HEALTH

Let’s be honest. The dark patches on your armpits can be very embarrassing, especially during tank top and swimsuit season. However, let us put your mind at ease. Dark patches are not only completely normal, there are also several natural ways to lighten your dark patches.

According to Health Line, your dark patches may be caused by a harmless condition called acanthosis nigricans (AN). AN causes the skin to thicken and darken in folds of the skin. That may be why your armpits, knees, neck, elbows, or groin area are darker than the rest of your skin tone. This condition also can explain the not so sweet smelling odor that stems from those areas. And while it’s nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about, there are a few things that could help. 

1. Lemons
Rub a thinly sliced lemon on the darkened area and leave it on for about 10 minutes before rinsing if off. A word of caution though-lemons can dry out your skin. So, we recommend applying a moisturizer to the area after rinsing the lemon juice off.  

2. Baking Soda
In case you didn’t know, baking soda is a natural bleaching agent. It will lighten your skin in no time. Simply mix some baking powder with water and apply the paste to the designated area. After the past dries, rinse it off with warm water and enjoy your fresh skin.

3. Cucumbers
Turns out, cucumbers don’t just make for a delicious salad. Rub a thinly sliced cucumber on your dark patches every day and it will gently lighten your skin. Plus, it acts as a moisturizer. What could be better?

Photo credit: Instagram/Aerie

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by Joy Cato | 7/30/2018