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Dark underarms are extremely common, but if they’re keeping you from going sleeveless, the best armpit brightening creams can help. Discoloration often stems from friction, shaving, ingrown hairs, or product buildup, which can lead to irritation and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. The trick is to use strategic, dermatologist-approved ingredients to fade discoloration, soothe irritation, and smooth bumpy texture, all while being gentle enough for the delicate underarm area.
Our Top Armpit Brightening Creams
- Best Overall: La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Dark Spot Corrector Serum, $45
- Best for Deeper Skin Tones: Topicals Faded Brightening & Clearing Serum, $38
- Best for Sensitive Skin: Paula’s Choice 5% Niacinamide Body Serum, $32
- Best Lightweight: Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Niacinamide Discoloration Treatment, $65
- Best Antiperspirant: Vanicream Anti-Perspirant Deodorant, $11
- Best With Lactic Acid: AmLactin Daily Nourish Body Lotion with 12% Lactic Acid, $16
- Best With Vitamin C: Estée Lauder Perfectionist Pro Rapid Brightening Treatment, $95
“When recommending brightening skin-care products for the underarms, I prioritize formulas that balance efficacy with gentleness,” says Sarah Sung, MD, a board-certified dermatologist of The Perq, based in Seattle. “Since this area is prone to friction and irritation, using well-tolerated ingredients like vitamin C, niacinamide, and kojic acid is key to avoid further post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.” She emphasizes that consistency is crucial, especially when treating discoloration from shaving or ingrown hairs, and that the best results come from products that are easy to use daily and feel good on the skin.
Luckily, several over-the-counter options fit the bill: Lightweight, hydrating formulas that won’t sting or pill under deodorant and are suitable for all skin types. Below, you’ll find expert- and editor-approved favorites that deliver brightening results.
Best Overall: La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Dark Spot Corrector Serum
Why it’s worth it: Though it’s technically a face serum, Brendan Camp, MD, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist, shouts out La Roche-Posay’s Mela B3 Dark Spot Corrector Serum for its skin-brightening formulation that can be used on your underarm area. “This niacinamide-containing serum can be applied to underarms to treat discoloration, though it would be wise to do a test spot first before applying it more liberally,” he advises.
Rachel Nazarian, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City, also gives the Mela B3 serum kudos for its “multi-angled approach” to creating an even skin tone, thanks to La Roche-Posay’s proprietary Melasyl complex, which is rich in antioxidants like vitamin C and retinol. It’s also enriched with moisture-replenishing thermal spring water to minimize skin irritation.
More to know
- Key ingredients: Melasyl (vitamin C, retinol, vitamin E, salicylic acid), niacinamide (10%), thermal spring water
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Deeper Skin Tones: Topicals Faded Brightening & Clearing Serum
Why it’s worth it: Topicals Faded Brightening & Clearing Serum is a gentle, yet highly effective treatment for fading stubborn underarm discoloration, whether from acne, ingrown hairs, or hyperpigmentation. “This creamy, gel-serum contains a combination of tranexamic acid, niacinamide, kojic acid, alpha arbutin, and azelaic acid, which in tandem visibly fade excess pigmentation while also calming inflammation in the area,” says Dr. Sung. Together, these ingredients help interrupt melanin production and reduce pigment transfer in the skin to even out tone—even for those with deeper skin tones—without irritating sensitive areas. “Many of my patients appreciate that they can apply it at night or in the morning without any stickiness,” she says. “Over time, they notice not only brighter underarms but also fewer ingrown-related bumps from waxing or shaving thanks to the serum’s anti-inflammatory benefits.”
More to know
- Key ingredients: tranexamic acid, niacinamide, azelaic acid
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Sensitive Skin: Paula’s Choice 5% Niacinamide Body Serum
Why it’s worth it: If you’ve been searching for a low-effort, high-reward way to fade underarm discoloration, try Paula’s Choice 5% Niacinamide Body Serum. “The 5% niacinamide concentration in this serum is ideal for daily use: It’s powerful enough to effectively even out skin tone and fade discoloration, yet gentle enough for all skin tones,” says Dr. Sung. Because niacinamide is both a pigment inhibitor and an anti-inflammatory, it not only helps reduce hyperpigmentation but also soothes redness or irritation from shaving. Dr. Sung also points to the addition of panthenol and prickly pear extract, which help boost hydration and reinforce the skin barrier, crucial for minimizing friction-related irritation and preventing further darkening.
More to know
- Key ingredients: niacinamide, panthenol, squalene
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Lightweight: Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Niacinamide Discoloration Treatment
Why it’s worth it: We love a good play on words, and Potent-C lives up to the name. Peter Thomas Roth’s Niacinamide Discoloration Treatment is a powerful treatment to help fade stubborn underarm hyperpigmentation. “It has niacinamide, kojic acid, and tranexamic acid to help lighten discolorations,” says Purvisha Patel, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Memphis, Tennessee. The formula also includes a super-stable form of vitamin C (THD ascorbate) to give skin an extra brightening boost. Even though the ingredient list packs a punch, it’s gentle enough for sensitive areas, with a lightweight, fragrance-free gel-cream texture that layers easily under deodorant.
