Struggling with Armpit Discoloration?
Here’s What Causes It & What to Do About It
If the skin of your underarms (or in other skin folds) is darker than the rest of your skin, you may have a condition called post‐inflammatory hyperpigmentation or axillary hyperpigmentation. Based on research, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation affects almost 15% of people. If skin thickening is also occurring, you could have acanthosis nigricans. Loss of pigment (or hypopigmentation) in the underarms can also be a problem.
While it may seem like a small issue to some people, to many others, underarm skin color changes can be validly upsetting. Indeed, studies show that quality of life, social life and psychological wellness can all be impacted by axillary hyperpigmentation. Fortunately, you can often help prevent pigmentation from changing further and take steps to look and feel more like yourself again.
Common Causes of Underarm Hyperpigmentation
One reason underarm skin darkening can occur is because the skin in this area is somewhat different from the skin on other parts of the body. Underarms have more oil and sweat glands, more hair follicles, and higher skin moisture loss. This can make the skin barrier of the underarms relatively weaker and more prone to irritation from hair, friction, procedures (such as miraDry) and products.
Here are some common causes of armpit pigment changes:
- Hair removal: Darkening of skin can occur when skin pigment cells multiply faster than usual. To avoid hyperpigmentation related to hair removal, choose methods that minimize skin trauma. Laser hair removal can be an option but ask your aesthetic professional for the appropriate laser for your skin tone; pigment changes after laser hair removal can occur on darker skin. Better choices may be gentle shaving (use a sharp, clean razor and avoid repetitive strokes), or hair removal creams designed for sensitive skin (test on a small area first and follow directions carefully). Avoid waxing.
- Clothing choices: Wearing tight, friction-causing clothing can be linked to underarm darkening. Choose lightweight, breathable, quick-drying fabrics or styles that avoid fabric and seams in the underarms (think lowercut tank tops or bandeaus.) Avoid rough seams, tight elastic bands and synthetic fabrics that can trap heat and sweat. If moisture is a concern, change out of damp clothes promptly to minimize friction.
- Genetics: Hyperpigmentation of the underarms appears to run in families and to impact darker skin tones more than lighter ones. While you can’t change your genetics, you can use the tips in this article to help reduce your risk of armpit darkening and care for the skin if it occurs.
Medical Causes of Underarm Hyperpigmentation
Sometimes medical conditions or certain medications can be at the root of underarm skin pigment changes (especially acanthosis nigricans). These can include:
Hyperhidrosis - If you have the condition of excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) or another skin condition like psoriasis, the Cleveland Clinic says you might be more likely to experience skin pigment changes in your underarms. Dr. David Pariser, a member of our Board of Directors and former President of the American Academy of Dermatology, however, clarifies that hyperhidrosis by itself should not cause pigmentation alteration and any sweat-related color changes are likely a result of a secondary process (such as an infection due to moisture and bacterial overgrowth or irritation related to a sweat-fighting product). Treating hyperhidrosis appropriately can be useful in helping to decrease and avoid underarm skin color problems. Talk to your healthcare provider about all the treatment options for hyperhidrosis and how to use them effectively.
Insulin resistance - If you have diabetes,“pre-diabetes” or “insulin resistance,” the way your body reacts to glucose could be related to your underarm darkening. Treatment for these conditions needs to be managed with a healthcare provider and will likely include recommendations for regular exercise, weight management and diet. For diabetes, prescription medications and blood glucose monitoring will also likely be necessary. If you are concerned about diabetes or insulin resistance, have family members with these conditions, or have symptoms, talk to your healthcare provider.
Obesity - Being overweight can cause discoloration of the underarms, sometimes on its own and sometimes in combination with insulin resistance. There are now numerous effective ways to help people achieve and maintain reasonable weight loss. Talk to your healthcare provider about your options if this is something you are interested in.
Hormonal disorders: People with an underactive thyroid, polycystic ovary syndrome, Cushing’s syndrome, thyroid disease, or other hormonal disorders are more likely to have underarm discoloration. If this is your situation or suspect it could be, ask your healthcare provider for guidance.
Medications: Some medications, including high doses (likely more than 1,000mg/day) of niacin (vitamin B3), birth control pills, prednisone, and corticosteroids, can cause underarm color changes. If you think that a medication could be contributing to skin discoloration, talk to your healthcare provider but do not stop taking your medications without consulting your prescriber first.
