How To Whiten Dark Bikinis and Underarms

Dark groins or underarms can be embarrassing! Dark areas can degrade your self-esteem and can cause social impediment because of hiding them whenever a little bit of skin is needed. You cannot wear bikini nor swimsuit because of dark underarms and groin areas. These problems can be upsetting that prevent you to enjoy the moment and your life. Therefore, a lot of people are wanting to whiten these areas to boost their self-esteem and able to show their greatest assets. But the fact that it is not that easy to whiten them and so much patience must have to achieve the aim.

Causes of Dark Bikini areas and Underarms

1. The common cause of darkening of underarms and groins is the production of keratin made by friction of underwear or clothes against the skin. Rubbing of two objects can initiate heat that cause discoloration of the objects. Wearing tight clothes and those made from artificial fibers such as nylon or spandex underwear and apparel are the usual material that cause friction. Frequently rubbing may lead to thickness of keratin that can be hard to treat.
2. Excessive sweat can augment the production of darkening of the skin especially the areas of groins and underarms.
3. Race and genetic origin. People whose ancestors are black or brown have the higher chance to have darker groins and underarms, but it is not absolute that everybody came from these races or genes can also have them.
4. Exposure to the sun. Even these areas are not directly exposed to the sun there is still a chance that these areas can be affected because they are still parts of your body.
5. Hormonal imbalance and Endocrine problems. Diabetic people, pregnant women and other people suffering from endocrine problems are highly affected by darkening of the skin, because of abnormal production of hormones such as estrogen, insulin and etc.
6. Obesity. Obese people are likely to have dark areas because of the skin to skin friction and inability of the skin to breathe because ventilation is insufficient.
7. Over-production of melanin in the body. Melanin is the reason why skin has color and it depends on the quantity they have. The lesser the whiter the color of the skin, the greater the darker will be the skin. It is the melanin's overproduction and huddled in certain areas, which make the groins and underarms darker.

Remedies and Treatment

In management of dark groins and underarms find products that contains the following active ingredients that are very effective in whitening them.

• Vitamin A (Retinoid) – It is very effective in promoting cell growth and cell regeneration. It is needed by skin to prevent discoloration and pigmentation. Vitamin A and its derivatives are proven to be effective in hyperpigmentation and treatment of acne. Do not use when pregnant. 
   
• Vitamin E (Tocopherol) – It has antioxidant property that helps rid away toxins and radicals that can destroy normal cell function. Promotes healthier cell production.
  
  
• Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) – As known effective in whitening the skin. Vitamin C promotes regeneration of healthier cell because of the antioxidant activity it has. Vitamin C is co-therapy in glutathione therapy. Vitamin C does boost immune system for better and healthier skin cell production. It has also effective against production of melanin and keratin.
  
  
• Titanium Dioxide – It is an opaquant agent. It is the main ingredient of sunblock and SPF lotions, because of its ability to block and bounce back the UV rays, so that it can not penetrate the skin. 
   
• Hydroquinone and salicylic acid – They help to lighten skin. Salicylic acid is known to be antiseptic and keratolytic agent that exfoliates keratin. Hydroquinone is an anti-pigmentation agent that helps to improve discoloration of skin. Excessive use can cause serious damage of the skin and can lead to hyperpigmentation especially for hydroquinone.
  
  
• Kojic acid, Azelaic acid and citric acid – known to have effective in management of skin patches and discoloration. They have higher anti-pigmentation property that helps to whiten dark areas. They prevent keratin production and deposition.
  
  
• Bleaching agent – use of chemicals such as chlorine to whiten the skin. Dermatologists are the only allowed to do this method. Improper mixing and concentration of the chemical can burn your skin.
  
  
• Lactacyd White Intimate Feminine Wash - Made with natural whitening ingredients, such as plant based Actipone-B and marine-based Algowhite that proven to whiten your groin areas within two weeks of use.  
  
  
• Glutathione – the controversial drug entity because of its side effect to whiten skin. Glutathione is stored and produced in our body to metabolically detoxify free-radicals as its main function. Glutathione is used in cosmetic as proven skin whitener. It is allegedly known that the glutathione is preventing the conversion of tyroxine by tyroxinase to melanin, which the melanin is the cause of darkening of the skin.

Herbal Management

• Papaya – Usually main herbal ingredient of soap and lotions. Papaya has an enzyme called papain that promotes peeling and exfoliation of healthier skin cells.
  
  
• Citrus Fruits – They contain citric acid and vitamin C that conducive in management of skin discoloration, because of their antioxidant anti-pigmentation property. May apply juice to the darkened areas once or twice a day to improve skin pigmentation.
  
  
• Aloe Vera – Emollient and promotes regeneration of skin cell. Applying to dark skin parts can help to whiten skin. 
   
• Turmeric powder – has the property of anti-aging and whitening. Mixing with yogurt or milk, and citrus juice can whiten dark groins and underarms.
  
  
• Guava leaves and teas – contains tannins that effective in exfoliating dead skin. They contain antioxidant and antiseptic property that promote healthier skin regeneration. Washing them with their solutions can promote whitening.
  
  
• Licorice extract – promotes exfoliation and whitening of the groin areas. Applying them can be effective in management of dark areas.
  
  
• Milk – proven to help whiten the skin. Can be used in bathing or drinking them always.
  
  
• Honey and kalamansi juice – effective to avoid darkening of underarms and groin when depilation or removing of hair in these areas. Honey and kalamansi juice are combined and placed on the area of hair removal either by tweezers or waxing. Chicken skin-like can be prevent in underarms too!

Non-therapeutic Management

• Wear clothes that are not nylon or spandex made. Avoid tight clothes. Observe ventilation so that your skin can breathe.
• Avoid deodorants and antiperspirants that contain aluminum zirconium, because this agent can darken your skin and found out to cause cancer in the skin. Use instead of alum crystals to deodorize you underarms or groins in preventing perspiration. Use deodorant that available in lotion form, which helps to promote whitening of the skin.
• Avoid exposure to sun. Use sunblocks or higher SPF lotions when long exposed to sun.
• Drink plenty of water. Water helps to wash away toxins and wastes from our body.
• Drink milk. Milk can promote new and fresher cell regeneration.
• Eat vegetables, fruits and fish, avoid a lot of meat. Eating such can balance your hormones, weight and detoxify your body from toxins. Vegetables and fruits are good source of glutathione.
• Achieve 8 hours of sleep everyday. Sleep is a big factor in growth and production of cells.
• Supplement your skin and body with vitamins.

If the following simple remedies and managements are still not working please consult a dermatologist. For products that need consultation or advice from dermatologists before to try or use them. Please seek their advice first.