How To Remove Tan Effectively

1. Why Do We Tan?

2. Do We Tan On Cloudy Days?

3. Is A Sun Tan Permanent?

4. What Are The Effective Home Remedies That Can Help You Remove Tan?

5. FAQs: How To Remove Tan Effectively

Summer has been cruel to our skin. Continuous exposure to sun rays might have tanned your skin to a great extent. Don’t worry; it’s not a permanent condition. Go on using sunscreen even though the rainy season beckons. Apart from using high SPF products, you should also look at natural remedies to remove tan. Here’s a lowdown on all you need to know about tanning and how to remove tan:

1. Why Do We Tan?

Believe it or not, our body tans in order to actually protect us from UV ray penetration into our skin cells. If we are exposed to the sun for an inordinate stretch of time, UV rays can enter our cells, thereby harming RNA and DNA. Experts say that too much of this can even lead to skin cancer. To curb this, we tan so that the skin gets darkened with a pigment called melanin, which in turn can contain UV ray penetration into our body and cells. Thanks to UV radiation, there can be a heightened melanogenesis, which involves the production of new melanin. Melanocyte cells give birth to the pigment and this helps darken the skin. It absorbs and transforms UV energy into heat. With time, the tan fades as cells with less melanin surface. Darkened skin layers gradually fade off.

Tip: Take comprehensive protection against UV rays.

2. Do We Tan On Cloudy Days?

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, New York, 80 per cent of the sun’s UV rays can pass through clouds. About 80 per cent of the sun’s UV rays are reflected by snow while 17 per cent of the UV rays are reflected by sand. So, even if you’re out on a cloudy day, or enjoying a winter vacation or sitting under a beach umbrella, you need sunscreen with the right sun protection factor (SPF). UV rays can cause tanning, sun burns, skin cancer and ageing.

Tip: Don’t forget to use sunscreen even on cloudy days.

3. Is A Sun Tan Permanent?

As discussed above, it’s not permanent and usually fades with time as the skin rejuvenates and regains its natural colour. When we say natural tanning, we usually refer to the result of exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. But, of course, many people deliberately choose to tan their skin through artificial means such as tanning lamps, indoor tanning beds and chemical products – this is called sunless tanning. However, an excessive exposure to UV rays can damage the skin, causing sunburn and leading to an increased risk of skin cancer. Tan can be removed easily, with some sincere effort. To remove tan faster, go for natural home remedies. Packs made with natural ingredients are safe and effective on the skin.

Tip: Stay away from prolonged exposure to UV rays.

4. What Are The Effective Home Remedies That Can Help You Remove Tan?

Try these effective DIY detanning masks at home. These will certainly help you to remove tan:

Sandalwood + rose water

As we all know, chandan is a one-stop solution for all conceivable kinds of skin woes. Needless to say, it can be effective against tanning as well. Take 3 tbsp of pure sandalwood powder, add a bit of rose water and make a thin paste. Apply this paste evenly all over the face or your arms and neck. Let it dry and wash with cold water.

Coconut milk + water

Soak a cotton ball in fresh coconut milk and dab it all over your face and body. Wait until it’s dry and then wash away with water. Doing this daily can remove your tan effectively.

Turmeric + lemon juice + gram flour + curd

Take 2 tsp of turmeric paste and add 1 tsp each of lemon juice, curd and gram flour to it. Apply to relevant areas and wash off after half an hour. Curd acts as an anti-inflammatory ingredient in this pack. Gram flour acts as an exfoliating agent and encourages cell regeneration.

Sugar + lemon juice

Take 2 tbsp of sugar and 1 tsp of lemon juice and mix them together. Gently scrub your face with this mixture. Wait for 5 minutes and rinse. As we all know, lemon juice is rich in vitamin C and hence it can lighten the skin and remove tan. Don’t forget to use a sunscreen after this treatment.

Barley + khus khus

Grind 50 grams of barley with 30 grams of khus khus. Mix this powder with five drops of lemon juice and a few drops of rose water to make a smooth paste. Apply this paste on the exposed areas. Leave the pack on for an hour or so and wash your face with cold water.

Cucumber juice + lemon juice + rose water

Mix two tbsp each of cucumber juice, lemon juice and rose water to form a dip that can remove tan. Dip a ball of cotton into this and rub over affected areas. The bioactive compounds in cucumber can help reduce sunburn. Rose water is also extremely good for sun-burnt skin.

Dal + cucumber seeds

Take three tablespoons each of tuvar dal and green gram dal, two tsp of cucumber seeds and two tsp channa dal. Grind all these into a fine powder. Add two pinches of kasturi manjal and a bit of cucumber juice to this powder. Make a smooth paste. Apply this on tanned areas. Wait for an hour and wash it.

Aloe vera + tomato juice + multani mitti

Mix three tsp of aloe vera pulp, three tsp tomato of juice, one tsp of multani mitti (Fuller’s earth) and one tsp of sandal paste. Apply on tanned areas. Wait for 30 minutes. Wash off.

Raw potato juice

The juice of potato is also known for being a potent bleaching agent. Juice a raw potato and apply it directly on to your skin to remove tan. Alternatively, you can also use thin potato slices on your eyes and face. Wait for 30 minutes or till completely dry. Wash off.

