Dinner on the terrace in that beautiful dress, on the beach in your bikini, waving your arms in the air at a music festival. Especially during the summer months, our armpits are exposed daily and that’s when we often feel more confident with a clean-shaven skin. But what if, despite shaving, you still prefer to cover your armpits because of dark spots under your arms? Perhaps you’ve never heard of dark armpits, in which case you’re in luck, because it occurs in as many as one in three women. Although some women are more predisposed to this problem, basically any woman can experience this. In fact, one of the main causes is shaving!

The appearance of dark armpits

Your skin contains melanin ( pigment ): a natural dye produced by the skin under the influence of light. This will ensure that you get that great tan during your vacation. But when melanin is not produced evenly, brown, dark spots can appear. The process can be disrupted by many reasons, and in all areas of your body, such as skin irritations, hormonal influences or abundance of Uv rays, causing pigment to accumulate in the skin. Our armpits we the most common place where this annoying discomfort occurs: today the name “dark armpits”. Causes of underarm skin irritation can include your shaving routine, friction from clothes that are too tight, sweating, accumulation of dead skin cells and hypersensitive reactions to deodorant. In addition, it can also have a medical cause: Acanthosis Nigricans (AN). This can be caused by insulin intake in diabetes, obesity, hormonal fluctuations and certain medication use such as the birth control pill, among others. Women with darker skin, for example of African, Latin, Asian or Indian descent, have a greater predisposition to AN and also to general hyperpigmentation. Therefore, if you have a dark skin type, you are more likely to have dark armpits and other pigmentation spots.

Reduce and prevent dark underarms

Usually dark armpits are not an immediate cause for concern, but they are an external discomfort that most women would rather get rid of. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to reduce and prevent the phenomenon of discolored armpits. Above all, being kind to your armpits is the best remedy. Our armpits are hidden under covering clothes much of the time, and it’s not the first body part you think of when it comes to skin care. But a lot happens in this part of the body anyway: shaving, friction from tight clothing and sweating.

Creams against pigmentation spots

Earlier bleaching skin products ( whitening products ) were on sale, with hydroquinone as the main ingredient. Then it turned out that it can be harmful to the skin in the long run, and products containing hydroquinone on free sale were banned from the Dutch market. It is now available only by prescription, with only a low concentration of hydroquinone. Hydroquinone suppresses the production of melanin, so rather than bleaching the skin, it prevents the appearance of pigment spots. In the Netherlands, there are other pigment products freely available where, with long-term use, pigment spots can be reduced. For example, Róa from YIONN. For action against pigmentation, YIONN Róa uses the natural addition of white mulberry in its lotion. White mulberry has an inhibitory effect on the overproduction of melanin in the skin. But Róa does more. Due to the careful composition of natural ingredients such as miracle tree oil, honeysuckle, willow bark and chamomile, it also directly addresses the cause by which the overproduction of melanin is inhibited. Róa is effective against itching, red bumps and ingrown hairs caused by hair removal. A total solution for those who experience pigmentation or dark armpits in addition to shaving irritation and ingrown hairs.

Careful shaving

Never shaving again can prevent dark underarms, but for most women this is not an option. Although it’s often fine to leave your razor in the winter months, in the summer months we still want smooth armpits in that sleeveless top. Preventing dark underarms fortunately doesn’t mean you have to stop shaving, but it does mean taking a critical look at how you shave and what tools you use. Just a small adjustment can prevent a lot of irritation, and thus the appearance of dark armpits. We’ve all been guilty of it at one time or another: just a quick swipe of that knife under our armpits before heading out the door. But “that blade” is often 1 of the problems that can cause dark armpits. The classic blades we women are used to often have 3 to as many as 5 separate blades in the head, and a caring cream strip. But 3 to 5 blades in the head also go over your skin just as often and thus are just as likely to cause irritation. In addition, these so-called “multi-blade” blades first lift the hair and then shave it off. A great gentle result as the hair is shaved off below the skin’s surface. However, the hair starts growing again from below the skin surface which causes irritation and stress of the skin increases which stimulates melanin production. The caring cream bar is often nothing more than a bar of soap. And soap dries out your skin. Again, an additional factor that favors dark armpits. So be critical of your tools. Do you shave to depilate? Choose a Single Blade knife. A steel holder with only 1 sharp blade in the head. Fewer blades going over your skin, minimizing irritation. In addition, it is a sustainable alternative to disposable blades. A Single Blade knife is a one-time purchase that will last you a lifetime. This will not only make your dark armpits happy, but also the environment and your wallet. The loose blades are the only replaceable part on this solid steel blade, and much cheaper than cartridges for a traditional women’s razor.

