How to whiten underarms permanently

7 min read

In this post you will learn:

• Why using baking soda for underarms is a good thing
• The most effective way to use lemons for underarms whitening
• Orange Peels for ‘ black underarms ‘ – does it work?
• Why raw potatoes work best for dark underarms
• Does toothpaste really work for underarms whitening?

Nothing accentuates your body like a sleeveless dress or a tube dress. The beauty lies in elegant looking shoulders making a statement. But embarrassing dark under arms usually stops us from going so far. Sleeveless tops, cold shoulders, tube tops, halter necks and off shoulders are a complete no for girls with dark underarms. Fortunately, these 9 natural remedies work well for underarms whitening. 

#1. Why Use Baking Soda for Dark Underarms

Dark underarms is a consequence of dead skin cells accumulating over time. Not only does it darken your underarms further, they also clog the pores, leaving the skin unable to breathe. The key lies in exfoliating these dead cells off your skin. Baking soda when applied on skin gives out a basic exothermic reaction which scrapes off dead skin cells from the epidermis to give way to clear skin.

How to Use Baking Soda for Underarms Brightening

• Step 1 – Mix water and baking soda to make a grainy paste.
• Step 2 – apply it to your underarms in smooth circular motions.
• Step 3 – wash with cold water and pat dry.

You can use rosewater instead of normal water and repeat this thrice a week.

Method:

• Mix water and baking soda to create a paste and apply it to the underarms.
• Scrub gently for a little over a minute, wash with cold water and pat it dry.
• You can use rosewater instead of normal water and repeat this thrice a week.

#2. How Does a Slice of Lemon Lighten Underarms

Lemons are highly acidic and get rid of dead cells. Their bleaching properties also lighten underarms.

How to Use Lemons for Underarms Whitening

• Step 1 – Cut a lemon in half and dip it in sugar.
• Step 2 – Rub the slices on your underarms for 2 minutes. You may experience some mild stinging and itching.
• Step 3 – Leave it on for 5 minutes before washing off with cool water.

#3. Why Potatoes Work Best for Dark Underarms

Using lemons to lighten underarms can irritate sensitive skin, and cause rashes or some other kind of reaction. Potatoes aren’t as acidic as lemons but are a better option for sensitive skin. The citric acid in potatoes is milder and, even though they work at a slow pace, they give desired results too.

How to Use Potatoes to Lighten Dark Underarms

• Step 1 – Cut potatoes into slices and rub it on the underarms’ skin.
• Step 2 – After 10 minutes of letting the essence settle, wash it with lukewarm water and dry it.
• Step 3 – Repeat twice a day.

#4. Cucumber For Dark Underarms – Does It Work?

Heat makes you sweat, and sweat can cause dark discolouration in your underarms. Also, the skin in your armpit region is under rupture for most of the day due to swaying our arms while walking or doing any basic job. The key lies in cooling down the region and what better than world’s favourite coolant- cucumber? Besides being a cooling agent, cucumbers also have bleaching agents.

How to Use Cucumber for Underarms Whitening

• Step 1 – Cut slices of cucumber and rub on the skin.
• Step 2 – After 10 minutes, wash it and pat dry.
• Step 3 – Repeat twice a day.

#5. The Secret Behind Using Orange Peels for ‘ Black Underarms ‘

Another fruit heaving with citrus is orange. The very same bleaching properties that lemons are blessed with reside in oranges too. But with a sweet fragrance added to it. When applied on the underarms’ skin, the orange peel will not only put forth its bleaching foot but will also act as a natural deodorant ad battle underarm odour.

How to Use Orange Peels for Underarms Whitening

• Step 1 – Peel the oranges and leave the peels to dry for a day on the terrace.
• Step 2 – Once the moisture leaves the peels, grind them to form a powder.
• Step 3 – Mix this powder with rosewater and milk, apply the paste to the underarms.
• Step 4 – Scrub for over 15 minutes and wash with cold water.
• Step 5 – Repeat thrice a week.

#6. Why Most Beauty Experts Suggest Milk for Dark Armpits

This universally accepted beauty product is here to fight your dark underarms too! We do not prescribe going Cleopatra style and take dips in pools of milk but just use few teaspoons it for its skin lightening properties and moisturising benefits. Here is an age-old grandmother recipe for milk.

How to Use Milk for Underarms Whitening

• Step 1 – Mix three tablespoons of milk in some gram flour.
• Step 2 – Add a pinch of turmeric and make a paste.
• Step 3 – Apply this paste, scrub for over ten minutes and leave it to dry.
• Step 4 – Rinse with cold water and pat it dry.
• Step 5 – Repeat thrice a week.

