5 CAUSES OF BLACK UNDERARMS
Underarms that are black can make a person feel insecure. Especially if the armpits suddenly turn black, even though they weren't before.
Surely you are wondering why this could be. To find out, here are some of the causes of black armpits launched by Rompers:
1. Mistakes in using deodorants
Some types of deodorants can irritate the skin. So that irritation can cause a rash that eventually turns the skin black.
"You're more likely to experience it because the armpits are part of the folds of the body that can get irritated easily," explains Adam Friedman, MD, FAAD.
"The darker a person's skin type, the easier it is for mild irritation to leave discolored afterward," continues Friedman.
This irritation-induced darkening is called post-inflammatory pigment change, and it is very common. The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology estimates the condition affects 45 to 83 percent of people.
2. Experiencing hormonal disorders
Hormonal changes can affect the skin, and it turns out that an imbalance in hormone production can cause skin discoloration.
Skin discoloration due to hormonal imbalance is called melasma, and it occurs when melanocytes (which are cells that cause skin pigmentation) are stimulated by abnormal levels of progesterone and estrogen which cause increased pigment in various parts of the body.
3. Drug side effects
Friedman says there are many drugs known to cause underarm darkening. Such as nicotinic acid, insulin, pituitary extract, systemic corticosteroids, and diethylstilbestrol.
"The good news is treatment-induced discoloration is unlikely to be dangerous. Dark underarms are only harmful when they are associated with an underlying and untreated medical problem," explains Friedman.
4. Mistakes when shaving
"The most common cause of underarm discoloration is post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation due to irritation, generally caused by shaving, rubbing, or scratching. Razors can irritate the skin which makes the skin appear darker," says Dr. Rachel Nazarian, a dermatologist in New York. .
5. You need an exfoliation
A common cause of dark underarms is dead skin cells. When dead skin cells collect, they increase the pigmentation process, and the armpits are very sensitive to the build-up of dead cells. To fix this, you can exfoliate to remove dead skin cells in the armpits.