The underarms do not often get enough attention. They can be a source of insecurity, especially among women. They sweat when it is hot out, sometimes they smell unpleasant, the skin becomes rough from shaving or friction, and they darken. That is why there are people who refuse to wear clothes that do not have sleeves. They want to cover their underarms for fear that others will see a physical flaw.
The underarms need love and care, too. Why your underarms are not as smooth and blemish-free as you want them to be is that you probably do not take good care of them or practice the wrong habits.
For perfect pits, here are pointers that you should incorporate into your regular beauty routine.
Addressing Dark Underarms
There are numerous products available in the market that is specifically formulated to be used on the underarms. The challenge is choosing which one suits your situation best.
Dark underarms, or hyperpigmentation, are common insecurity. It happens as a result of friction from shaving or wearing tight clothing. Your roll-on antiperspirant may be at fault, too. Repeatedly rubbing the product would cause darkening.
A whitening gel or cream, which contains glutathione, vitamin C, and other ingredients known to inhibit the production of melanin, may help even out your skin tone.
Use Another Method to Remove Hair
Underarm hair does not have to be removed, but for women who prefer their pits hairless, shaving is a standard method used. Shaving, however, also causes friction, which darkens the skin. Moreover, shaving does not remove hair altogether.
Shaving removes the portion of the hair that is above the surface of the skin. However, most of the time, the razor does not reach the base of the hair. There might still be a portion of the hair that was not removed and creating a shadow on the underarms. As a result, the underarms may look darker and may feel rough.
Waxing may be painful at first, but it pulls the hair strand from the roots. It would also help lighten dark skin because there is no friction involved.
Allow Your Underarms to Recover
Shaving and waxing can be too harsh for the skin. If you apply deodorant or antiperspirant immediately after hair removal, skin irritation may occur.
Give your skin time to breathe. For example, if you know you have to leave your house early in the morning, you should wax or shave your underarms in the evening. Wearing tight clothing is a no-no, too. Tight clothing rubs the skin, causing irritation and eventually hyperpigmentation.
Exfoliate Every Once in a While
The skin all over your body should be exfoliated, including your armpits. When skin cells die, they do not always fall off. Sometimes, they stick around and clog your pores, resulting in pimples, and make your skin look dull. Exfoliation removes dead skin cells to reveal a smoother, brighter, and younger layer of skin.
There are two types of exfoliants: physical and chemical. A rough towel, pumice stones, loofah, and products with beads are physical exfoliants that slough off dead skin cells. On the other hand, chemical exfoliants include alpha hydroxy acid and beta hydroxy acid — products that peel away the surface of the skin and remove blemishes.
Exfoliating your underarms will keep your skin smooth and light.
You can either physical or chemical exfoliant depending on your preference. Just remember to do it twice or thrice a week.
Moisturize Your Underarms
The skin on your underarms needs moisture, just like the rest of your body. So while applying your lotion, give your underarms a swipe, too.
You do not need to apply a lot of products on your underarms. A light layer is sufficient. Putting on too much may feel uncomfortable, especially when the weather becomes warm.
Apply Sunscreen
You should be wearing sunscreen on any part of your skin exposed to the harmful rays of the sun. When you find yourself on the beach or wearing a sleeveless shirt during the day, you should protect your underarms by applying sunscreen.
Experts recommend a sunscreen with at least SPF 30. Moreover, if you are under the sun for hours, you would need to reapply frequently. Moisture removes sunscreen, so if you are sweating or swimming, you have to reapply sunscreen more often.
It would be best if you did not ignore underarms. If you want them to look good, you will need to give them as much care as you do on your face and body.