Underarm Care Guide: Tackling Darkness, Odour & Ingrown Hair

Underarm concerns are quite common, but they are also misunderstood. Often people suffer from dark underarms, odour, ingrown hair and acne, resulting from friction, sweat and shaving habits. You may search for how to clean armpits or how to keep underarms clean. But cleansing is just one part and is not enough when it comes to underarm care. 

You need a fixed body care routine to manage pigmentation, control odour and prevent bumps. This guide is here to help you build an underarm skin care routine that suits your skin needs.

How to Clean Armpits & Keep Them Fresh

Proper cleansing is the foundation of any underarm care. Sweat is odourless, but bacteria breaking it down cause a smell.

1. Double Cleanse

• Use a gentle body wash first to remove sweat and dirt
• Follow with a mild exfoliating cleanser once or twice a week
• Removes deodorant residue and dead skin buildup

2. Temperature Control

• Use lukewarm water
• Hot water can dry and irritate the underarm skin
• Washing with cold water reduces sweat post-shower

3. The 20-Second Rule

• Spend at least 20 seconds cleaning each underarm
• Clean the folds where sweat accumulates. This helps properly remove bacteria

Try to be consistent with your routine instead of scrubbing if you are serious about answering the question ‘How to clean your underarms?’

How to Take Care of Underarm Darkness?

Underarm pigmentation is caused by friction, dead skin buildup, and inflammation from shaving.

1. Gentle Chemical Exfoliation: 

You can use exfoliants 1–2 times weekly to remove dead skin.

• Prevents buildup that leads to dullness
• Improves absorption of brightening ingredients

Try using exfoliating Toners with active ingredients for this step.

2. Brightening Actives: 

Look for the following ingredients:

• Niacinamide reduces pigmentation
• Alpha Arbutin evens tone
• Liquorice Extract soothes and brightens the skin

3. Manage Your Shave

• Always shave on clean and hydrated skin
• Use a sharp razor
• Avoid dry shaving, which is the major cause of darkness

You will notice that darkness reduces slowly with exfoliation and following proper shaving habits.

Which one to choose—Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, or Salicylic Acid?