Summer is when people head out to the beach, relax, party, and get that sun tan. While all is mostly fun and games, a skin tan can often leave you a bit flustered. Constant exposure to the sun makes your skin turn a darker shade, and not just that, but it may also lead to dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and sunburns. The harmful UV rays from the sun can strip your skin of its moisture content and lead to a dull and pale appearance. Sounds nasty, doesn’t it? Here in this article, we try to look at some ways in which you can remedy that sun tan and be off your worries.

 

Home Remedies To Remove Skin Tan

There are many home remedies to remove skin tan - from lemon juice, honey, and coconut oil to tomatoes, turmeric and more - let’s take a detailed look at them below!

1. Lemon Juice and Honey

Thanks to the bleaching properties of lemon juice, it can help in removing skin tan effectively and rather quickly. All you need to do is take fresh lemon juice, mix it with honey, and apply it to your skin. Wash it off after 30 minutes. You can also use a gentle scrub to remove the dead cells from your sun-tanned skin.

Lemon Juice and Honey - Home Remedies To Remove Skin Tan

2. Yogurt and Tomato Juice

Tomato is a rich source of antioxidants that can help in brightening up your skin. On the other hand, yogurt contains lactic acid which makes the skin softer. In this way, when you mix raw tomatoes with yogurt and apply it to the tanned areas on your body, be it a tan on your arms or a tanned face, you see quick results. This mixture not only removes your skin tan but also helps you get smoother skin.

Yogurt and Tomato Juice - Home Remedies To Remove Skin Tan

3. Cucumbers

Cucumbers are beneficial for sunburnt skin, as they have a cooling effect when eaten or topically applied. You can shred a cucumber, squeeze its juice out and apply it on your skin where the tan is. Wash it after it dries. You can also add some lemon juice to it for additional benefits and hydration to the skin.

Cucumbers - Home Remedies To Remove Skin Tan

4. Oatmeal and Buttermilk

This face mask has several wonderful advantages for fading skin tan. While oatmeal aids in skin exfoliation, buttermilk's lactic acid softens and evens out skin tone. Oatmeal combined with three tbsp of buttermilk should be enough. Create a paste-like consistency and apply it to the suntanned area(s). Let it stay for about 30 minutes before washing it off with warm water.

Oatmeal and Buttermilk - Home Remedies to Remove Skin Tan

5. Aloe vera

Aloe vera is one of the most commonly used ingredients for skin health and in skincare routines. It improves your facial glow and complexion and protects your skin from harmful UV damage. It contains anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that can soothe your skin and lighten that sun tan. You can apply aloe vera gel to your face and body before sleeping at night and then wash it off in the morning. Keep repeating the process and soon you would see good results.

Aloe vera - Home Remedies To Remove Skin Tan

6. Potato Juice

While many people are aware that potato juice helps in lightening dark circles around the eyes - what they don’t know is that it can also act as a sun tan remover due to its amazing bleaching effect on the skin. Apply raw potato to your eyes, face, and wherever the tan is. Keep it on for 10-15 minutes and once it dries, just wash it off.
Potato Juice - Home Remedies To Remove Skin Tan

7. Green Tea

Green tea is well known for its antioxidants, which are very beneficial for curing tanned skin and minimizing skin imperfections. Simply brew some green tea with a cup of boiling water and allow it to cool. Use a cotton ball to apply it to the spots where your skin is tanned. After letting it sit for ten minutes, wash it off.

Green Tea - Home Remedies to Remove Skin Tan

8. Turmeric & Sandalwood

Sandalwood powder, along with turmeric and milk, can be made into a face pack and applied to the skin to effectively remove a sun tan. Sandalwood has cooling properties, while turmeric can help soothe damaged skin. When mixed with milk, it becomes a great exfoliating agent and helps in removing the tan. You can also add multani mitti or Fuller's Earth clay to the mix for an added glow to your face. Add a pinch of turmeric to gram flour, making a pack out of it, and apply it to your face and hands wherever the tan is. You can wash it off with lukewarm water once it dries up. Repeat this process twice weekly for good results.

Turmeric & Sandalwood - Home Remedies To Remove Skin Tan

Takeaway

There are many other simple home remedies to remove skin tan. You can try different combinations with the same ingredients or add new ingredients like black tea, papaya, masoor dal, oatmeal, strawberries, and more. It is always best to first apply something on a small portion of your skin to check for any allergies that you may have. You can also consult a dermatologist to check if they may have an adverse reaction on your body.

As a simple and nutritious remedy, you can try out Wellbeing Nutrition's Skin Fuel - India's First US Dermatologist Formulated Drinkable Skincare. These skincare tablets are made using naturally derived, widely researched ingredients - L–glutathione, hyaluronic acid, Japanese collagen, and other essential vitamins. This delicious blueberry mint skin elixir is the perfect way to take care of your skin with an inside-out approach.

References:

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  • Cooperstone JL, Tober KL, Riedl KM, et al. Tomatoes protect against development of UV-induced keratinocyte carcinoma via metabolomic alterations. Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):5106. Published 2017 Jul 11. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-05568-7. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5506060/)

  • Vollono L, Falconi M, Gaziano R, et al. Potential of Curcumin in Skin Disorders. Nutrients. 2019;11(9):2169. Published 2019 Sep 10. doi:10.3390/nu11092169. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6770633/)

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