#7. You Can Use Curd to Lighten Underarms Too!

Yogurt, high in basic properties is known to eliminate bacterial traces settled on the skin. This way, it begins to bleach the skin, give it a lighter tone and moisturises it simultaneously. It kills odorous bacteria and neutralises body musk.

Underarms Brightening with Curd

• Step 1 – Add drops of honey (a powerful bleaching agent) to yogurt to form a paste.
• Step 2 – Gently apply on the underarms and scrub it into the crevices of the underarms.
• Step 3 – Wash, pat dry and repeat thrice a week.

#8. Does Toothpaste Really Work for Underarms Whitening?

Yes it does! Toothpaste has bleaching properties that whiten dark underarms. However, make sure to use only white toothpaste since coloured variants have chemicals that can irritate sensitive underarm skin. Matcha green tea is antioxidant that will scrub away the dead skin cells and unclog the pores.

How to Use Matcha Green Tea Powder and White Toothpaste to Lighten Armpits

• Step 1 – Mix white toothpaste and green tea powder well.
• Step 2 – Apply that mixture
• Step 3 – Wipe it out after 10 minutes.

#.9 Why You Should Use Apple Cider Vinegar to Get Rid of Dark Armpits

Here is another mild acid to be added to your skincare products. Apple Cider Vinegar does not just create heat to scrape off dead skin cells but also prevents bacterial infections and kills germs that feed on dead skin cells. It also has mild bleaching properties that brighten the skin.

How to use Apple Cider Vinegar to Lighten Underarms

• Step 1 – Take half a cup of rice and grind it to make rice flour (which is a strong coarse exfoliator)
• Step 2 – Add apple cider vinegar to form a thick paste.
• Step 3 – Apply the paste on your underarms and scrub for a little over 15 minutes.
• Step 4 – Wash it and pat dry. Repeat thrice a week.

Remember that the key is to keep the armpit clean and healthy by consistently following these tips every week! Repeat them for sensational underarms.

As a dermatologist, one of the most common questions I receive in the clinic is: How do I brighten my underarms? Treating hyperpigmentation is a specialty of mine, but I will admit that this problem humbles me. Early in my practice, I called a special meeting with my mentor, Dr. Heather Woolery-Lloyd, to discuss this exact topic. Below, I'll share with you a few of our combined pearls of wisdom.

Meet the Expert

• Elyse M. Love, M.D., is a board-certified dermatologist trained in the wide spectrum of medical and cosmetic dermatology. She is based at New York's Spring Street Dermatology.
• Heather Woolery-Lloyd, M.D., is a board-certified dermatologist and a member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. Woolery-Lloyd is an internationally recognized dermatology and wellness expert. She is the creator of Specific Beauty, a skincare line specifically designed to treat hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone. She currently serves as director of the Skin of Color Division for the University of Miami's Department of Dermatology.

Before we get into the how, I want to give you some context for why this problem is a little tricky. Underarm skin is delicate. In terms of depth, it is analogous to eyelid skin. This means that it is very easy to irritate this skin, and unfortunately, irritation also produces additional pigmentation. Next, underarm skin folds onto itself. This increases the absorption of any product applied to the area. This is significant because all ingredients that help with hyperpigmentation are (to some degree) irritating. So a very delicate balance is required to achieve improvement without further irritation. 

I tell you this because I want you to understand more is not more. Many of the tips below will focus on minimizing irritation to the area. Patience and the willpower to not do the most will be required to see results. As a rule of thumb, the longer the pigmentation has been present, the longer it will take to see significant improvement.

With that said, ahead you'll discover eight of the best ways to treat and lighten underarm hyperpigmentation.

01 of 08

A rash is a sign of skin inflammation and may present with redness, itching, flakiness, and/or local roughness to the skin. If any of these signs or symptoms are present, I recommend evaluation by a board-certified dermatologist for prescription anti-inflammatory treatment. Brightening treatments will be ineffective until the inflammation is addressed. 

The inflammation may be due to a chronic skin condition (i.e., eczema, psoriasis), a superficial skin infection, or an allergy to a frequently used product. Once the cause has been diagnosed and controlled, brightening treatments can be started. 

