Dark Underarms - Skin Problems Message Board

AppleMommy · 07-24-2003, 06:58 AM

I am really looking for reassurance that this is normal, I have no experience with this. I am white, my husband is both Pacific Islander and Asian. Our youngest son is lighter in color than his father but has very dark skin under his arms, and my husband keeps nagging him to wash better. I have pointed out that he also has more pigment under his arms, although less than our son,and that maybe it's those dang teenage hormones. (He's 15.)

I'm sure if I had grown up in a more ethnically diverse area than I did, I would already know the answer to this question!

Neca · 07-26-2003, 05:53 PM

I am not entirely sure but this is what might be the answer to why your son has darker armpits. Does he use alot of deoderant in that area and does he go out and sunbathe for long periods of time. If he does well that is your reason why, your son has hyperpigmentation in his armpits and I advise you to tell him to stop putting deoderant on and sunbathing completely. I don't want to worry you but there have been cases where it can become permanent and possibly cancerous.

If I am totally wrong and he doesn't even wear deod and go out in the sun then explain the situation a little more. Does he use any creams, lotions in that area or does he sweat alot etc.?

Hope this helps a little

AppleMommy · 07-26-2003, 07:19 PM

He sure doesn't sunbathe, he sits in his room and plays on his computer!

He does have a rather aggressive body odor and we insist he use deodorant/antiperspirant. The tricky part is finding one that doesn't give him a rash. Currently he tolerates Arm and Hammer roll-on or stick, and also Brut stick.

As I said, I think the dark color may be related to hormones, just like the odor often is. I understand teenagers are often smellier than older people.

I can say that his father's family jewels are very dark compared to his other skin, I haven't asked if my son's is and I'm sure not going to look!

[This message has been edited by AppleMommy (edited 07-26-2003).]

DanMan71 · 07-26-2003, 10:52 PM

First of all let me state that I am not by any means a doctor. It could just be natural pigmentation distribution. There is a condition called Acanthosis Nigricans where there is a thickening of the skin in the armpits and folds of the body that are usually anywhere from grey to brown to black in color usually depending on the darkness of pigmentation on the rest of the body. This can be a risk factor for type II diabetes mellitus. I don't know your family history for diabetes, but I would say its worth looking into.

binkyboo · 07-28-2003, 01:16 AM

my armpits used to get really dark all the time after i shaved, but after about a year it stopped. your son probably doesn't shave his pits

but it might go away after a while anyways.