Welcome to our Body Talk series where our in-house Nykaa editors cover educational and important conversations on body health.
No amount of buffing and scrubbing helps. Knees like you’ve spent the day kneeling in the dirt. And those underarms, murky, almost like you forgot to wax…we feel you. But don’t despair. Madhavi Irani shows you how to turn dark to light.
Dark anything can be embarrassing. We’re not saying for a second that dusky isn’t sexy. But two-toned skin is never a good look. Even-toned arms with knobbly muddy elbows that refuse to lighten no matter what you do. Ditto dark underarms and knees. But before we tackle these shadowy bits, lets understand what causes them to darken in the first place. Perennially dry skin is the biggest culprit, combined with friction. Elbows and knees often rub against clothes and furniture.
If you shudder at the thought of smelly, hairy armpits—as do we—chances are you’re more razor-happy and free with the deodorant than you should be. Underarm skin is sensitive and more prone to infection and shaving irritation. So, what’s a girl to do if the thought of having to raise a sleeveless arm sounds hellish?
For starters throw out your deodorant and buy an antiperspirant (like Yardley London - English Lavender Anti Perspirant Deodorant Roll On For Women) instead. Deos contain skin irritating ingredients and fragrances that react with skin and can cause discoloration over time. We spoke to Dr Dhimant Goleria, and this is what he said, “It’s quite common to get discoloration because the normal bacteria that live under the arms can interact with the aluminium in deodorant. This, along with the normal salt in sweat and sebum can cause discoloration. Besides, some people are more prone to hyper-pigmentation from shaving, which can also cause dark spots and marks.”
It’s also a good idea to start waxing underarms to remove the hair from its roots. Shaving leaves the hair beneath the skin intact that casts an ugly shadow. There are plenty of options out there like Rica Aloe Vera Wax For Sensitive Skin; but if you can’t stand the thought of tugging at your underarms, try Fem Anti Darkening Hair Removal Cream Sandal Cream enriched with special skin lightening ingredients. Depilatory creams dissolve hair at the roots so work better than shaving.
Perennially dark elbows and knees call for a visit to the dermatologist. It could be a fungal infection (very treatable) or a medical condition like acanthosis nigricans where skin thickens over time, leaving those areas darker than the rest of the body. You’re particularly at risk if you have diabetes or are overweight. Despair not, the condition can be treated with Retin-A, or alpha or beta hydroxy acids. Other causes could include pituitary gland disorders, thyroid conditions, Addison disease, or even the use of birth control pills or statins.
Home Remedies to Lighten Undearms, Elbows & Knees
- The lowly potato to the rescue. Massage the dark patches with slices of raw potato which has natural bleaching properties. Massage the affected areas for five to seven minutes thrice a week and rinse with cool water.
- A mixture of Lemon juice and Baking Soda makes for an excellent scrub to get rid of dark elbows, knees and underarms. Rub into patches and leave on for two to three minutes before rinsing. Repeat twice a week for best results.
- If you have very dry skin, its likely the dark patches are caused by flaking. Every morning after a shower, rub some pure Coconut Oil mixed with a few drop of Lemon juice (Btw we love Kama Ayurveda Extra Virgin Organic Coconut Oil) on the dark patches. What makes this nut oil so fabulous? It has essential fatty acids with antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties that soothe and brighten damaged skin.
- A Sugar and Coconut Oil scrub works equally well if the skin is rough and flaky.
In the meantime, you could also try a bleaching cream to lighten the pigmented areas. Look for an OTC product with a 10% urea composition. Ideally alternate the home remedy with a bleach sesh for best results. Now where’s that halter neck dress?
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