Possible causes of inflammation frequently include:

• Eczema
• Psoriasis
• Superficial fungal infections
• Allergic contact dermatitis from nickel or fragrance (often from deodorant)

02 of 08

Stop scrubbing your underarms. Physical pressure provides no benefits for treating hyperpigmentation. (In fact, it's more likely to cause irritation and worsen the problem.) Instead, add a gentle combination of chemical and physical exfoliator into your routine a few times a week. Lactic, glycolic, and salicylic acids are effective ingredients for this area. My current favorite is Nécessaire's The Body Exfoliator ($30). Since the product has both physical beads and chemical exfoliants, there's no need to put pressure on the skin; just lightly glide the treatment over the skin.

03 of 08

Ashley Armitage / Refinery29 for Getty Images

If you shave, then keep in mind that shaving without shaving cream can be irritating to the skin. I recommend using a moisturizing option, such as EOS Shea Better Shave Cream ($4). Allow the shaving cream to sit on the skin for 15–30 seconds before shaving. Replace razor blades frequently to prevent dull blades from rubbing along the skin. 

Woolery-Lloyd notes that an allergy to nickel can lead to darker underarms, though studies are lacking on the cause of this. If you also develop rashes at the location of your belt buckle or certain jewelry, you may be allergic to your razor blade. Waxing or laser hair removal are better hair removal options for those allergic to nickel.

04 of 08

Since irritation can lead to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, the first thing you want to do is remove anything that's potentially causing or worsening the problem.

Since natural deodorants do not limit sweating, they tend to be highly fragranced. Some people develop allergies to these plant-based fragrances. These skin allergies typically present with redness and itching. Others develop irritation and a rash from excessive sweat.

However, natural deodorants can cause hyperpigmentation without a rash. Woolery-Lloyd notes that sodium bicarbonate is a common ingredient in natural deodorants, and this ingredient has anecdotally been linked to hyperpigmentation without a rash.

If you've noticed darkening of your underarms after starting a new deodorant, consider switching to a hypoallergenic antiperspirant, such as Vanicream, or a natural deodorant without sodium bicarbonate, such as Lume.

Vanicream Aluminum-Free Deodorant $10.00

05 of 08

If progress is going too slowly with the above tips, or if you want to save a little time from trial and error, consider seeing a board-certified dermatologist to discuss prescription-strength topical options. Since this area is sensitive, they will be able to counsel you on how often to use products for best results. My favorite topical treatments include prescription-strength hydroquinone (formulated in a soothing gel), azelaic acid, and tranexamic acid.

Key Ingredients

Hydroquinone is a chemical compound used in products that treat hyperpigmentation. It works by interacting with the melanin-producing cells in the skin and decreasing the production of pigment.

06 of 08

Since all topical ingredients are irritating, sometimes a procedural-based approach is a better option. Microneedling, chemical peels, and low-fluence laser therapy are all potential treatment options. Just remember, this will still require multiple procedures to see significant improvement. 

A word of caution—I do not recommend home chemical peels on this area, due to the skin sensitivity. This is an area best left to the professionals.

07 of 08

Yes, you can use the regular serums you'd use for hyperpigmentation on your face on your underarms as well, but be careful. Since the skin of the underarms is thin and the skin folds onto itself, absorption will be greater than if you applied the same product to your face. To prevent irritation, start slowly—just twice a week—and remember more is not more; apply a very thin layer, and allow the product to dry before lowering your arm. As each week passes, you can increase the frequency by once a week as tolerated. So you may be able to use the product daily or twice a day eventually, but it will take weeks to slowly build up to this point. These products are great options for treating hyperpigmentation.

08 of 08

Refinery29 / Getty Images

Because of the delicacy of the underarm skin, there is no quick way to fix this problem. Rushing results will likely only worsen the problem by causing irritation and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. It will take multiple months of periodic in-office and/or at-home treatments to achieve noticeable results. Take a moment to reset your expectations and to also reevaluate your current treatment plan. You're likely doing too much.

FAQ

• Can underarm discoloration go away on its own?

  It depends on the root cause. If it's a bad reaction to a particular ingredient in a product you use (like a cream or deodorant) and you discontinue use, then yes, the problem could go away on its own.

• Can I use lemon on my armpits?

  In general, it's best to steer clear of adding lemon juice to your skincare routine. Our skin has a natural pH of around 4.5-5, while lemon juice has a pH of 3—this difference can make lemon quite irritating to the skin, leading to "stinging, peeling, and redness," as dermatologist Emily Arch told us.

• Does baking soda lighten armpits?

  Much like lemon, you're better off steering clear of incorporating baking soda into your skincare routine—but for the opposite reason. Baking soda is extremely alkaline, with a pH of around 9. This can disrupt the skin's balance, stripping it of its natural oils and leading to dryness, irritation, and inflammation, says dermatologist Marnie Nussbaum, MD.