Lighten Dark Underarms with Natural Ingredients

Is the skin in your underarms dark and unhealthy looking? Try these natural ingredients to bring it back to life!

Excessive use of deodorant, waxing, and perspiration are factors that can stain your underarms. These dark marks are not only unsightly but they also don’t allow the pores in that area to “breathe”. Next, we’ll discuss natural ingredients you can use to lighten dark underarms.

What are the causes of dark underarms?

Some of the darkest parts of the body are the elbows, knees, and underarms. This is because they’re areas where “rubbing” with clothing or repetitive motions are very frequent.

The use of certain beauty products such as antiperspirant or hair removal wax may darken the area under the arms.

Other causes are excessive shaving, certain creams, lack of exfoliation or poor hygiene and sweating. All of these cause an accumulation of dead skin cells.

• The first step in reducing these stains is washing the area daily with a sponge or brush and mild soap.
• Keeping the area hydrated with natural creams is also important.

Homemade remedies to lighten dark underarms

If you’re a little embarrassed to lift your arms because of dark armpit stains, we recommend that you try the following natural remedies:

1. Lemon and baking soda

The first ingredient is a stain remover par excellence. The second one acts as an exfoliant. Together, they become an effective homemade remedy to lighten dark underarms.

They also reduce excessive sweating and bad odor. Don’t use them after shaving as they may cause burning.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons of baking soda (20 g)
• Juice from ½ a lemon

Steps

• Combine the baking soda and juice in a bowl.
• Mix until you have a consistent paste.
• Then apply to the underarms after a shower using circular motions.
• Repeat every day, always at night (remember lemon stains the skin when it comes in contact with the sun).

2. Lemon

If you don’t have baking soda, or want an even easier solution to lighten dark underarms, simply cut a lemon in half and rub it on each underarm for a few minutes.

• Let it sit for 15 minutes. Then, rinse well with warm water.
• Repeat twice a week at night.

3. Exfoliate with a pumice stone

Take advantage of your shower time to exfoliate your underarms and remove dead skin cells as well as ingrown hairs.

• It’s as easy as rubbing the area with a pumice stone while the skin is wet, so it doesn’t irritate or hurt.
• After the shower, apply a moisturizing cream.

4. Lemon and sugar

Sugar has similar properties to baking soda as it can be used as an effective exfoliant. The best part? You can enjoy the benefits of this homemade remedy several times per week.

Ingredients

• Juice from ½ a lemon
• 1 tablespoon of sugar (10 g)

Steps

• Squeeze the lemon and pour the juice into a glass.
• Add the sugar and mix well until it forms a “sandy” paste.
• Then apply it on the armpits using a circular motion.
• Wait 15 minutes before rinsing with plenty of water.
• Dry with a cotton towel using gentle patting motions (without rubbing).
• Apply a moisturizer when finished.

5. Potato

Potato juice has many health benefits for the skin, and the best part is it doesn’t irritate (it can even be used by people with sensitive skin).

Steps

• It’s very simple: peel and cut a potato in slices. Then, lightly rub onto the underarms.
• An alternative is to shred the potato and apply it like a mask.
• For each option, allow the potato to work for 15 minutes and then rinse. These steps can be repeated daily.

6. Yogurt

In order to benefit from this remedy, you should use natural or Greek yogurt.

• One tablespoon is enough for each underarm. Apply and wait for 20 minutes.
• It’ll soften the skin and reduce stains little by little.
• You can repeat this treatment every day.

7. Oats, honey, and lemon

This recipe combines two ingredients with exfoliating properties and another which works to eliminate stains, making it incredibly effective.

Although it can be used all over the body, it’s recommended for use on the underarms once per week.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons of oats (20 g)
• 1 tablespoon of honey (25 g)
• Juice from ½ a lemon

Steps

• Place the oats and honey into a bowl.
• Add the lemon juice and mix well.
• When you obtain an even paste, lightly massage it onto the underarms.
• Leave it on for 15 minutes. Then, rinse with plenty of warm water.
• You can use some moisturizing cream when finished.

8. Coconut oil

This oil is very good for the skin in general and also acts as an effective stain remover. Because it contains vitamin E, it hydrates the skin and also works as a natural deodorant.

• Simply soak a cotton ball in coconut oil and apply it to the underarms every morning.

9. Cucumber

No list is complete without including a beauty treatment with this vegetable’s superior skin properties.

Steps

• Cut a cucumber into slices and rub onto the underarms.
• Leave on for 20 minutes and then rinse.
• Repeat 3 times per week.

10. Cucumber, lemon, and turmeric

Lastly, a home remedy to lighten dark underarms with ease. It has the ability to remove stains and also exfoliate and soften the skin.

Ingredients

• Juice from ½ a lemon
• ½ cucumber
• 1 teaspoons of turmeric powder (5 g)

Steps:

• Peel and shred the cucumber.
• Place the grated cucumber, lemon juice and turmeric in a bowl.
• Apply to the underarms, leave it on for 20 minutes and rinse.