More to know
- Key ingredients: niacinamide, tranexamic acid, kojic acid, vitamin C
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Antiperspirant: Vanicream Anti-Perspirant Deodorant
Why it’s worth it: If you prefer the sweat-minimizing abilities of an antiperspirant alongside your armpit brightening cream, Dr. Camp suggests swiping on Vanicream’s Anti-Perspirant Deodorant. “Consider using a gentle roll-on deodorant or antiperspirant like Vanicream’s to avoid underarm irritation,” he says. Dr. Camp also notes that this antiperspirant is designed for those with sensitive skin and is free of dyes, fragrances, and parabens, but keep in mind that it still contains aluminum, which can irritate skin.
More to know
- Key ingredients: aluminum zirconium trichlorohydrex gly (20%), castor oil
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best With Lactic Acid: AmLactin Daily Nourish Body Lotion with 12% Lactic Acid
Why it’s worth it: AmLactin’s Daily Nourish Body Lotion is a 2024 Allure Best of Beauty Award winner—as well as a dermatologist's favorite for treating everything from bumpy arms to dark underarms. “This is my go-to recommendation to help lessen the appearance of underarm hyperpigmentation,” says Nazanin Saedi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Plymouth Meeting Dermatology, based in East Norriton, PA. “It’s formulated with lactic acid, both a hydrator and a gentle exfoliant that works well to remove dead, darker skin cells and fade hyperpigmentation on sensitive underarm skin.” The 12% lactic acid concentration is potent, but the addition of glycerin helps offset irritation by keeping skin moisturized. Dr. Saedi recommends applying it nightly to damp skin right after showering and before deodorant. “Patience and consistency are important. It typically takes a couple of months to see results,” she adds.
More to know
- Key ingredients: lactic acid (12%), glycerin
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best With Vitamin C: Estée Lauder Perfectionist Pro Rapid Brightening Treatment
Why it’s worth it: The main ingredient in Estée Lauder’s Perfectionist Pro Rapid Brightening Treatment is vitamin C, specifically ascorbyl glucoside, a stabilized derivative of the brightening antioxidant. It’s also paired with a slew of skin-nourishing favorites, including hydrating hyaluronic acid and three forms of tone-evening ferments, to treat your pits to the works. “This serum uses vitamin C and fruit extracts to lighten, but also gently exfoliates with urea and salicylic acid,” says Dr. Nazarian.
More to know
- Key ingredients: vitamin C (ascorbyl glucoside), ferment 3 (molasses ferment, algae ferment, yeast ferment), hyaluronic acid, urea, salicylic acid, apple fruit extract
- Fragrance-free: no
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes underarm discoloration?
There are a multitude of factors that lead to underarm discoloration, but the most common cause is skin friction, according to the board-certified dermatologists we talked to. “Constant friction between the skin or with tight clothing can cause hyperpigmentation due to the irritation it causes,” says Mina Amin, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Los Angeles. “This condition, called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), is a result of an increase in melanin production as the skin responds to inflammation.”
Another cause can actually be your current underarm care routine. According to Dr. Camp, the deodorant or antiperspirant you’re currently using can lead to irritation or an allergic rash. “A reaction to a deodorant or antiperspirant can cause contact dermatitis, which can result in discoloration,” he says. Another discoloration-inducing tool in your pit regimen is your razor. “Irritation as a result of shaving can cause inflammation in the underarms, which leads to hyperpigmentation as it heals,” says Dr. Camp.
There are also medical conditions, like acanthosis nigricans, which can lead to underarm hyperpigmentation. “This condition can result in dark and thickened skin, typically in body folds such as the armpits, neck, and groin,” says Dr. Amin. “Acanthosis nigricans is often associated with insulin resistance, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. High insulin levels trigger skin cells to reproduce more rapidly, leading to dark thickened plaques.”
How can you minimize underarm discoloration?
Good news: There are quite a few over-the-counter avenues you can take to improve your pits’ skin tone. “Several skin-care ingredients can help reduce underarm hyperpigmentation by lightening dark patches and promoting even skin tone,” says Dr. Amin. The best armpit brightening cream will contain retinol or exfoliating acids, such as glycolic, salicylic, and lactic acids, for their brightening properties.
“Regular exfoliation combined with brightening agents can help improve the appearance of underarm hyperpigmentation over time,” she says. However, when using active ingredients like exfoliating acids and retinol, Dr. Amin says it’s important to introduce them gradually and, if you’re exposing skin during daylight hours, always follow up with sunscreen, as they can increase photosensitivity.
Meet the Experts
- Sarah Sung, MD, a board-certified dermatologist of The Perq, based in Seattle
- Purvisha Patel, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Visha Skincare, based in Memphis, Tennessee
- Nazanin Saedi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Plymouth Meeting Dermatology, based in East Norriton, PA
- Brendan Camp, MD, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist
- Rachel Nazarian, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City
- Mina Amin, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Los Angeles
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For our list of the best armpit brightening creams, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from board-certified dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
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