Kilikili power

Her name was Tala. I was a freshman in college and the shift to casual clothes from sailor-collared uniforms revealed formerly concealed body parts. And there they were: her pristine kilikilis. Hers had no lines or folds. The skin flawlessly glided from the sides of her breasts up to her inner arms. I would stare at them, mesmerized by the even skin tone and flawless flow of skin. Ah, the kilikili — few topics elicit as many defensive comments and embarrassed giggles from Filipinas as this mysterious body part. It’s hidden most of the time and yet a whole industry has been built around beautifying it.

The dark side

According to Yanee Vasquez-Santos, M.D. of Skin Aesthetics Clinic (Unit 106, GF Kennedy Center Bldg., Prime cor. Venture Sts., Madrigal Business Park, Ayala Alabang; tel. 809-8021, cell phone 0916-3412464), women of color (Asians, Blacks, Latinas, etc.) have a natural tendency toward darker underarms because they have more melanin in their skin. Just as we have darker hair and eyes, so it goes for our kilikili. Colored skin reacts to irritation by turning darker. Check out your mom or your dad’s underarms: chances are, you’ll feel like you’re looking at your own kilikili as well. A prior infection or allergic reaction to cosmetic products can also lead to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in our underarms. “Strong chemicals in deodorants can irritate the sensitive skin in our underarms, resulting to darker skin,” shares Dr. Yanee. Years of plucking and shaving can also irritate the skin and cause not just discolorations, but also “chicken skin.” So as if a perpetual shadow isn’t embarrassing enough, you can get permanent goose bumps as well. Another contributing factor is the natural friction that happens on a daily basis in this area. Just like our singit, the kilikili also gets a lot of friction from skin-to-skin and clothes-to-skin contact. Stiff and rough fabrics that have been washed in strong detergents darken the skin in these areas. Taking oral contraceptives and the build-up of dead skin can also cause dark underarms. Pregnancy also darkens skin folds and it may take a year or more to get the skin to go back to its original tone — if ever.

Go to the light

Since we can’t choose what race we’re born as, and we can’t angle our arms out to avoid rubbing our kilikili, what can we do? There are several options, but first you have to figure out what’s causing your skin darkening in the first place. If harsh chemicals are the culprit, go for milder deodorants, and if possible, avoid using them every day. “It’s a misconception that everybody needs to use a deodorant every day. Not everybody sweats a lot in the underarms, and not everybody has body odor. So if you feel that you don’t have to use it so often, then it’ll be better for your skin,” advises Dr. Yanee. Good ol’ tawas can be used to control sweating without irritating the skin. Just be sure to apply it gently and not rub it in. If the problem is repeated plucking and shaving, she suggests having permanent hair removal to spare your skin several more years of abuse. Intense Pulse Light (IPL) can permanently stop hair growth in the underarms. It’ll take several sessions, depending on how much hair there is in the area, but the underarms should get smoother and lighter after. This is a pretty pricey option, but the long-term effect might be worth it. For additional whitening assistance, you can consult your dermatologist and ask about whitening creams that you can use in your underarms. Dr. Yanee suggests her Kojic soap, whitening deodorant and armpit whitening cream to lighten the underarms. She warns, however, that some whitening creams should only be used for a couple of months. “Certain whitening creams are only meant for short-term use. After a month or two, you should switch to our Kojic cream.” Our underarm skin is thin and sensitive so before applying any creams, consult a dermatologist to avoid any allergic reaction and further skin irritation.

Raise the roof

With all these options, surely, we can find a solution to all our kilikili problems. So in maybe a month or two, Pinays everywhere can confidently raise their arms in celebration and mesmerize a few people with their underhanded flawlessness.