What Is Underarm Hyperpigmentation & How To Treat it

At the peak of summer, most of us want to rock sleeveless tops not just because they look gorgeous, but because it’s just too hot to wear sleeves! Underarm hyperpigmentation can make you shy away from wearing breathable and comfortable clothing. Having it limits you, and this can negatively affect your confidence. 

People with darker skin tones stand a higher chance of experiencing this—all because of larger melanocytes which are easily triggered by the slightest irritation. Find out how to treat hyperpigmentation effectively if you suffer from it in other parts of your body. Luckily you can find ways of managing underarm hyperpigmentation once you establish the root cause. 

What causes underarm hyperpigmentation?

Several factors may cause your underarm hyperpigmentation. Below are just a few reasons why most people suffer from dark underarms. 

Hormones

The mouth, underarms, groin, and underarms of some people, particularly those with dark skin, darken during puberty. These areas get triggered by hormone fluctuations and produce more pigment than average. Hormone fluctuations during pregnancy also cause areas like the neck, underarms, and different regions of the body to experience hyperpigmentation. Thankfully in the case of pregnancy, it usually fades away on its own postpartum.

Thick skin (Acanthosis nigricans)

This condition is usually seen in folds around the body. It appears like velvety thick skin and is typically found around the neck area, groins and underarms. This condition typically affects people who are obese or have type II diabetes. 

Friction 

It is not a smart idea to rub or tug against your skin or wear clothing that is too tight. That friction can lead to hyperpigmentation under the arms. Hyperpigmentation and inflammation often come hand-in-hand, and friction directly causes inflammation on your skin. Opt for a more loose-fitting type of clothing to prevent any form of friction.

Irritation from chemicals in deodorants and antiperspirants 

One of the leading causes of contact dermatitis is fragrance. Have you ever found yourself scratching your body uncontrollably and not knowing why? You may have contact dermatitis from the fragrance in your lotion or fabric softeners that contain so much fragrance. As fragrance can cause contact dermatitis, it’s wise to avoid it if you suffer from underarm hyperpigmentation, as it’s one of the causes.

Shaving

Most of us don’t know how to shave correctly, and we often injure ourselves during the process. These cuts and bruises cause inflammation which eventually leads to hyperpigmentation. Perhaps it’s time you found another method to get rid of those unwanted hairs if you’re concerned about underarm hyperpigmentation caused by not-so-safe shaving practices. Also, shaving too often can trigger your melanocytes to overproduce melanin. In that case, you might wish to slow down on the shaving and extend the time between shaving sessions. 

A build-up of dead skin cells

You may neglect your armpits when taking a shower, which can cause dead skin to build up under your armpits. The dead skin cells also cause the skin to produce more pigment, resulting in dark armpits in addition to dull skin.

Inflammation

With skin of color, any form of inflammation can trigger hyperpigmentation. Inflammation can be triggered by various things that you may do to your skin. For example, any form of irritation, eczema, contact dermatitis, and many other triggers that your skin may succumb to. 

Smoking 

One of the many skin problems caused by smoking is hyperpigmentation. Typically, it affects the fingers, lips, underarms, and other parts of the body by increasing melanin production.

How can you prevent underarm hyperpigmentation?

Prevention is better than cure when it comes to hyperpigmentation. There are a few things that you can do that can help you avoid it in the first place.  

• The first thing that you need to do is to stop causing any kind of unnecessary inflammation to your underarms. Be gentle to your underarms and avoid any injury around that area.
• You can also opt for fragrance-free antiperspirant or deodorant because for some people using them could result in contact dermatitis, which causes underarm hyperpigmentation. 
• You must treat skin conditions like rashes or eczema correctly if you suffer from them. This is so that you do not trigger underarm hyperpigmentation. 
• If the cause of your pigmentation is thick skin, then you must visit your doctor and make sure that your blood glucose level is well-managed. 
• You are constantly traumatizing your skin from the blades, so please do not over-shave your underarms. Make sure that your underarms are well lubricated before you use a shaver and shave in the direction in which the hair is growing to avoid any injuries. 
• Lastly, avoid physically exfoliating your skin. What it does is as you rub your skin you cause micro-tears on the surface, allowing the hyperpigmentation to spread to a larger area. This kind of hyperpigmentation is very tricky to treat, so avoiding it will save you a lot of time and money. 

How can you treat underarm hyperpigmentation?

The skin on the underarms is thin, and having a rough approach to treating it will do more harm than good in the long run. To effectively treat underarm hyperpigmentation, it is first necessary to identify what causes it in the first place. Once you have addressed this, you can choose one or more of the options below to help you lighten the pigmentation.

1. Use tyrosinase inhibitors 

For long-term hyperpigmentation treatment, tyrosinase inhibitors are highly effective. They may take time to work, but produce beautiful results with the right amount of patience. What tyrosinase inhibitors do is block the enzyme tyrosinase from producing melanin in your skin, which as a result reduces hyperpigmentation. Kojic acid, alpha arbutin, and azelaic acid are a few examples of tyrosinase inhibitors. Adding products that have them to your regimen can help treat your underarm hyperpigmentation. 

Read on these 7 tyrosinase inhibitors that will most definitely brighten your skin!

2. Use soothing products to moisturize your underarms 

If you haven’t already you should be using products that either repair your skin barrier or help it stay as healthy as possible. Your underarms are very delicate areas. If you have skin conditions like eczema, which can lead to underarm hyperpigmentation, you should keep them well moisturized with occlusive creams. A healthy and functional skin barrier can prevent a lot of unnecessary infections, and this definitely can help you avoid hyperpigmentation. 

3. Use a gentle exfoliating acid for underarm hyperpigmentation

Gentle exfoliating acids can help to get rid of the buildup of dead skin cells. Just because you can use 10% lactic acid on your face does not mean you can use it on your underarms. This is because the skin in your underarms is very delicate. So use mild yet effective exfoliating acids. Favor products with ingredients like lactic acid and mandelic acid because of how gentle they are on most skin types.

4. Switch up your antiperspirant and deodorant 

The leading cause of contact dermatitis is fragrance, and you can now find antiperspirants that are fragrance-free. These products usually contain different ingredients that mask odors without adding fragrance. Do not buy products that are marketed as natural deodorants because most of them are filled with so many essential oils which works against you avoiding fragranced products. Essential oils are also very irritating to the skin. 

Conclusion 

Because of how delicate the skin under your arms is, it makes it quite challenging to treat it effectively. The first step to eliminating pigmentation is determining its root cause, so it is imperative to do so. Once you establish this, there are many treatments available to help you clear up your underarm hyperpigmentation. What do you think could be causing your underarm hyperpigmentation? What treatments have you used to help you treat it and have they worked?