DARK UNDERARMS

Overview

Your underarms should naturally be about the same shade as the rest of your skin. But sometimes, the skin in the armpits can turn a darker hue. Dark underarms usually aren’t a sign of anything serious, but some people may find them embarrassing — especially during tank top and swimsuit season.
Darkening is often due to a skin condition called acanthosis nigricans (AN). It causes skin to thicken and darken in folds around the body.
Common areas of darkening include the:

  • Armpits
  • Back of the neck
  • Groin
  • Elbows
  • knees

Your skin might also itch or have a foul odor in those areas.
Anywhere from 7 to 74 percent of people experience some form of AN, according to a 2014 overviewTrusted Source of the condition. The likelihood of developing dark underarms often depends on factors like race, health, and family history. Keep reading to learn more about why this happens and what you can do.

What causes this condition, and who’s at risk?

Your skin color is determined by pigment cells called melanocytes. When these cells multiply more, they can turn the skin a darker color.
Anyone can develop AN, but some people have a greater risk. People who have darker skin are more likely to have darkening under their arms than people with lighter skin.
AN sometimes runs in families. You inherit it via a faulty gene. You’re more likely to have dark patches on your skin if you have a parent, sibling, or other close relative with the condition.
Although AN is usually genetic or tied to an underlying condition, there’s some evidences to suggest that hair removal may also be a culprit. It’s thought that irritation from repeated shaving or plucking might stimulate excess melanocyte production.
To avoid irritating your underarms, lubricate the skin with a gentle soap or shaving cream before shaving. Apply an unscented moisturizing cream afterward.
You may also be more likely to develop AN because of:

Obesity

Carrying extra weight makes your body more resistant to the effects of insulin. This hormone helps regulate your blood sugar. High levels of insulin in your blood can lead to increased production of skin pigment cells.
People who are 200 percent or more over their ideal body weight experience darkening in their underarms and other skin folds.

Type 2 diabetes

Obesity is also a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, a disease of high blood sugar. People who develop type 2 diabetes are at an increased risk of AN.

Hormone syndromes

Some conditions that disrupt insulin levels can lead to AN.
This includes:

  • Polycystic ovary syndrome
  • Cushing syndrome
  • Acromegaly
  • Hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid gland

Medication

Certain medications increase your insulin levels, which can lead to underarm darkening.
This includes:

  • Insulin
  • Corticosteroids, such as prednisone (Rayos)
  • Human growth hormone
  • Birth control pills
  • High-dose niacin (Niacor)
TREATMENTS AVAILABLE FOR DARK UNDERARMS AT KAYNA
  • PEELS
  • Q SWITCH LASER
  • MESOTHERAPY
(THE TREATMENTS ARE TAILOR MADE AFTER THE DOCTOR HAS DIAGNOSED YOUR SKIN)