DIY Baking Soda & Lemon for Underarms: Benefits & Risks
What is the hype about baking soda and lemon for underarms? Is it really as effective as people make it out to be?
The answer is Yes. Many experts actually recommend using baking soda & lemon as a great DIY method to effectively treat underarm darkness and help reduce odor.
Benefits of Baking Soda & Lemon For Underarms
When used together, baking soda and lemon can be very beneficial for the underarms. Together, they can:
- Lighten skin tone and pigmentation to help treat dark underarms
- Reduce underarm odor – by preventing the build-up of bacteria
- Prevents Breakouts – by clearing your pores
- Make your underarms look healthier by tightening the skin
- Exfoliate dead skin cells which also helps to lighten your underarms
- Prevent ingrown hairs
Common Questions About Baking Soda & Lemon
Can Baking Soda & Lemon lighten Dark Underarms
Yes, baking soda and lemon can be used to gradually lighten dark underarms.
Both baking soda and lemon have exfoliating and whitening properties that make the mixture great for lightening the skin and preventing hyperpigmentation.
Related Article: How To Exfoliate Your Armpits – Best Scrubs & DIY Remedies
How long does it take to lighten underarms with baking soda & lemon
Baking soda and lemon will gradually lighten the underarms, you should start seeing some results after the first 2 weeks, if you consistently use the mixture 2-3 times a weeks.
However, this may take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the condition of your underarms and the sensitivity of your skin.
Related Article: Vitamin C For Underarms – Everything You Need To Know
Will Baking Soda & Lemon lighten your underarms permanently
Unless there is an underlying, chronic cause of darkened underarms, then the results from baking soda and lemon is expected to be permanent.
Darkened underarms can be caused by chronic illnesses like hormonal syndromes, diabetes, obesity, or even genetics.
However, if these conditions are controlled and the underarm skin is properly cared for, then the lightening effects of baking soda and lemon will be permanent.
Related Article: Turmeric for Underarms – Benefits & DIY Methods & Scrubs
Can baking soda & lemon help with Underarm Odor
Yes, baking soda mixed with lemon can help with underarm odor.
Both baking soda and lemon have antibacterial properties that help to control odor-causing bacteria and prevent buildup under the arms.
Baking soda also absorbs odor if any occurs.
Related Article: Coconut Oil For Underarms: Benefits, Cons & DIY Remedies
How Often Should You Use Lemon & Baking Soda For Underarms
You can use a Baking Soda & Lemon mixture for 2-3 times a week or even less if you have sensitive or broken skin.
But try to avoid using this mixture too often, remember your underarms are sensitive and can become irritated.
One of the fastest ways to lighten your underarms is to get laser treatment, you can click here to learn more.
DIY Baking Soda & Lemon Remedies For Underarms
Baking soda and lemon can be used to create a scrub or paste, and it can also be mixed with other ingredients
1. Baking Soda, Lemon Juice & Water
- Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda, lemon juice, and some water each to make a paste.
- Gently scrub it over your underarms for about 5 minutes
- Wash it off using lukewarm water, and finish up by moisturizing your skin.
- Repeat this method 3 or 4 times a week for best results (less if you have super sensitive or dry skin)
- Apply sunscreen when going out
Related Article: Retinol For Dark Underarms: How to Use, Benefits & Effects
2. Baking Soda & Lemon Juice Only
- Mix a tablespoon of baking soda with the juice of ½ a lemon
- Apply this mixture to your armpits for 20 minutes and let it dry
- Wash it off with cold water
- Moisturize afterward
- Repeat 1-2 times per week
- Use sunscreen if going out
Related Article: Chemical Peels for Dark Underarms – All You Need to Know
3. Baking Soda, Lemon Juice & Tea Tree Oil
- Take 2-3 tablespoons of baking soda and add enough amount of lemon juice to make a thick paste.
- Add 2-3 drops of tea tree oil and mix it well.
- Apply the paste to your underarms and leave for 10 minutes.
- Later, rinse it off after massaging in a circular motion for 2-3 minutes.
- Repeat the procedure twice a week.
- Use sunscreen if going out.
