Dark armpits - any solutions?

[Ceebee74]

Even when I shave my armpits, they look dark and from a distance like I haven't shaved them - it is very embarrassing

I love summer and love wearing sleeveless tops (as I get hot very easily) but they just look awful.

Went to an aerobics class at the gym in a sleeveless top this morning and I was so self-conscious.

Is there anything I can do?? Please????

www.ehow.com/how_2139336_wax-nose-hairs.html

This ones for bof

I think you're being a little unfair on Ceebee - I get what you're saying, but the fact is these things do bother us. If not we'd all have hairy legs and never wear make up.

I have to be honest I've never mentioned it to my dh but I do think it's a bit unsightly and if I had the discolouration I'd be looking for a way to improve it.

Anyway - I've done a bit of net digging and this product is getting good reviews for solving the problem. You might have to get it from the US [[http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?categoryId=C16330&id=P73514 stuff]

I would be very curious and experiment to see if it is a product causing probs - eg put a bit of the antipoo on the crook of one elbow every day to see if it is darkening up similarly delicate skin. Sounds odd I must say.

My earlier post - links to an article which explains that there are some known causes but often it is unknown, but the darker colouration may be acanthosis nigricans.
I've had this since puberty, weight gain and loss doesn't seem to have changed it. No doctor has ever commented on it, so they don't seem bothered.
It does bother me however. I will go for periods without shaving and that doesn't seem to make any different. Spray deodorants seem to make it worse, so I now use a solid one. Rock crystal is next on my list to try.

Bela I found that article interesting - it doesn't look like any of those photos but interestingly I have patches like that on my knees and elbows which appeared after DS2 was born.

I have ordered some herbal cream from Ebay now - it comes from Thailand (as someone suggested earlier) - am wondering if it is going to be a bit dodgy now though

sorry about the link - here goes www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?categoryId=C16330&id=P73514

Hiya I have this, also my eyelids are darker than the rest of my skin and elbow creases. According to the gp theres nowt they can do, he said it can be more common if you are mixed race, but he said if it was still bothering me in a year or so to come back. I thought it was because there was some mad thing he would give me if I waited long enough but he said no, he just meant I could come and talk about it. Fool

I just try to forget about it and if anyone notices and is rude enough to comment I just tell them.