With summer around the corner, you’re all excited to wear your bikini. But your dark inner thighs may stop you from doing so. This story matches the lives of many girls, so you are not the only one! It is a common problem which can be challenging to get rid of.
Luckily with natural remedies, you can see a significant improvement in lightening dark inner thighs. Skin experts believe these remedies to be safer than over-the-counter creams and soaps which come with adverse side effects.
This article reviews some evidence-based home remedies for dark inner thighs and the causes of this skin condition.
15 Natural Home Remedies for Dark Inner Thighs
1. Lemon
Lemon is known as nature’s bleaching agent for skin. Its lightening properties make it a popular ingredient in whitening creams.
To put this to use, slice a lemon in half and rub it on the affected area for a good five minutes and leave it on for another ten minutes. Wash it off with cold water and pat dry.
Repeat this procedure daily for better results.
Additionally, apply a thin layer of olive or coconut oil into the area to keep it moisturized as lemon can be drying.
2. Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera has many health and skin benefits. It can significantly reduce dark patches when applied to affected areas.
Rub Aloe Vera gel on your inner and leave it for twenty minutes. It will not only lighten the skin but also repair it and reduce any existing inflammation.
3. Lemon and Yogurt
Yogurt has whitening properties along with acidic properties that can stop any infections. Moreover, it has moisturizing properties. On the other hand, lemon is well known for skin lightening.
Squeeze the juice out of half a lemon and add one teaspoon of yogurt into it. Add a bit of gram flour and turmeric powder (optional) to it and mix well.
Apply it to the affected area and let it sit until it dries. Rinse it with cold water and use a clean towel to pat dry.
4. Oatmeal and Yogurt
This common breakfast item can work wonders for your dark inner thighs, mainly because of its scrub like texture which helps to clear out any dead skin cells.
Take one big teaspoon of oatmeal and yogurt. You can also add lemon juice to it for more additional benefits.
Apply to your inner thighs and wait until it dries. Wash it off in a circular motion and pat dry.
6. Potatoes
Like lemons, potatoes are an excellent bleaching agent, and even better it is mild on your skin.
Slice a potato and then rub it onto your thighs. Leave it for fifteen minutes and wash it off with warm water.
You can also put potato juice instead of slices into the affected area. For best results do this daily.
7. Powdered Milk and Honey
Milk and honey are both moisturizing. The acidic properties present in milk can gently exfoliate the area, and the antibacterial properties in honey can help to fight infections.
Add 1 teaspoon of honey, powdered milk, and lemon juice into a container and mix it well until it forms a thick paste. If you want, you can also add a few drops of almond oil into the mixture.
Apply it to the area generously and wait until it dries. You can then rinse it off with cold water.
8. Sugar, Honey, and Lemon
This combination is highly beneficial for any dark spot on your skin.
Sugar is widely known for its exfoliating properties so it can remove any dead skin, whereas honey is moisturizing to the skin.
As mentioned earlier, lemon is an excellent natural bleaching agent which helps to reduce any existing hyperpigmentation.
So putting all these together may help to remove darkened skin between thighs.
Mix one tablespoon of sugar, honey and lemon juice into a container and rub it in a circular motion until the sugar dissolves. Leave it on for a good 10 minutes before you wash it off with warm water.
9. Potato Juice, Honey, and Tomato
Tomato and potato juice work great together as a powerful natural bleaching agent that can whiten dark inner thighs or any other body parts
Even people with very sensitive skin can use it without any hesitation. Moreover, honey is there as the moisturizing and soothing agent.
Add an equal amount of grated potato and tomato into a container and add a few drops of honey to it.
Rub it in a circular motion on your thighs. Wash it off after 10 minutes and pat dry.
10. Cucumber, Sandalwood and Lemon Juice
Sandalwood and cucumber are both natural cooling agents that can soothe your inner thighs and lemon can act as the whitening agent.
Add in a medium sized grated cucumber to one tablespoon of sandalwood powder.
Squeeze a few drops of lemon juice into it. Spread this over your face like a mask, avoiding the sensitive area around your eyes.
After it has fully dried, wash it off with clean water.
11. Almond Oil, Honey, and Milk
Almond oil is not only moisturizing but also contains a lot of vitamins E which can aid in skin lightening. On the other hand, milk and honey can help fight against any infection.
Add one tablespoon of almond oil and milk to two tablespoons of honey. Mix well!
Apply this blend to the areas affected by dark skin and massage it gently for 15 minutes. Allow the mask to dry before washing it off with clean water.
