Baking soda is an essential home staple for more than just baking cakes. It has many different benefits and uses when it comes to skin care. One question that people are always asking is, can baking soda lighten underarms?
If you’d like to find out all about the benefits of baking soda, for lightening the skin, and lighten your dark underarms naturally, keep on reading…
Ways To Use Baking Soda Within Your Beauty Routine
Great news. Baking soda is such a versatile ingredient that can do wonders for your beauty routine. Here are some fantastic ways you can incorporate it into your daily self-care:
- To lighten your dark underarms, mix a tablespoon of baking soda with enough water to form a thick paste. Gently apply and massage it onto your underarms in a circular motion, allowing it to exfoliate and cleanse those dead skin cells away. Rinse it off after 5-10 minutes with lukewarm water, and you’ll notice a difference over time.
- For an all-natural and simple way to exfoliate your skin, add a tablespoon of baking soda to your bath water. The fizzy sensation will help loosen up dead skin cells and leave your skin feeling soft and refreshed.
- Are you a fan of coconut oil? Try mixing baking soda with coconut oil for a fantastic skin scrub. Just combine equal parts of both ingredients, apply it to your body, and scrub away. The mixture will help to moisturize your skin while exfoliating the dead skin cells, leaving your skin silky smooth.
- Another amazing use for baking soda is as a deodorant. Mix equal parts baking soda and lemon juice, then apply the paste to any sweaty areas (like your underarms). Let it sit for 15 minutes, then shower off. This combination is sure to keep you feeling fresh throughout the day.
- If you’re in need of a natural teeth whitener, simply sprinkle some baking soda on your damp toothbrush and brush your teeth for about a minute. Rinse and follow up with your usual toothpaste.
What Causes Dark Underarms?
Chemical irritants found in deodorants and antiperspirants might be playing a role in creating that unwanted darkness.
These products can sometimes cause skin irritation, leading to a buildup of dead skin cells that make your underarms appear darker.
Next, we’ve got shaving – a seemingly harmless activity that most of us do on a regular basis.
The friction and abrasion caused by shaving (or wearing a sleeveless shirt) can actually contribute to dark underarms. When you shave, your skin can become irritated and discolored over time.
The accumulation of dead skin cells is another factor that can cause dark underarms. Your underarm skin is constantly exposed to various elements, and these dead skin cells can build up, leading to a darker appearance.
To keep your underarms looking fresh and light, make sure to exfoliate regularly to remove this buildup.
Obesity can actually be a leading cause of dark underarms. When you lose weight, you may notice that the darkness in your underarms starts to fade.
This is because weight loss can help improve circulation and reduce friction in that area.
How To Lighten Dark Underarms
Dark underarms can be a source of embarrassment for some, and can cause people to feel uncomfortable in certain clothing or situations. There are several treatments available that can be used as home remedies to lighten dark armpits.
Start by making sure you keep them clean and dry. When you shower, use an exfoliating scrub at least once or twice a week to remove any dead skin cells from the area.
This will reduce the number of bacteria which could lead to discoloration.
After each shower, apply antiperspirant deodorants containing natural extracts such as vitamin E and aloe vera, these work wonders in soothing and nourishing the area, helping improve its texture and tone.
You can also try using home remedies with ingredients like lemon juice and plain yogurt; both have natural bleaching properties which have been used for centuries to lighten skin tone.
Apply fresh lemon juice onto your armpit areas every day until results are seen – this may take up to two weeks before there is any difference in coloration be patient.
Make yourself a paste with equal parts plain yogurt, turmeric powder and lemon juice then leave it on for 30 minutes then rinse off with cold water for best results.
Can Baking Soda Lighten Underarms?
Many people have been talking about the baking soda method, and you might have come across various YouTube videos and blogs discussing how you can improve dark underarms naturally using baking soda.
However, it’s essential to know that there is no scientific proof claiming that baking soda can brighten your underarms.
That being said, baking soda is an alkaline substance with a pH around 8.3. It’s known not to disturb your skin’s pH levels and soothe your skin instead.
Many people use baking soda as an exfoliant to remove dead skin cells from the surface, which might contribute to the perception of lighter skin.
You can prepare and make a paste by mixing 2 tablespoons of baking soda with a few drops of water, and leave it to dry on your underarms and leave it for as long as possible
You’re probably wondering if there are any risks associated with using baking soda. If you disrupt the pH balance of the skin in your armpits, it could result in dryness and irritation.
To ensure that you don’t face any unwanted side effects, we recommend that you try it first for a few days on a small area of your skin, such as a quarter-sized spot on your forearm.
How Long Does It Take Using Baking Soda Whiten Underarms?
Many people claim that baking soda can be used to lighten underarms. Baking soda is a bleaching agent which is used by many in various ways to lighten the underarms without causing harm to skin cells.
To use it on your underarms, you can create a mixture of baking soda and water in equal parts and apply it directly onto your armpits. Leave this mixture on for 15-20 minutes before washing it off with lukewarm water.