Related Article: How Often to Exfoliate or Scrub Underarms for Best Results
Video of How to lighten Underarms Using Lemon & Baking Soda
Benefits of Baking Soda For Underarms
Baking Soda by itself has many benefits for your underarms since it:
- Works as a natural exfoliator
- Removes dead and damaged skin cells effectively
- Promotes cell regeneration
- Decreases melanin production
- Soaks up excess oil secreted from the underarm skin
- Unclogs underarm skin pores
Related Article: Dry Armpits: How to Correctly Moisturize & What to Use
How Baking Soda Treats Underarm Odor
Baking soda has become a much talked about alternative to traditional deodorants. This is because it is well known for its odor-absorbing properties and antimicrobial properties.
You see baking soda is also an exfoliant and has some antimicrobial and antifungal properties, it helps to balance the bacteria under the arms, lessening and controlling underarm odor.
However, there is very little official research to support baking soda as a deodorant, but despite the lack of research, this remedy seems to be tried and true.
In fact, The Los Angeles County government even advises neutralizing body odor by applying baking soda beneath your arms after a shower.
Related Article: Glycolic Acid for Underarms – How to Use, Benefits & Risks
How Baking Soda Lighten Dark Underarms
Baking soda is essentially sodium bicarbonate, which has some skin bleaching properties. It also has a grainy texture which makes it a gentle but effective exfoliant.
The combination of the exfoliating and bleaching effects helps to get rid of darkness and blemishes from the underarm skin.
Related Article: Hand Sanitizer as Deodorant for Underarm Odor – Is it Safe
Benefits of Lemon Juice For Underarms
Lemon juice by itself has many skincare benefits such as”
- Exfoliates
- Evens skin tone
- Increases collagen production
- Fights pimples and acne
- Regulates oily skin
- Fades scars, pigmentation, and blemishes
- Tightens pores
- Has antifungal properties
Lemon juice has quickly become another great addition to both DIY and commercial skin care products.
However, this ingredient is mostly used to target hyperpigmentation in the armpit area (darkened underarms) rather than odor, but it can help with that too!
So how does it do this?
How Lemon Juice Treats Underarm Odor
Lemon juice is known to be antimicrobial, which can aid in controlling odor-causing bacteria
How Lemon Juice Can Help Treat Dark Underarms
Lemon juice helps with underarm darkness through its exfoliative and skin-lightening properties.
1- Lemon juice carries alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), such as glycolic acid. These acids are frequently utilized in skin care products because they speed up cell renewal and remove dead skin. This encourages the production of new, less pigmented skin cells.
2- Lemon juice also contains citric acid, an AHA that has whitening effects that not only affect the skin itself but even hair.
3- Additionally, the vitamin C content of lemon juice also makes it a great antioxidant source. Vitamin C aids in skin lightening by inhibiting the enzyme that is involved with melanin production in the skin.
This effectively prevents the skin from continuously darkening as it regenerates.
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Side Effects of Baking Soda and Lemon For Underarms
Like all skin treatments, whether they are DIY or commercial, there are possible side effects that can occur.
Lemon juice, when used too much, or incorrectly, can potentially cause:
- Increased Photo-sensitivity
- Irritation of the skin
- Weakened Skin barrier
- Skin Dryness
- Chemical Burns
- Increased hyperpigmentation – even though this mixture is famous for helping with darkened skin, additional hyperpigmentation can occur as a side effect of increased sunburns, burns from the lemon juice itself, blisters or even skin irritation.
On the other hand, if you have dry or sensitive skin, you could be more prone to the following side effects if you use baking soda under your arms:
- redness
- rash
- itchiness
- scaly skin
When combining the two ingredients, the alkalinity of the baking soda should help to balance out the acidity of the lemon juice, preventing the mixture from causing excess dryness.
However, if too much of each ingredient is used, or if used too often, the most common side effect tends to be dry, irritated skin.
Related Articles
Sources:
Baking Soda Deodorant: Is It Effective Against Underarm Odor?
Baking Soda for Underarms: Can It Lighten Skin? Plus Other Methods
8 Simple and Effective Ways to Use Baking Soda for Dark Underarms
10 Awesome Benefits of Lemon for Skin – Poko CBD
Can You Use Lemon For Your Skin? What The Experts Say | mindbodygreen
