The hot weather makes the skin under the arms sweat and have an unpleasant smell, but using deodorant makes the armpits dark. Is this true, doctor? (Giang, 27 years old, Dong Nai )
Reply:
Dark underarms can also be caused by genetics or naturally dark skin. However, frequent use of underarm deodorants can cause darkening of the underarm skin because the ingredients in the product change the skin's natural pH. Some deodorants contain parabens, alcohol, fragrances, and chemicals that also cause inflammation and irritation, leading to discoloration.
If you have dark underarms, you should stop using deodorants for a few weeks to check if that is the reason for the darkening. If so, you can switch to natural alternatives to control body odor instead of chemical deodorants to maintain the natural skin tone of your underarms such as lemon juice, crystal deodorants, apple cider vinegar. Never use baking soda to lighten your underarms.
You can talk to a dermatologist for advice and follow-up treatment with safe treatments such as pigment laser, microneedling, hair removal, and skin peeling.
To use deodorant effectively, you need to understand your body condition. If your armpits do not sweat much but still have an unpleasant odor, you should choose a deodorant. If you sweat too much, you should use an antiperspirant.
Make sure your underarms are clean and dry before applying deodorant. Apply it the night before to give the antiperspirant time to penetrate the sweat ducts in your skin and protect you from sweat the next day. Don’t apply too many layers, start with a thin layer and apply more as you feel dry and clean.
Apply and shake well before use to help the active ingredients be evenly distributed on the skin. After rolling, we should let it dry for a few seconds before you put on clothes or before exercising and sweating.
Doctor Thai Thanh Yen
Department of Dermatology - Dermatology Aesthetics, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City
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