlying cause is very important. For example : avoidance of perfumes/ deos/ roll-ons, hair removal creams , treatment of bacterial & fungal infections & control of diabetes.? Lifestyle & dietary modifications and weight loss are main components in the treatment of obesity, PCOD, insulin resistance and acanthosis nigricans. 

2. Treatment of underlying diseases like PCOD, diabetes, hypothyroidism etc. 

3. Permanent laser hair reduction: addresses dark underarms because of coarse hairs. 

Shaving is already out of question. Waxing rips away the hair with wax but it can make the matter worse by secondary bacterial infections like boils, if done on regular basis specially when one is more prone to ingrown hairs. Permanent Laser hair reduction addresses all these issues as it is pain free without any side effects . Also it works very well for fine hairs too. 

4. Topical Creams: World class local lightening and resurfacing creams containing skin lightening agents and retinoids are suggested? as home care by the dermatologist . 

5. Procedures: like Chemical peels, fractional lasers etc are performed by our expert dermatologist after analysing the cause of your problem .