Tips To Lighten Up Your Private Areas

Dark spots in private areas can be experienced by anyone, regardless of their skin tone, and it is really annoying. This is why we all keep looking for ways to lighten our bikini and underarm areas. So what are the causes and how to lighten these areas? Below are all the answers.

Why does it happen? 

Friction, aging, hormonal imbalance, sun exposure, dry skin, or shaving are a few reasons you have dark patches in private areas. Other more common causes are related to certain diseases like diabetes, acanthosis nigricans (a skin pigmentation disorder), melasma, or Polycystic ovary syndrome which is a condition in which the ovaries produce an abnormal amount of androgens, male sex hormones that are usually present in women in small amounts.

How to lighten bikini & underarm areas? 

1 || Your first steps to lighter private areas:

• Consider switching your deodorant to a natural one. 
• Try waxing or laser hair removal instead of shaving.
• Wear loose-fitting clothes.

Home remedies:

1. Coconut oil & Lemon Juice: You’ll need a few tablespoons of coconut oil with the juice of half a lemon. Rub the mixture on your dark areas, massage for 10 minutes then wash with water. 
2. DIY scrubs: If the dark skin is caused by dead skin buildups, you’ll need to exfoliate the areas. You can do so by combining fresh lemon juice, a teaspoon of sugar, and a tablespoon of honey. Gently scrub then rinse with water. For a gentler scrub, mix an equal amount of oatmeal and plain yogurt, gently scrub on darkened areas, then wash off. 
3. Aloe Vera: Simply, apply Aloe Vera to the area like a lotion. You don’t need to wash after applying, let it soak into your skin. 
4. Potato rub: slice a potato and rub it on the affected area for 15 minutes or more. Gently wash off. 

2 || Brightening products

• Creams or lotions: For the bikini area look for non-allergic ingredients such as soy, niacinamide, ellagic acid, and lignin peroxidase. For underarms look for these ingredients: hydroquinone, tretinoin (retinoic acid), corticosteroids, azelaic acid, or kojic acid.
• Retinoid-based products: You can find OTC retinoid products, but a dermatologist can prescribe stronger concentrations. You will slowly see results so be patient. These products can make your skin dry and more sensitive to the sun. 
• Chemical peels for underarms: chemical peels with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) help exfoliate the skin. 

3 || Treatments

• Laser treatments: An effective procedure that can reduce pigment without scarring. Consult your dermatologist if you are a candidate. The healing process may be a bit uncomfortable. 
• Dermabrasion or microdermabrasion: Dermabrasion is a skin procedure that scrapes away the top layers of skin to unveil a smoother and lighter one. Microdermabrasion is a non-invasive technique that aims to exfoliate the top layer of dead skin cells leaving lighter skin on the surface.