And with good tools come the right parts.

Appropriate protection in the form of a shaving cream ensures that your skin is better protected from cuts and moisturizes your skin before you start shaving, softens hairs and makes them easier to shave off. While you’re at it, if you’re really doing away with those dark armpits now, prefer a shaving cream to foam or gel. The protective layer is more evenly distributed with a shaving cream. This is because there is no air in cream as there is in foam. In addition, a good shaving cream is often transparent in color. Unlike the fun bright colors in a shaving gel, you can then see what you are doing.

Scrub and moisturize

We completely understand that your armpits are not the first body part you think of when it comes to exfoliating. But this is precisely where you can have a hefty buildup of dead skin cells and other debris, such as sweat and bacteria. This accumulation can be dark in color, and quickly mistaken for dark armpits due to melanin accumulation. Excess dead skin cells and dirt can cause skin irritations which can cause excess melanin. Regularly exfoliating and moisturizing your armpits gently removes dead skin cells, helping you minimize the chance of irritation, and therefore the chance of dark armpits. An enzymatic scrub & exfoliation additionally penetrates deeper into your skin layers. thereby removing dead skin cells there as well. When choosing your scrub, keep in mind that your armpits are 1 of the most sensitive parts of your skin. An organic-based scrub & exfoliation, such as YLONN Kjarr, is a gentle and effective product for your armpits, which, unlike traditional scrubs, ensures that your skin is intensely nourished.

Limited sun exposure

Like exfoliating your armpits, your armpits are also one of the parts of the body we still like to forget to apply sunscreen. The same goes for our feet or knee hollows, for example. But exposing sensitive skin to the sun, especially when there are irritations due to shaving, for example, can cause discoloration in the skin. Therefore, apply sunscreen to your armpits as well, preferably with as high a factor as possible, and avoid overexposure to the sun.

Change of deodorant

How much beauty products and time you spend on your appearance varies greatly from person to person, but we almost all use a deodorant to keep our armpits fresh. However, many deodorants contain aluminum and this can cause dark armpits. Switching to a natural deodorant can prevent this problem, but pay close attention to the ingredients. Natural deodorants often use baking soda, also known as bicarbonate of soda, as the working ingredient, which for some women can cause the same unpleasant effect as aluminum-containing deodorants !

Laser therapy and peeling

If dark armpits really bother you a lot and you want an effective method then you can choose to go to the dermatologist for chemical peels or laser therapy. The disadvantage of these treatments is often the price, as it is not cheap.

Natural remedies

Fortunately, there are also very inexpensive, simple ways to combat dark underarms, with home remedies. Although not always proven scientifically effective, many women do benefit from the natural remedies below. Think lemon, papaya, orange, but yogurt, potato, turmeric and carrot are also praised for their effects. In fact, many dermatologists tackle hyperpigmentation with peelings based on fruit acids. Not at all crazy to try one of these remedies first, because your solution may just be in the fruit bowl at home! When should dark skin spots take you to the doctor? In general, dark armpits are not an immediate cause for concern and are purely a cosmetic inconvenience for most women. But if you think the phenomenon of dark underarms may have an underlying, medical, cause, it is wise to consult a doctor or dermatologist. In fact, in some cases it may be a result of obesity, diabetes or the intake of hormones, such as a birth control pill. Changing diet, lifestyle, or medication intake can often quickly correct the problem of discolored armpit in this case. Localized dark skin spots may also indicate a skin tumor in very rare cases. Therefore, when in doubt, always consult your doctor! Looking forward to more helpful tips or learning more about Ylonn skincare products? Check out our shop, follow us on Facebook and/or Instagram & Let’s stay in touch!