How to lighten your underarms naturally this summer
While we are very much proud of being black (at least I am), dark underarms are nothing to be proud of. It’s one of those things that everyone around you is painfully aware of, but will never dare to mention it to you or help you with-unless you ask them. This has caused many to just accept it like a disability and live with it when they shouldn’t.
Dark underarms, which are common among dark skinned people, are usually not a disease or medical condition, but a result of excessive sweating, shaving, regular use of hair removal cream, poor ventilation of underarms, accumulation of dead skin cells and use of alcohol-based deodorants.
Here are 3 natural ways to help you lighten your underarms so you can rock those sleeveless tops this summer:
1. Cucumber
Simply rub a slice of cucumber to the underarm for a couple of minutes
You can also make a thick paste of turmeric and some drops of lemon juice.
Let it sit for 15mins then wash it off
Do this daily until you start seeing a lighter appearance then you can reduce the frequency to 3 times a week
Cucumbers are loaded with antioxidants and silica which help refresh and lighten our skin. The fruit is non-irritant and safe even for the oversensitive skin. The ability of the cucumber is enhanced when used with lemon which also has bleaching properties. Tumeric is known for reducing melanin production which is what gives a person a darker skin tone. It also resolves hyper pigmentation.
2. Baking Soda
Mix baking soda and water to make a thick paste
Use this paste to rub under your underarms for a couple of minutes
Wash it off and pat the area dry
Repeat the process 2-3 times a week
Baking powder is a gentle exfoliator that can eliminate dead skin cells which cause the greyish tint on the surface of your skin. It also carries bleaching properties that help inhibit excessive melanin production and even out your skin tone (but don’t you dare put it on that face-step away from the soda.) Baking soda’s amphoteric properties help neutralize the pH levels of your skin, ensuring that your skin remains healthy
3. Lemon
1. Rub a lemon wedge on your skin for a couple of minutes.
Leave the juice for 10 -15 minutes then wash off the juice thoroughly.
Citrus fruits, especially lemons, are effective for treating dark spots because they are packed with vitamins c which is a powerful antioxidant. Vitamin C or absorbent acid is a natural exfoliator which can help to lighten the skin and improve skin tone. The upper layer is exfoliated by the acid, removing old skin cells including old cells with dark pigmentation.
By Novuyo Ndlovu