Papaya + honey

Take around 8 cubes of ripe papaya, add 2 teaspoon of honey to it and mash it up using the back of a spoon or a fork. Mix well till it turns into a smooth paste. Apply this on affected areas and let dry. Wash off. Papaya is rich in natural enzymes that have skin bleaching and exfoliating properties. Along with honey, which is also a natural humectant, this papaya mask can effectively remove tan.

Lemon juice + honey

Make fresh lemon juice and add some honey to it. Dip a cotton ball in the mix and gently rub on your skin. Wait for 30 minutes and wash off. As discussed earlier, lemon juice has a bleaching effect and this helps in removing tan quickly.

Tomato + curd

Take raw tomato and remove the skin. Blend it with 3 tsp of fresh curd. Apply this paste on your tanned areas, and wash off after 30 minutes. Tomato is rich in antioxidants that helps in removing tan. Curd will help to soften your skin.

Besan + turmeric

Add 2 tsp of turmeric powder to a cup of Bengal gram flour or besan, add some water or milk to make a thin paste. Apply this mixture on your face and body, and let it dry, before gently scrubbing it away with lukewarm water. Both turmeric and besan are excellent skin-brightening agents and hence, they can remove tan effectively.

Strawberries + milk cream

Take a few ripe strawberries and mash them well using a fork. Add 2 teaspoon of fresh cream and make a smooth paste. Apply this on exposed areas and let it stay for 30 minutes. Wash it off with cold water. Strawberries can remove tan because they contain AHA (alpha-hydroxy acids) and vitamin C. The cream will help in softening the skin.

Oatmeal + milk

You heard it right, the oatmeal-milk combo is great not only as a breakfast option, but also as a homemade detanning mask. Take 3 tbsp of oatmeal and a little bit of milk, which is enough to keep the oatmeal soaked. Wait till the otmeal in the milk swells up. Make a thick paste and apply on your face and other affected areas. Wait for an hour or so before washing off. As we all know, otmeal is also a good exfoliating agent. Therefore, it’s a two-in-one mask.

Orange peel powder + milk

This may seem an odd combo, but, trust us, this can be a great mask for removing tan. Buy a good pack of orange peel powder. Or you can powder dried orange peels yourself. Take two tbsp of the powder and one tbsp of milk. Apply the paste on affected areas and wait for half an hour. Wash off. While milk moisturises the skin, the vitamin C in orange peel can help in lightening or removing the tan.

Banana + milk + lemon juice

Take a banana, two tbsp of milk and one tbsp of lemon juice. Mash the banana, make sure no lumps remain. Add milk and lemon juice. Make a smooth paste. Apply on the tanned areas and wait for at least 30 minutes. Wash off with lukewarm water. As we all know, bananas are packed with vitamins and minerals which can nourish the skin and de-tan it as well.

Mango pack

Take a few cubes of a freshly cut mango. Mash them into a pulp. Apply on your face and arms and wait for an hour so. Wash off. The king of fruits has de-tanning properties and is a storehouse of antioxidants and vitamin C. Mango treats pigmentation and hence, it can help remove tan effectively.

Tip: Try any of these packs at least twice a week. Avoid using these packs if your skin is allergic to certain ingredients.

FAQs: How To Remove Tan Effectively

Q. What is SPF? How do we choose the right SPF to remove tan?

A. Experts say that essentially, SPF measures the length of time during which a sunscreen can protect your skin against the sun. The higher the SPF does not mean better sun protection, but longer sun protection. Experts say that you should choose a sunscreen that has SPF 26 and above, which will help reflect UVA rays and offer protection against UVB rays. If SPF 30 is supposed to give you 10-hour protection from the sun, SPF 50 can provide you up to 16 hours. Use high SPF sunscreens on sensitive areas such as your nose, ears and backs of the hand. Be generous with high SPF sunscreens on exposed areas of the body, especially if you’re in high altitude areas. Use SPF 50 or 50+ for areas of the body with thin skin (face, back of the hands, etc). Do not use SPF50/50+ sunscreens on sweat zones like arms and legs. Carry separate tubes of SPF 30 and SPF 50 for different parts of the body when outdoors. Keep these points in mind when you set out to remove tan.

Q. Can we use cosmetics with inbuilt SPF to protect our skin and reduce tanning?

A. It makes perfect sense to use a foundation or any other cosmetic with inbuilt SPF. But experts say that this is not sufficient to protect your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays. “Your cosmetics/makeup with SPF does not provide you with enough protection from the sun,” says Dr Kiran Lohia, a celebrity dermatologist. “In Delhi especially, where the sun is really hot and pollution levels are high, you absolutely need a base layer of sunblock in addition to your makeup.” For a 360 degree protection from the sun, always use a sunscreen with SPF 30 every day, even when you are indoors. Go for SPF 50 on days when there is a chance of prolonged skin exposure.

Q. What are the ingredients you must watch out for while buying an anti-tan cream?

A. Look for oxybenzone and octinoxate, both of which can trigger allergic reactions. Chemicals like retinyl palmitate (vitamin A palmitate), homosalate and octocrylene commonly found in sunscreens can damage cells. So, beware. Apart from these, pick a sunscreen with no paraben preservatives.

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