Products for dark underarms and strawberry skin legs?

[AnneSteph]

Hello I have very bad dark skin discoloration under my arms and around my bra strap area as well as bad "strawberry skin" legs. Any product recommendations? 

[ctakacs24]

Hi! I personally have struggled with strawberry skin, ingrown hairs, and kp for all my life and i’ve noticed that the only think that helps is the KP line from First Aid Beauty! Specifically the lotion and the ingrown hair pads. After a shower i dry off and immediately swipe my entire body specifically my problem areas with the pads and then put the smoothing lotion on top. This is the only thing that has helped me and hoping it helps you too! First Aid Beauty Ingrown Hair Pads with BHA & AHA 28 Pads   First Aid Beauty KP Smoothing Body Lotion with 10% AHA 6 oz/ 170 g  

[WinglessOne]

Hi @AnneSteph ! Have you always had hyperpigmentation under your arms, or is it a recent occurrence? Underarm darkness can be genetic. If yours isn't, consider one of these options for that and your other hyperpigmentation (and your legs): 

Spoiler

• Use an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) leave-on product. You can try using a facial exfoliant on your body, but you might find that too irritating. Consider AmLactin lotion, found at your local drugstore or Target (if you're in the US). It comes in a 12% AHA "Daily Moisturizing" version and a 15% AHA "Rapid Relief" formula. Lactic acid removes dead cells from the skin surface to reveal newer skin, so it's good for hyperpigmentation. It also has hydrating properties. And it's gentler than glycolic acid, another AHA. Some folks can use either of those lotions daily, but I recommend starting slowly—1-3 times a week—to see how your skin tolerates it. If you overuse an AHA, especially under your arms, you'll end up with irritation that may cause more hyperpigmentation. 
  
  
• Change your antiperspirant/deodorant. What do you currently use? Some deodorants can cause hyperpigmentation, sometimes because of one or more ingredients your skin's sensitive to. A couple of natural deodorants I tried made my underarms very dark and irritated. I spent a few weeks babying that skin with gentle cleanser and a non-baking soda deodorant, then started using AmLactin 12% lotion a few times a week under deodorant. I don't remember how long it took the hyperpigmentation to fade, but it did, eventually. 
  
  
• Wash with a salicylic acid (beta hydroxy acid, or BHA) cleanser. You don't need to do this and use an AHA. BHA also exfoliates the skin surface, and it's good for body acne (if you happen to have any) because it gets down into pores to degunk 'em. Lather the cleanser on your skin, let it sit for a few minutes (to give BHA time to work), and then rinse it off. Look for CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser (2% BHA) at your local drugstore. I'm sure Cetaphil also makes an acne cleanser that contains BHA. An inexpensive Sephora-sold option is The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser 5 oz / 150 ml  . 
  
  There are also AHA wash-off options on the market. A popular one is First Aid Beauty Mini KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub with 10% AHA – Body Exfoliant for Keratosis Pilaris  . Cetaphil makes a PHA facial cleanser (PHA = poly hydroxy acid, an exfoliant that's gentler than AHA) you might find at your local drugstore. 

If your underarm darkness is recent and you haven't recently changed any products you use on that skin, please consider talking with your primary care doctor to find out if it's a symptom of an underlying condition. 

[alexasteph]

@AnneSteph Sol De Janeiro has a couple of products that may help, as well as First Aid Beauty.

Sol de Janeiro Rio Deo Aluminum-Free Deodorant 2 oz/ 57 g - For underarms 

Sol de Janeiro Bom Dia Bright™ Visibly Brightening and Smoothing Body Cream with Vitamin C 8.1 oz / 240 ml  - for legs/body (it’s also my fave body moisturizer for it’s absorption and hydration even in hot, humid climates)

First Aid Beauty KP Smoothing Body Lotion with 10% AHA 6 oz/ 170 g  - A body lotion specifically for KP, or “strawberry skin”

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair® Cream Intense Hydration – Face and Body Moisturizer for Skin Repair  - a general lotion to address most skin issues 

[tg1973]

You can use any facial acids on your pits as long as you use them carefully.  The skin is thin and probably irritated if you shave, so start very small to avoid burning your skin.  You don't need to spend anything more than what The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA 1 oz/ 30 mL  costs. There are also deodorants that promise to reduce discoloration,  like Drunk Elephant Sweet Pitti™ Deodorant Cream 2.0 oz/ 60 mL   and I think a couple of drugstore lines have more reasonably priced options, including Dove.

[heartfulmom]

Just FYI - Dark discoloration under your arms or other areas on your body can be genetic, but if it’s new, it can be a sign of diabetes, possibly PCOS, polycystic ovarian syndrome and/or pre-diabetes. 

[missjeanie]

@AnneSteph Have you thought about doing laser hair removal for your legs?  I know it can be pricy to do full treatments enough times to fully get rid of the hair, but in my opinion it's worth it just for not having to shave alone.  Might be something to look into in your area.

[Peepa7]

Murad Mini Rapid Dark Spot Correcting Serum 0.33 oz/ 10 mL   

This helped me with discoloration on my skin. I used half the bottle, once a day before bed, before noticing a big difference. 

Hydroquinone is the active ingredient that lightens. I think it's been controversial because it's processed through the liver. Works though! 

Good luck 😊

[navyar]

Ordinary glycolic acid