
Skincare
Home Remedies To Lighten Dark Underarms
Payal Bhattacharya
Home Remedies To Lighten Dark Underarms
Do you know that part of your body you don’t pay much attention to until you have to wear a sleeveless top or dress? Your underarms? Yeah, we’re here to tell you that they deserve a little TLC of their own.
While hairy armpits are not necessarily a bad thing, we understand that sometimes you want to go clean-shaven. When the time to shave it all off does come, you realize that you have not been taking the best care of your sensitive underarm. When neglected, they tend to darken over time, leaving you with pigmented underarms. Don’t worry, though; there are plenty of ways to do some underarm whitening at home.
Why Do Our Underarms Become Dark?
Before we look into how to remove underarm darkness, we need to know why it happens at all. The underarm has pretty sensitive skin prone to skin damage, and there are several reasons you could have dark underarms.
- Pigmentation from friction
- Ingrown hair
- Adverse effects of deodorant
- Skin infection
- Friction damage
- Excess, unhealthy weight
- Health conditions and medicinal side effects
- Shaving
Is Waxing Better Than Shaving?
We get it. When in need of bare underarms immediately, shaving is a much more accessible solution than waxing. However, shaving creates a lot of friction and leaves its mark behind on your underarms in the form of:
- Skin trauma, which leads to thicker skin on the underarms
- Pigmentation
- Ingrown hair
- Miniscule cuts and razor burns
- Lumps or irritated skin
Waxing, on the other hand, removes hair from the roots. Wax strips tend to get rid of dead skin cells and skin tans. While it is NOT an underarm whitening home remedy, it does brighten up your skin for a while.
When trying to decide between the two, know that in the long run, waxing is much better for the sensitive skin of your underarms. Home-waxing kits make it more accessible than waxing used to be as well. Get yourself a home-waxing kit for brighter and smoother underarms.
Home Remedies For Dark Underarms
How you get rid of underarm hair is just the first step in creating a routine that will give you lighter underarms. If you’re looking into how to lighten underarms naturally, there are plenty of home remedies that you can try!
1. Turmeric Powder

A staple in every Indian household, the turmeric powder remedy is accessible and effective all in one go. Turmeric acts as a natural bleaching agent and aids in underarms darkness removal. You can use this remedy twice a week.
Materials:
- 1 teaspoon of organic turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon milk
- 1 teaspoon honey
Method:
- Mix all the ingredients in a bowl
- Apply to your underarms
- Leave for 10-15 minutes
- Wash with warm water
2. Tea Tree Oil

This remedy is not only super effective, but it also smells great. Tea tree oil works as an antioxidant that helps brighten the skin and an antimicrobial that keeps you smelling fresh. It works as a dark underarms treatment at home while smelling absolutely lovely. It can be used every day.
Materials:
- 1 cup distilled water
- 5-6 drops of tea tree essential oil
Method:
- Mix the two ingredients together
- Pour the mixture into a bottle.
- Apply it in moderation and let dry
3. 3-ingredient Super Mask

This underarm mask contains all the good stuff: aloe vera, multani mitti, and a potato. Aloe Vera is a key ingredient in a lot of skincare routines, and it works well for underarms as well. Its antibacterial properties soothe dark, inflamed skin and moisturize it as well. Multani mitti cools down irritated skin and gets rid of dead skin cells and bacteria. It also helps even out the skin tone of your underarms. Potatoes act as antioxidants and help brighten skin tone while evening it out. You can apply this mask once a week.
Materials:
- 1 potato
- 1 tablespoon Multani Mitti
- 1 teaspoon Aloe Vera
Method:
- Grate the potato and strain the juice out of it with a thin cloth
- Add the potato juice, Multani Mitti, and Aloe Vera to a bowl and mix together
- Apply and let it dry
- Rinse and moisturize. Avoid shaving or applying deodorant for a few days
4. Rose Water and Baking Soda

The Rose Water - Baking Soda remedy has multifold benefits. Baking soda is great for skin exfoliation, while rose water soothes the skin, improves blood circulation, brightens skin, and maintains pH balance. The simple remedy should ideally be used twice a week.
Materials:
- 1 tablespoon rose water
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
Method:
- Make a paste by mixing the two ingredients
- Apply evenly to your underarms
- Leave for 6-7 minutes before rinsing off with lukewarm water
5. Sunflower Oil

Sunflower oil is a natural essential oil that helps you get an even, natural glow. The oil contains Vitamin E in abundance and is excellent for the skin. You can use this remedy up to twice daily.
Materials:
- Few drops of sunflower essential oil
Method:
- Take a few drops of the oil and apply liberally
- Massage it and leave for 20 minutes
- Wash your underarms with warm water
6. Toothpaste

Surprised to see this absolute wildcard on the list? Toothpaste is actually great if you need to know how to remove underarm darkness. It is a bit of a temporary solution, but since it is a mild bleaching agent for the teeth, it helps remove pigmentation from your underarms as well.
Materials:
- Toothpaste: use only white toothpaste because any colored ingredients could cause an unwanted reaction on your skin
Method:
- Apply a thin layer on your underarms
- Leave for 10-15 minutes
- Rinse with warm water
If you’re looking for how to lighten your underarms, there are plenty of different home remedies. While dark underarms are not a problem unless it is due to a health issue, we know that you could be self-conscious about it while trying on new clothing styles. In that case, make sure you try these remedies and work out what’s best for you!
Read More - Reboot Your Underarm Care Routine For Spring 2022
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About Payal Bhattacharya
Payal is an editor at Purplle.com. She believes that the world will be a much better place if everyone owns a cat, it’s bizarre but true. She’s very sensitive and particular about her skincare routines and never skips it even for a single day. She loves to read about intimate hygiene and educate herself about female and male personal care which clearly reflects in her writings.









