What makes us tan?
Each of us has experienced uneven colour or tan lines that we wish we could simply wash away. Yet removing a tan is challenging.
Your body tries to defend itself against the sun's harmful UV rays by developing a tan. The substance called melanin is what causes skin to darken or tan. Under the skin's surface layers, melanin is released by your skin to aid in UV radiation absorption. Your skin becomes darker as a result of your body producing more melanin in response to UV radiation from the sun or a tanning bed.
Avoiding acquiring a tan in the first place is the greatest approach to make it lighter. With the right sun protection, you can safeguard your skin and avoid unwelcome tanning.
When outdoors, don't forget to cover up with a hat, some UV protection, and sunscreen. Every two hours, sunscreen should be reapplied. The best way to protect your skin is to use sunscreen every day, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
Treatments to remove a tan
You can use these treatments to remove a tan:
Exfoliation
By eliminating the dead skin cells on the surface, gently exfoliating with a homemade or store-bought scrub will help lighten the tone of your skin. After exfoliating, just be careful to avoid the sun. Dead skin cells can aid with sun protection. You are more prone to skin damage, tanning, and sunburn after removing them.
Aloe
This sunburn salve turns out to be more than just a potent anti-inflammatory skin soother. Aloe vera may inhibit the release of melanin and lessen pigmentation, according to a small study.
Turmeric
This vibrant yellow spice has long been used as a skin lightener in India. Although it hasn't been demonstrated to significantly lighten the skin, turmeric may help prevent sun damage when added to a cream, according to one study Trusted Source. The study also discovered that turmeric may enhance the skin's natural oils and moisture.
Nevertheless, turmeric can leave a yellow stain on your face as well as nearly anything else, such as your clothes and counter. To assist remove residue and avoid stains, use face wash or makeup remover right away after a turmeric mask or topical application.
Black tea
According to Trusted Source, black tea extract can help guinea pigs with tanning, but additional research is needed, particularly to determine how homemade brews or topical creams containing black tea extracts effect people.
Skin-whitening goods
There are currently many over-the-counter creams and procedures for skin whitening. In order to find a skin-lightening product, the American Academy of Dermatology suggests looking for one that includes one of the following ingredients:
By exfoliating the skin and promoting new cell growth, these active substances can help lessen a tan that is already present or dark areas on the skin. Some of them can also aid in reducing or preventing dark patches by reducing melanin production. To avoid discomfort or other adverse effects, it's crucial to use only one product with a single active component at a time.
A dermatologist should always be consulted before using several of these therapies. Too much of a concentration or too many applications might cause dermatitis or irritation. Moreover, it may occur if you use a product on an area that it was not intended for. Overuse of skin-lightening treatments can also thin the skin and result in dark patches or discolouration that lasts a lifetime.
What to avoid as prevention methods?
Lemon juice
One of the most frequently recommended natural treatments for removing a tan is lemon, however it shouldn't be applied directly to the skin. Lemon juice or citric acid have not been proven to lighten skin or lessen melanin formation in studies. Lemon juice or lemon slices alone may aid in the removal of dead skin, but they can also irritate.
If lemon juice is applied topically, it must always be diluted and completely removed. Even if you tried to wash it off, going outside in the sun with lemon or other citrus juice on your skin might aggravate irritation and even cause chemical burns. Your skin becomes more vulnerable to UV rays as a result of the juice's chemical reaction.
Foreign lightening items
Avoid purchasing skin-lightening items from nations outside of America. With items from other nations, scientists have discovered undeclared mercury, steroids, and other dangerous substances.
Blasting substances
Additionally, skin should never be exposed to bleaching agents. This includes any product marketed as a "whitening" or "bleaching" product, such as common household bleach.
The conclusion
Protecting your skin from UV rays is the greatest technique to get rid of a tan. There are certain therapies that could aid in lessening the appearance of a tan after it's too late for floppy hats and sunscreen. Always spot-test medications twice daily for at least two or three days on the inner forearm to check for an adverse reaction before using them elsewhere. Use medications only as instructed. If any product or home remedy starts to sting or burn, stop using it right away unless your dermatologist instructs you to keep using it.
The best medication, no matter what you attempt, is time. A tan naturally wears off when your body replaces burnt or tanned skin cells with fresh, untanned ones. Sadly, fading a tan won't repair skin damage or lower your risk of getting cancer. A deeper tan does not offer protection from potential skin cancer or sun damage. An unhealthy or risky method of UV protection is to get a "base tan."
