Skin tanning is a reaction of the melanin in your skin to sun exposure, which causes parts of the body to turn a shade darker. Besides the exposure to the natural ultraviolet (UV) rays in the sun, exposure to the artificial UV rays from a tanning lamp or bed gives the effect of skin tan. While a tan changes your skin color, it is important to know that tanning isn’t permanent. As the skin exfoliates naturally and the old skin sloughs off, you get your natural skin color back.
However, that’s not always the case. Consistent exposure to the Sun or UV rays over prolonged periods could cause permanent damage to your skin. This is what we can call as the permanent skin tan where several layers of the skin are damaged by repeated exposure. This means, no amount of new skin can replace the tan unless you indulge in a reversing process where you limit sun exposure for a long time. Don’t have that kind of time? Don’t worry. It is possible to follow a few home remedies and get an instant fix for the tan.
Can we get rid of tan in a day?
It takes anything around one to four weeks for a tan to go naturally, depending on the tan’s intensity. However, with a few home remedies and hacks, you can considerably reduce the time it takes to resurface your natural skin tone. One of the popular myths around tanning is that shaving helps tan to go away faster. However, this works only if you got an artificial tan. That’s because an artificial tan acts on the top layer of the skin, which you tend to remove during a shave. And hence, it does not work on a natural tan.
Can Home remedies treat a tan?
As the skin heals and repairs naturally, it restores skin health and removes the dead cells. This process removes the tanned skin from the surface, and you’re back to having glowing skin. The numerous home remedies and creams available in the market, help you accelerate this process. While the store-bought creams, do reduce tan fast, they might not fix the damage from sun exposure to your skin. However, counting on home remedies will ensure that your skin heals naturally. So, it is always best to depend on home remedies rather than chemical-induced treatment for your already damaged skin.
Home Remedies for Tan Removal
Tomato
Lycopene is an antioxidant that prevents cell damage and repairs the damaged cells. It is a natural pigment that is instrumental in giving fruits and vegetables the red color. And the best source to derive Lycopene is from tomatoes. A recent study went on to show that over 80% of the US population gets its Lycopene from tomatoes. Besides regular consumption, you could also make a paste out of it and apply it to reduce tan and sunburn. It heals the skin naturally from within and leaves with a glow.
Lemon
Lemon has a key role to play in numerous home remedies. One of the reasons for that is the cleansing and bleaching properties that it has. Rubbing a piece of lemon on the tanned portion of your skin will bleach the area and reduce the tan. It will exfoliate the skin naturally and removes any dead cells present there. And thus, leave you with a naturally glowing skin.
You could either apply a piece of lemon on your skin directly or mix a few drops of lemon juice with honey and apply it all over as a pack. Leave the pack for a few minutes and wash it off with cold water. You could do this around twice a week to get a naturally glowing skin without any tan.
Potato
Potato is not just a popular vegetable on the food table but also a prominent place in the beauty chart. It is a popular ingredient in dark circle remedies as it is naturally soothing. Besides that, it is also rich in bleaching agents, which are instrumental in making your skin lighter.
You could make a juice of it, apply it to your skin, slice it into pieces, and place it all over your hands. Leave it on for a few minutes and wash it off with cold water. Potato can make your skin go dry, so limit this treatment to just once a week, and make sure to moisturize your skin.
We hope these tips help you get rid of those ugly tan lines and bring back the beautiful glow on your face!