It’s not uncommon to struggle with dark underarms—in fact, it’s probably rarer to see somebody with perfect, even-toned, chicken skin-less pits. And it has the rest of us wondering: what on God’s green earth could be their secret? Is it organic deodorant? Is it no deodorant? Well, we’ll tell you what it definitely isn’t. Perfect underarms can’t be achieved by scrubbing them, according to Dr. Vicki Belo. Today, we’ll tell you why.

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In a 2019 Myth or Fact session at Belo Medical Plaza, Dr. Belo gave us her two cents. “Another thing people always ask me is, they try to scrub their armpits if they’re dark. The question is, is it good to use the rough side of the bimpo when taking a shower to make your armpits white?” (A bimpo, if you’re not aware, is a small face towel with a rough terry cloth surface meant to remove sweat.) 

Dr. Belo’s verdict? Don’t do it! “Rubbing your body is traumatic. It hurts your skin. And Asian skin is very, very unstable.”

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Why is it bad to scrub your armpits?

She continued, “So if you’ve got an insect bite, let’s say from a mosquito…your skin will get dark, because Asian skin reacts that way. And if you use a bimpo and you rub it roughly, you’re also creating trauma.” And this goes for any type of vigorous scrubbing on the underarms, whether it’s with a towel, loofah, or bath salt. You’re doing your pits more harm than good.

Dr. Belo cites a very Pinoy example: “What you need to do is look at the jeepney drivers, because they’re always rubbing their necks with the towel. It’s so hot, and they perspire…a lot of them will have dark necks, because rubbing is bad. Much more for the armpit, because again, the armpit has very manipis na skin, very sensitive. So whatever effect it has on the other parts of the body, like the neck, it’s triple if it’s the armpits. So please, do not use a bimpo to rub your armpits. You cannot scrub away the dark area!” she said. 

How come scrubbing can’t lighten your underarms?

It’s true—pigmentation isn’t like dirt. It doesn’t go away when you exfoliate. Pigmentation is a result of melanin formation due to UV exposure, trauma, and other factors. (Related: The Difference Between Acne Scars and Dark Spots)

What should you try to lighten your underarms instead?

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• For slightly dark underarms: Dr. Belo’s favorite (and affordable) solution? The Belo Essentials Intense White Deo. “It’s really a beauty deodorant. That’s what it was made for. It stops perspiration, it stops smelling, it stops the chicken skin, [and] it’s anti-inflammatory.”

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Introducing BIY (Belo-It-Yourself) Kits: seven easy-to-use starter packs for any skin concern, so you can be Belo Beautiful at home. 🏡 Need picture-perfect armpits? For only P3800, make it happen with the #BeloArmpitPerfectingKit—it’s a powerful two-step brightening combo that will give you flaunt-worthy underarms in no time. Link in bio to shop.

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• For even more effective at-home care: For only P3,800, the Belo-It-Yourself Armpit Perfecting Kit is your best friend. It’s a two step routine: apply the Belo Prescriptives Tyrosinase Inhibitor, wait a few minutes, then finish with the Belo Illuminating Cream. Guaranteed results in just a few weeks—trust!

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@mercadojenny’s perfect underarms are maintained with #BeloAngelWhitening! This celeb fave zaps pigmentation and lightens dark spots, with results that last 💡 But we also have another laser treatment that’s great for brightening—#BeloRevlite. To find out which one is right for you, click the link in our bio ➡️

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• For more severe cases: It may be time to head to one of our clinics. “If you really have armpits that are already dark, then we have an Angel Whitening Laser,” Dr. Belo advised. “You have to do it once every three weeks, and you have to do 6-8 sessions. It’s the most effective thing that I’ve seen.” (Related: Angel Whitening vs. Revlite: What’s the Difference?)

With the bevy of solutions that are available to you, we strongly implore you to reconsider picking up that bimpo ever again! There’s a better way to whiten your underarms. All you have to do is take a cue from the Beauty Expert!

Click here to purchase the Belo Essentials Intense White Deo, and here to purchase the  Belo-It-Yourself Armpit Perfecting Kit.

To book your Angel Whitening appointment, call 8819-BELO, or email info@belomed.com.

Want to chat before diving in? Click here to book an online consultation with a Belo MD. If you want to speak to the Beauty Expert herself, click here to book an online consultation with Dr. Vicki Belo.