6 Reasons Some Malaysians Have Darker Armpits and How to Avoid Them

Have you ever caught a glimpse of your friend’s armpit when they raised their hands and noticed it was dark? Or maybe you noticed your own armpits are darker than the rest of your body, and you’re wondering WHY LAHHH???

Well, whether or not you’re facing this issue, it is definitely something we want to avoid AT ALL COSTS (embarrassing siot!). So, if you’re curious as to why the skin on that area is darker than the rest, here are some reasons why it happens and how to avoid them:

1. You shave your armpits instead of waxing or plucking

Source: dreamstime

But plucking and waxing super pain leh!

Yes, it is, but then again, no pain no gain right! Also, when you shave your armpits, you usually just shave off the hairs on the surface of your skin and leave the roots behind. Depending on how much hair you have, the roots may make your armpits look darker. That’s why it’s always better to wax or pluck so you can remove the entire strand of hair (including the roots) one shot.

2. You don’t shave BUT you pluck your armpit hairs wayyy too often

Yes, this can also be a problem!

A study found that when you pluck your armpit hairs, the “trauma” from it can actually cause mononuclear cells and macrophages to leak out from your damaged skin and cause pigmentation. So, remember not to pluck too often! In fact, according to Dr Henry, a dermatologist from Harvard, he recommends plucking once every four weeks only! Either that or pluck only if you know you need to show off some skin. 😉

3. Your grandparents/parents/siblings have it and you inherited the gene

Source: fitindian

In some cases, the acanthosis nigricans condition can actually be passed on through faulty genes too. Meaning, if you were “lucky” enough to inherit this gene, you’ll most probably get the dark armpit patches too (even if you have a perfectly healthy BMI reading).

But don’t worry! There are still natural ways to whiten your armpits. Read until the end for some useful tips!

4. You wear tight-fitting clothes that always stick to your armpits

Source: kore. Am

This is for all you girls who love wearing clothes one size too small. While it’s great that you’re confident about your body, creating too much friction on your armpits can lead to irritation as well as discolouration of your underarms. It also doesn’t help that our PMS Malaysian weather can make us sweaty within seconds! Imagine what our armpits have to go through! Kesian!

It’s always best to wear loose-fitting or sleeveless clothes that don’t cause too much friction on your armpits and allow some ventilation. Time to bring out them tank tops! 

5. You don’t exfoliate your armpits

Dead skin cells can build up on any part of your body. In fact, dead skin cell buildup under the arms are quite a common thing because of the creases and folds, and this can cause your armpits to look darker. Next time, try exfoliating with a scrub and really make sure you scrub until dalam-dalam into the “hills and valleys” of your armpits!

6. You don’t use the right antiperspirants or deodorants

Did you know that not all deodorants work the same? Some help with the smell, while others help with sweat and/or skin whitening. To be safe, it’s always best to find antiperspirants/deodorants that can help with different issues. If you’re looking for an antiperspirant deodorant that contains natural whitening ingredients while keeping you smelling fresh all day, why not give Rexona Whitening Fresh Sakura Roll-On or Rexona Whitening Fresh Lily Roll-On a try?

Rexona’s Whitening Fresh Roll-Ons contain natural Vitamin E and Licorice extract that actually helps to naturally whiten underarms, together with a unique Sakura or Lily fragrance as well to keep you feeling and smelling fresh throughout the day. Talk about killing two birds with one stone!

What’s even cooler is its Motionsense™ technology which causes microcapsules on your skin to burst with friction and release extra fragrance whenever you need it. Meaning the more you move, the better you smell! And it’s supposed to last for 48 hours! So syiok!

But don’t take our word for it, check out the reviews for Rexona Whitening Fresh Sakura and Fresh Lily Roll-Ons yourself! In fact, based on 144 authentic reviews, both are tried, tested and certified to achieve:

• An overall product rating of 4.8/5!
• 8 out of 10 women agree it has better whitening effect & lasting freshness compared to their current deodorant.
• 97% would buy again and 98% would recommend to their friend!

Also, don’t worry, they contain 0% alcohol and are 100% dermatologically-approved!

If you’re interested, make sure to get one today!