A tan is nothing but a skin reaction where it starts producing melanin in order to protect the body from harmful UV rays when exposed for a long time. This dark skin effect is what is referred to as a tan. Skin can tan in as little as 20 minutes in the sun!
The good news is that a tan is not permanent and eventually fades out, but the bad news is that this process of fading out can take a long time. So, if you are looking for easy and fast ways to lose a tan, continue reading as we reveal home remedies that can help you get rid of a tan.
How to Get Rid of Tan with Home Remedies
Mild suntan or even sunburnt skin can be soothed and cured using some easily available home remedies with long-term effects. Let us look at some of the best ways to avoid a visit to the salon and fade a tan at home.
1. Lemon Juice with Honey
Lemon juice and honey for tan removal(1) is easy to make. Lemon juice contains vitamin C, which is a great bleaching agent and helps in curing a skin tan effectively. Honey moisturizes the skin and keeps it feeling supple.
How to use it?
Mix the juice of half a lemon with a few drops of honey and apply it on the affected area. Wash it with water after 30 mins and see the difference.
How much to use?
This lemon honey mixture can be applied regularly on the skin until the tan fades completely. Be careful in case of any cuts or bruises as it might sting due to the lemon.
[ Read: Home Remedies to Remove Sun Tan From Skin ]
2. Bengal Gram Flour and Turmeric Pack
This tried and tested home remedy is a great way to exfoliate your skin and remove tan. The gram flour helps in exfoliating the skin while turmeric contains anti-bacterial(2) and skin brightening properties.
How to use it?
Take two tablespoons of Bengal gram flour, a pinch of turmeric, one tablespoon rose water, and a little bit of milk. Combine these ingredients to form a thick paste that can then be applied on the face, hands, neck, and legs. Keep it on for 20 minutes and wash it with warm water.
How much to use?
This pack can be applied once a week for tan free glowing skin.
3. Potato juice
This vegetable in your kitchen can do wonders for your tan! Potato Juice contains powerful bleaching properties and can help in skin lightening after a tan.
How to use it?
The juice of raw potato can either be applied on the tanned skin, or thin potato slices can be placed on the affected area. After 10-15 minutes, wash it off with water.
How much to use?
Regular application of potato juice and slices will result in lighter skin and an eventual fading of the tan.
[ Read: Shea Butter for Skin Glow Instantly ]
4. Yogurt and Tomato Juice
It’s well known that tomato can keep your skin turn supple and red. It can also help in removing tan. Yogurt is rich in lactic acid, while tomato is a treasure trove of antioxidants.
How to use it?
Blend a raw tomato ( with its skin off) in the mixer with two tablespoons of yogurt and massage this paste onto the affected skin. Remove it after 20 minutes with water to reveal brighter skin.
How much to use?
This yogurt and tomato paste can be applied twice a week to get rid of a tan.
[ Read: Foods for Skin Glowing ]
5. Cucumber Juice
Cucumber is not just great for weight loss; it can also aid in tan removal. Cucumber juice works effectively to repair the sunburnt skin as well as remove tan due to its cooling properties.
How to use it?
Grate a raw cucumber, preferably taken from the refrigerator, and collect its juice in a separate bowl. With the help of a cotton pad, apply the cucumber juice evenly wherever skin has tanned. Let it dry and then wash it off with water.
How much to use?
Cucumber juice does not have any side effects and thus can be used daily or every alternate day till the sunburn and tan are cured.
6. Sandalwood Powder
Sandalwood powder is often used in beauty products for its skin lightening properties(3). Sandalwood has cooling properties that help in treating sunburn and tan along with skin lightening.
How to use it?
Mix some sandalwood powder with a few drops of rose water and apply it on the tanned area. Let it dry and then remove it with water.
How much to use?
Regular application of this paste can benefit the skin by keeping it healthy and glowing.
How to Prevent a Tan?
Given below are some ways in which we can prevent our skin from getting tanned. Always make sure to carry an umbrella.
7. Homemade Sunblock
It is advised to wear sunblock at all times, even while at home. Sunblock protects the skin from the harmful rays of the sun and prevents tan to some extent. Here is a recipe for homemade sunscreen. Note: This recipe isn’t waterproof, and it’ll need to be reapplied often.
All you need is ¼ cup of coconut oil, 2 tbsps of powdered zinc oxide, ¼ cup of pure aloe vera gel, 25 drops of walnut oil, and 1 cup of shea butter.
In a medium saucepan, let the shea butter and oils melt together at medium heat. Then stir in the aloe vera gel. Cool completely before adding zinc oxide. Mix well to make sure the zinc oxide is distributed throughout. Add some beeswax or another waxy substance for a stickier consistency. You can store this mixture in a glass jar and keep in a cool, dry place until you’re ready to use it.
[ Read: Witch Hazel for Sunburn ]
Treating a tan with preventative measures is always good. As a tan is not permanent, it can easily be removed using the home remedies discussed above. Tan makes one look flushed due to the sunburn, while excessive sunburn can also make skin wrinkle and age faster. Thus, use these natural home remedies to de-tan easily and without any side-effects.
FAQs
1. Why Is a Tan Harmful to the Skin?
Excessive tanning or sunburns can lead to wrinkling of the skin and fasten the aging process. The harmful UV rays can also lead to skin cancer and thus needs to be protected against.
2. Is Sun Tan Permanent?
Suntan is not permanent. A tan is a reaction of the skin’s pigments to the sun’s rays that cause darkening. Home remedies help lose a tan faster.
3. Do Dark-Skinned People Get Tanned?
People with darker skin have higher amounts of melanin in their body and thus are better equipped to handle the sun’s UV rays, though they are equally at risk of sunburn and skin allergies caused by them.
