Written by Dr. Sanjana V.B Bhms,dbrm,cdn
Founder & medical director of siahmsr wellness.in

Reviewed by SIAHMSR

All rights reserved with siahmsr digital healthcare[siahmsr wellness]

How to remove darkness of your under arms & elbows?

Your underarms, elbows and area around neck may turn dark from multiple causes.

A few reasons for darkness are the following:

·       Acanthosis nigricans

     It causes skin to thicken and darken in folds around the body

·       Obesity

  Obesity leads to insulin resistance and high levels of insulin cause pigmentation on skin.

·       Type 2 diabetes

      acanthosis nigricans is high in people having diabetes. Manage high blood sugar levels with medications.

·       Hormonal disorders

     Diseases like polycystic ovary syndrome,

Cushing syndrome, acromegaly, hypothyroidism [under active thyroid] are associated with dark spots on various parts of the body.

·       Medications

 Certain types of internal medications can cause darkness of under arms and elbows.

The solutions for darkness of these areas are not simply a topical application alone. The underlying causes need to be addressed in an effective way.

For example weight loss is essential for managing the skin problem arising out of obesity, diabetes and other hormonal disorders.

      If a medication is causing your dark underarms, discuss with your doctor and change to another remedy with no impact on skin, while addressing your  other ailment.

      Excessive friction of your skin also may cause darkness or pigmentation. Be gentle with your skin. While the underarms are shaved, never do that on bare skin and always use a lubricant like a shaving gel to keep the area smooth, moisturized, and reduce the chances of irritation.

There are some deodorants and antiperspirants that have active ingredients that can either clog up the sweat ducts or irritate the skin. So choose the right and skin friendly ones.

  SIAHMSR   

Home remedies

Natural remedies help in gentle exfoliation of dead skin cells and impurities. Such a pack for under arms and elbows is described here.

Turmeric, gram flour, curd, honey, lemon juice, rice powder pack

Ingredients:

Turmeric 2tsp

Gram flour 1 tbsp.

Curd 2tbs

Honey 1tsp

Lemon juice 1tsp

Rice powder 1tbsp.

preparation: 

Mix all the ingredients well. Add water or rose water to get the paste in the right texture,as necessary. Apply on elbows and under arms. Let it dry within a few minutes. Remove the pack with plain water.

 Benefits:

This pack may exfoliate dead skins and enhance the glow and radiance of the skin. Lemon juice, lactic acid of curd, honey and gram flour helps in brightening the skin.

Turmeric has anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and antioxidant effects. There is evidence that turmeric/curcumin products and supplements, both oral and topical, may provide therapeutic benefits for skin health.

Gram flour has great tan removal properties. The finely ground gram flour gently exfoliates dead skin cells and restore your skin’s natural radiance while reducing tan. Gram flour works as a cleanser to remove impurities on your skin.

Rice powder also helps in exfoliation of dead skin and removes impurities. It provides your skin an even tone.

The presence of lactic acid in the curd helps the skin shed the dead cells and helps regeneration of healthy skin cells. It can also be used as a natural moisturizer to enhance the natural glow of your skin .Curd has anti-aging properties and acts as a natural anti-pigmentation agent.

It helps lighten the dark spots and reduces uneven skin tone.

Honey moisturizes your skin. Vitamin C of lemon juice helps in restoring the skin health, texture and radiance.

 Written by dr sanjana vb [copyright]

Sources:

1.    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27213821/

2.    https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/acanthosis-nigricans/#:~:text=Acanthosis%20nigricans%20is%20the%20name,be%20checked%20by%20a%20GP.

3.    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30270529/

4.    https://www.healthline.com/health/lemon-for-face