Cancer: In rare situations, underarm color changes can occur due to cancer impacting an internal organ. Cancer-related underarm darkening usually comes on suddenly and is accompanied by skin darkening around the mouth, as well. Because this is uncommon, other potential causes of armpit darkening will likely be investigated by your healthcare provider first. Any sudden changes in your health should be discussed with your doctor.
How Long Does It Take for Underarm Hyperpigmentation to Fade?
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, skin darkening usually fades with time, provided the root cause of the situation has been identified and addressed. Skin darkening that is a few shades darker than your natural skin color will usually fade within 6 to 12 months. More significant skin tone changes may take longer, but self-care and treatments can speed up the process.
How to Treat Underarm Hyperpigmentation
The American Academy of Dermatology and Medical News Daily recommend self-care techniques to help lighten skin hyperpigmentation:
- Work with your healthcare provider first to identify irritants, triggers or underlying medical conditions and to address them.
- Use only gentle skin care products and stop using any products that cause stinging or burning sensations.
- Always use soap or shaving cream when shaving. Choose products designed for sensitive skin.
- Moisturize the underarms to decrease irritation, especially after shaving. Choose a natural and unscented moisturizing product.
- Protect your underarms from sun exposure. Use sunscreen of at least SPF 30 designed for sensitive skin, such as tinted sunscreen with iron oxide (to match your skin tone and avoid a white film.)
- Use a product to smooth out uneven skin tone (more on this below). Prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) options are available. In OTC products, look for azelaic acid, glycolic acid, kojic acid, retinoids (retinol, tretinoin, adapalene gel, or tazarotene), or vitamin C. Talk to a dermatologist about your best options and use them consistently. Some of these ingredients can make skin more sensitive, so be sure to follow product directions and your dermatologist’s guidance, and protect your skin from sun exposure.
- Avoid prolonged use of products that contain steroids - like hydrocortisone. Excessive use of these can make skin darkening worse.
- Use home remedies such as lemon juice and turmeric (see below) with caution and only after consulting with a healthcare provider about the root cause of your skin discoloration. Home remedies are not without risks and may cause side effects like dryness and irritation, plus there’s currently no scientific data to indicate that they are effective.
Lemon Juice is controversial, but Some Recommend It
If you are tempted to try a home remedy to help correct underarm skin color, lemon juice could be useful. A dermatologist with the Cleveland Clinic indicates that the acid in lemon juice may help to dissolve the outer layers of the skin to lighten discoloration. Note, however, that other dermatologists advise against using lemon juice in the underarms.
The technique calls for rubbing lemon slices under your arms. Waiting 10 minutes. Then rinsing the area with cool water and letting it air dry. Another method involves mixing lemon juice with turmeric to make a paste. Apply to your underarms and wait 30 minutes before washing off with cold water. Test both options on a very small area of an armpit first and do not use these methods too often, as resulting over-exfoliation can cause irritation.
Prescriptions and Medical Procedures
A dermatologist can help if over-the-counter and self-care methods are not providing you with the color balancing you’d like. Prescription medications and medical procedures a healthcare provider can provide to fade darkening in the underarms include:
- Retinoid creams
- Hydroquinone cream
- Chemical peels
- Calcipotriene, a vitamin D-based cream
- Topical antibiotics or antibacterial soaps to minimize skin irritation or inflammation
- Retinoid pills for severe underarm skin darkening or discoloration that does not respond to topical treatments. These, however, can have side effects and cannot be used if you are pregnant.
- Microdermabrasion or dermabrasion
- Laser therapy for discoloration but also to decrease hair growth, limiting the need to shave and, thus, helping you to avoid a potential skin irritant.
Bathing suit, tank top and strapless season may seem SO far away right now but it’s really just around the corner. We hope you are loving your arms and underarms just as they are. Mono-pigment is boring anyway. 😉 But if you want to tackle the color of underarms for you, that’s cool too.
We hope this blog helps.
Love this content?
Rate and review us on GreatNonprofits and help us earn our 2026 GreatNonprofit Badge! We’ve proudly earned this badge every year since 2012, and you can help us keep the streak going.:)
Please also connect with us on social media, comment on and like our posts, and share them with others. Find us here: