Dark, itchy armpits: Causes and treatment

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Dark underarms can be unsightly or sometimes have some potential health risks. Therefore, understanding the causes of dark underarms as well as knowing how to darken underarms will help quickly overcome this situation, giving confidence to the body's appearance as well as detecting and timely treatment of acquired diseases.

1. What are the causes of dark underarms?

Deodorants can be harmful to underarm skin Certain deodorants can irritate the skin and instead of irritating a rash like in other parts of the body, can cause itchy and dark underarms. black . The mechanism that causes discoloration is more likely than a rash in this area because body folds such as armpits can be susceptible to hyperpigmentation-type irritation. Accordingly, people with dark skin should pay special attention to this issue.
This darkening due to irritation is known as post-inflammatory pigmentation change and is also extremely common. So, if you notice that your underarms are darker, try changing your deodorant before looking for other causes.
Hormonal Disorders As anyone who has been through puberty knows, hormones affect the skin in different ways and an imbalance in hormone levels can cause skin discoloration.
Skin discoloration caused by hormonal imbalance is called melasma and occurs when melanocytes (the cells that cause skin pigmentation) are stimulated by abnormal levels of progesterone and estrogen, leading to to hyperpigmentation in various parts of the body, including the armpit area.
Causes of dark underarms due to hormonal disorders are most common in women who are pregnant or who are using hormonal contraception. Therefore, if you notice a sudden change in skin color when you start using a new pill or when you are about to give birth, it may be the cause of common skin pigmentation and dark underarms.
Drug Side Effects There are many drugs known to cause dark underarms, including nicotinic acid, insulin, pituitary extracts, systemic corticosteroids, and diethylstilbestrol.
Fortunately, drug-induced discoloration may not be harmful: dark underarms are only dangerous if they are related to an underlying medical problem and are left untreated. However, it is still best to see a specialist to be sure that the medication you are taking is the sole cause.
The need to exfoliate The cause of itchy and dark underarms can be due to layers of dead skin cells. As dead skin cells accumulate, they increase pigmentation, and underarms are particularly sensitive to the accumulation of dead cells.
Fortunately, this cause has an easy fix with regular exfoliation to remove dead skin cells from the body, which will lighten the skin tone if that is the cause of the darker color. clear. Users can use body scrubs or even facial scrubs to fix underarm problems.
Improper underarm shaving Shaving armpits is sometimes a daily routine for many women, so you may not realize this habit is most likely the cause of dark underarm skin. Accordingly, the most common cause of underarm discoloration is post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation due to irritation - usually from scraping, rubbing, or scratching.
In cases of underarm shaving, the razor may irritate the skin or it may be the hairs themselves that make the skin appear darker. Shaving actually only removes hair at the surface level, so if your hair color is darker than your skin tone, it will look dark under your armpits, but that's really just subsurface hair.

To prevent underarm darkening in this case, try using an epilator or wax instead of shaving to remove underarm hair, as both pull hair from the root rather than just at the surface level. Alternatively, consult your doctor about laser treatment, which studies have found to be a generally safe and effective option for hair removal at the root.
Acanthosis nigricans Acanthosis nigricans is a skin condition that causes one or more areas of skin to darken and thicken and sometimes the affected skin feels like velvet. This darkening can occur in the skin under the arms, but it can also discolor other areas of the body, such as the back of the neck, elbows and knees, or even below the breasts. Acanthosis nigricans are often associated with obesity because the discoloration occurs due to increased sugar levels in the body.
While the condition itself is not contagious or dangerous, acanthosis nigricans can be an early sign of potentially life-threatening conditions, such as diabetes, metabolic disease, or even cancer in severe cases. Therefore, it is important to see a doctor if you notice a darkening of your skin in any of these areas, especially if the changes appear suddenly or are accompanied by other changes, such as: Weight gain, changes in your menstrual cycle, new hair growth, or other signs may indicate a hormonal abnormality.
Insulin resistance According to the American Diabetes Association, acanthosis nigricans is a common early sign of type 2 diabetes, in which the body cannot regulate insulin as it should. During this time, the body tends to produce more pigment, resulting in darker skin. Therefore, it is important to contact your doctor as soon as possible if discoloration occurs rapidly, especially if any other early symptoms of insulin resistance are present.
However, the armpits may not be the first place to darken if you have diabetes. Meanwhile, the neck is the more common site in the development of diabetes. Therefore, each person needs to always monitor the overall changes in the body to ensure early detection of anything suspicious.
Possible cancer Some people develop acanthosis nigricans with cancer, although these are relatively rare. In these patients, the skin darkens due to a growing malignancy in the stomach, liver, or other internal organs.
Accordingly, dark underarms or dark skin is one of the easiest external symptoms that can be a sign that something is wrong on the inside. This abnormal skin discoloration should stop once the melanoma is removed from the body.

2. How can dark armpits be prevented?

Assuming the hyperpigmentation stems from an external irritant, the first move would be to change your underarm shaving routine and perhaps even deodorant.
With underarm shaving, there are a number of factors that can lead to dark underarm skin. For example, if you skip applying shaving cream, the irritation can lead to an outbreak of hyperpigmentation that causes dark underarms. Similarly, a dull razor can cause a reaction in the skin, just as when shaving with too much force. As such, users need to start using a new razor, apply a moisturizing shaving cream and shave more gently.
With deodorant, avoid using deodorants that are full of chemicals, but switch to deodorants with natural ingredients. Look for deodorants that use a minimum of known irritants (like baking soda) and eliminate them with ingredients like glycerin, an all-around skin-soothing agent.

3. Dark underarms how to do?

If the itchy and dark underarms really affect and reduce your self-confidence, you should soon refer to measures to lighten the dark underarm skin.
Your doctor may recommend skin lightening treatments done at home or in a dermatology clinic, such as retinoids, alpha hydroxy acids, salicylic acid, hydroquinone lotion, or other topical treatments.
At the same time, you also need to get in the habit of making sure to moisturize this area daily and repeat, gently when shaving combined with non-toxic deodorants. Less irritation means less hyperpigmentation, dark underarms facilitated pigmentation recovery and brighter whites.
In summary, itchy and dark underarms is a condition that causes low self-esteem, sometimes causing limitations in daily activities. Even dark underarms are a warning sign for other diseases. Therefore, each person needs to have a habit of observing to detect changes in the body, thereby actively finding the cause and overcoming it as a way of taking care of health and comprehensive beauty.
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