12. Honey, Oats, and Yogurt
This combination can not only help to lighten the skin but also can add the nourishment required.
To one tablespoon of oats and yogurt, add few drops of honey. Apply it generously onto the affected area and wait till it dries. Wash it off with warm water.
Do it three times a week to get rid of the dark bikini area.
13. Aloe Vera Gel and Almond Oil
Aloe Vera reduces inflammation and repairs the skin whereas almond oil, which has a lot of vitamin e can help reduce the dark inner thigh.
In two tablespoons of aloe vera gel add a few drops of almond oil. Massage it into your skin gently until it has been fully absorbed.
You can then leave it overnight or wash it off after 30 minutes.
14. Honey with Orange Peel
Orange peels contain lots of vitamin C that works well as a natural bleaching agent. When you use it with honey, the mixture not only nourishes the skin and but also adds a glow to it.
Grate half an orange peel into a powder and add this powder to a teaspoon of honey. Mix it until it forms a paste.
Apply it to the affected skin, keeping it on for 15 minutes. Let it sit and dry. Wash it off with cold water. Follow this procedure for thrice a week to get rid of dark inner thighs.
15. Glycerine, Lemon Juice, and Rosewater
This mixture is both whitening and moisturizing.
Take all the ingredients in equal parts and mix well. Leave it on your affected area for the entire night and wash it off in the morning.
In case you have sensitive skin, do not use lemon juice directly. Dilute it first.
Causes of Dark Inner Thighs
Although embarrassing dark inner thighs are not painful, they occur for several reasons, including:
- Obesity
Well, obesity is a health condition where a person is excessively overweight.
If you are obese, the chances are that you will end up with this kind of hyperpigmentation. [1]
When you walk your thighs, tend to rub against each other which causes your skin to discolor, and as a result, you might end up with dark thighs.
The situation gets worse if you wear tight-fitting undergarments or undergarments that are made of synthetic or nylon.
- Friction
You might have friction between your thighs even if you are not obese.
As mentioned earlier it can be due to your tight fitted pans as they do not allow your skin to breath. Excessive sweating can be added to this problem.
- Acanthosis Nigricans
It is a skin condition in which parts of your body such as your armpits, groin, neck tends to darken and forms a velvety texture. [2]
This skin condition is common among people who are obese or might be suffering from type 2 diabetes.
So, if you have Acanthosis Nigricans, the hyperpigmentation in your groin might be spreading to your inner thighs.
It is wise to consult a doctor in such conditions as there might be other underlying causes of acanthosis nigricans.
- Hormonal Imbalance
Hormonal Imbalance is another common reason behind dark thighs, especially among women. [3]
So how would you understand that your dark inner thighs are due to hormonal imbalance?
Well, a great way to understand is to observe if your hyperpigmentation tends to return or get worse every time you have your menstruation cycle as this is the time when a lot of hormonal changes takes place in your body.
- Sun Exposure
Who doesn’t want to sit outside in the sun and relax during the summer? Though we all love that idea, too much sun exposure can be very harmful to your skin.
It tends to increase the pigmentation of our body. [4]
So next time be careful about too much exposure of your thighs into the sun when sunbathing!
- Drugs and Medication
If you are taking drugs such as oral contraceptive pills then might be the reason behind your dark inner thighs.
Studies have found that dark inner thigh is a side effect of consuming oral contraceptives pills.
In this case, you can consult your doctor and ask him or her for alternative medicine.
- Insulin resistance or diabetes
There is a definite linear relationship between diabetes and dark inner thighs.
This connection is perhaps because people with high insulin resistance tend to experience darkened skin between legs, around their neck, armpits and other body parts. [5]
- No thigh gap
Recently, the thigh gap has caused a lot of buzz in the fitness industry.
Not sure about whether it looks beautiful or not but having a thigh gap can indeed save you from getting dark inner thighs due to friction.
- Shaving or other bikini hair removal methods
You might be having dark inner thighs due to excessive shaving, especially if you are using old razors.
This is more common among people who are hairy as they tend to shave more often.
Apart from these causes, dark inner thighs can be due to allergic reactions caused by your skin care products, excessive sweating, aging, poor hygiene, etc.
Bottom Line
Dark inner thighs or hyperpigmentation of the thighs is a common skin condition. There are plenty of natural remedies that you can try to help you lighten dark inner thighs. As a preventive measure, you need to avoid friction or chafing, too much sun exposure, and shaving or waxing of the thighs area frequently. Also, make sure that you clean your inner thighs regularly to remove dead skin cells build up and wear loose clothing.