You should repeat this process regularly until you achieve desired results. People have also said that using apple cider vinegar prior to applying the baking soda can improve whitening effects even more, so feel free to experiment.
Can You Use Lemon Juice And Apple Cider Vinegar To Whiten Dark Underarm Patches?
Yes, you can. Lemon juice and apple cider vinegar are popular natural remedies that can help lighten up those pesky dark underarm patches.
Both are known for their skin lightening properties, which make them fantastic ingredients for your homemade underarm whitening treatments.
Rich in vitamin C and citric acid, lemon juice is great at reducing pigmentation and brightening the skin.
All you have to do is simply cut a lemon in half and gently rub it on your underarms for a few minutes. Leave the juice on for at least 10 minutes, or until it dries, before washing it off.
It’s essential to be cautious, though, as lemon juice can be harsh on sensitive skin. Make sure to do a patch test before fully committing to this treatment.
Now, onto apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid, which can help remove dead skin cells and lighten your underarms.
A popular method is to mix apple cider vinegar with baking soda to create a gentle exfoliating scrub.
Just take 1 teaspoon of baking soda and mix it with a small amount of apple cider vinegar, enough to form a paste. Gently scrub your underarms with this mixture for a few minutes, then rinse it off.
How To Whiten Underarms With An Armpit Scrub
If you want to try and exfoliate your armpits, you’ll need to make an effective armpit scrub. Mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda with a few drops of water to create a thick paste.
This amazing combo not only helps remove dark discoloration under your arms but can also soothe rashes. It’s like a mini spa treatment for your underarms.
Now comes the fun part. Gently apply the paste to your underarms using circular motions. This helps in exfoliating your skin by sloughing off dead skin cells and unclogging your pores.
Let the magic of baking soda and water work together for about 30 minutes before rinsing it off with warm water.
For the best results, make sure to use this fantastic scrub once daily. You can even try using baking soda as a natural deodorant after showering.
Pat it under your underarms to neutralize any odors that might be caused by sweat.
Can You Use Baking Soda As A Deodorant?
Baking soda is known for its amazing absorption capabilities. It works like a charm, absorbing sweat and keeping your underarms nice and dry.
It’s a fantastic solution for those hot summer days when you need some extra help staying fresh.
Baking soda is not only great at absorbing moisture, but it’s also a powerful bacteria killer. It neutralizes the odor-producing bacteria, leaving your underarms smelling fresh and clean.
Applying baking soda as a deodorant is simple. All you need to do is mix equal parts of baking soda and water to form a paste-like consistency.
Apply the mixture to your underarms and let it dry before getting dressed. Be sure to wash your hands afterward to remove any residue.
You can experiment with different mixtures by combining baking soda with cornstarch for double the absorption power.
Alternative Underarm Lightening Methods
Grab some cucumber slices to gently brighten the underarm area. Rub the slices onto your underarms twice a week, and you’ll see a difference in no time.
Now, let’s amp it up with a homemade paste. Mix a tablespoon of baking soda with some lukewarm water.
Apply the paste to your underarms, leave it for 10 minutes, and then wash it off. Doing this 2-3 times a week will help lighten your underarms.
Another fantastic method for even brighter underarms involves creating an easy DIY mask. Here’s how to do it:
- Blend cucumber, lemon juice, and a dash of turmeric powder together.
- Apply the mixture to your underarms.
- Allow it to dry for about 20-30 minutes.
- Rinse with warm water.
Why Does Deodorant Make Your Armpits Dark?
Deodorant is a big part of personal hygiene routine, used to help neutralize body odor. While it is necessary to maintain good hygiene, using the wrong kind of deodorant or not following proper application instructions can result in dark patches on your underarms.
This darkening happens due to a combination of ingredients which may lead to residue or a mixture left on your skin when you apply it, leading to discoloration over time.
The main ingredient in most store-bought deodorants is aluminum, which helps reduce perspiration and block sweat ducts from releasing moisture onto the skin.
Aluminum chloride mixed with other compounds form a reaction with your sweat glands that temporarily blocks them from secreting sweat and producing odor.
However, when applied too heavily it can leave extra product around the skin’s surface which will eventually build up and cause darkened underarms.
Some people are also sensitive to certain fragrances and ingredients found in common antiperspirants such as alcohol, baking soda, talcum powder or propylene glycol, all of which can cause irritation and inflammation resulting in discoloration.
Make sure you pay attention to what type of product you’re applying under your arms because this could be causing the dark patches due to frequent use or wrong kind of product for your skin type.
Summary
Baking soda is an incredibly versatile ingredient. It has many different benefits and uses when it comes to skin care, including helping lighten dark underarms.
To achieve the best results from baking soda, combine it with other ingredients such as lemon juice or apple cider vinegar for an extra boost of lightening power.
Baking soda is not a scientifically proven method of whitening the underarm area; however, there are many reports of people successfully using it as a natural remedy.
If you’d like to try baking soda for this purpose, be sure to patch test first and keep your armpits clean and dry at all times.
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