Dark dry patches underarms

[ohserena]

I have dark patches of skin in my armpits. They look like dry, grayish patches of skin under my entire underarm. What is this? And what can I do to get rid of them. I have had them for years. Thanks!!

[doctorsarescary]

your not alone but i do have to let you know my gynocalogist always asks me if i have any dark patches on my underarms i say no and i have never asked what it would mean if i do ....  I don't have dark patches but i do have very dryskin patches on my armpits..

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

Without examination,it is very difficult to confirm a diagnosis,but it can be erythrasma(chronic skin condition affecting the skin folds and caused by bacterium corynebacterium minutissimum) , acanthosis nigricans(abnormal thickening and darkening of the skin, especially in body creases),hyperkeratosis(thickening of the skin due to excessive accumulation of keratin in the outer layers of the skin) and hyperpigmentation(patches of skin become darker in color than the normal surrounding skin).
The mode of treatment varies with each pathology varying from antibiotics, alpha- or beta-hydroxy acids,hydroquinone,tretinoin,isotretinoin,dermabrasion to laser treatment .I sincerely advise you to consult a dermatologist and discuss these possibilities with him.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing and if you have any additional queries.

.

[ohserena]

Thank you for the information. I did actually see a dermatiologist who prescribed me a hydrocortisone cream (which did nothing.)  I later read that the cream should never be applied under your arms, so I dont know what he was thinking!