What causes sweat spots under the armpits?
Disease description:
I usually sweat quite a bit. Today, when I was getting dressed, I noticed some discolored patches under my armpits. What causes such discoloration under the armpits?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Liu Wan
Axillary pityriasis versicolor is generally caused by Malassezia infection leading to tinea versicolor, and is usually associated with excessive local sweating. Particularly prolonged or profuse sweating, when not cleaned promptly, may alter the skin's pH toward alkalinity due to the composition of sweat. This alkaline shift inevitably promotes Malassezia infection or proliferation, which over time can result in inflammatory skin lesions.
