Whether you are travelling for work, playing with your friends, running campaigns on the streets, or enjoying a sunny day on a beach, excessive sun exposure can be harmful for your skin. The UV rays from sunlight can cause sunburns, tanning of the skin, and may even lead to sin cancer in some cases. Many people take preventive measures, such as applying sunscreen and covering themselves, to avoid damage to their skin, but even they cannot avoid tanning of the skin completely.
Skin tanning is very common in a country like India, where majority of the regions experience a tropical climate. Thus, knowing some home remedies to remove tan from the face and body can come in handy for detanning at home.
Home Remedies for Tan Removal
Home remedies offer a natural alternative to treat the skin and remove suntan. Listed below are some of the most common home remedies for tan removal:
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Lemon juice and honey mask
Lemon juice is one of the most potent skin bleaching agent, and it is often used in home remedies for tan removal. Honey is also rich in antioxidants that can help in healing the skin from damage caused by sun exposure. To employ this suntan removal home remedy, mix a few drops of fresh lemon juice in a spoonful of honey. Apply this to your face after cleansing and leave it on for about 30 minutes. Wash your face with tap water and pat dry.
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Drinking green tea and/or coffee
Studies suggest that consuming these beverages may alleviate the photoaging of the skin induced by sun exposure and help with preventing suntan naturally. Both these beverages contain high amounts of compounds called polyphenols, and the consumption of these compounds is associated with reduced suntan.
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Gram flour (besan) and yogurt/water mask
This home remedy for tan removal has been used since a long time; gram flour in this mask helps in detanning, and yogurt can moisturise the skin. Additionally, gram flour can remove excess oil from the skin and may prevent acne.
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Aloe vera mask
Aloe vera can help remove skin tan and heal sun burns caused by sun exposure. You can use the aloe vera pulp as a face mask regularly or apply aloe vera gel (without any artificial preservatives and other components) on the affected area of the skin for tan removal at home.
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Yogurt and honey mask
Several studies have revealed the beneficial effects of including honey in suntan removal home remedies. It has antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic properties that can help with tan removal at home and may prevent skin cancer. Thus, making a face pack at home to remove tan from face and other body parts with honey and yogurt is highly recommended. Yogurt in this face mask can act as a base to prepare the mask and moisturise the skin.
One can also use honey alone for detanning at home by applying a thin layer of honey on the face and other body parts that were exposed to the sun after cleaning and wash it after 20 minutes with plain water. -
Cucumber and lemon juice mask
The anti-inflammatory properties of cucumber combined with the skin-lightening effects of lemon can allow for suntan removal at home. You can prepare a sheet mask from cucumber and lemon by extracting fresh juice from them both these and dip a clean muslin cloth (cotton handkerchief) in the solution. Keep this cloth on your face or other affected body parts.
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Sandalwood and rose water
Sandalwood is known to have a cooling effect on the skin; it has antimicrobial properties as well. Sandalwood is one of the most prominent ingredients for preparing home remedies for tan removal at home. It helps in soothing sunburns and reduce the tanning of the skin.
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Multani mitti and rose water/milk mask
Fuller’s earth (Multani mitti) mixed with rose water (or milk for dry skin) is an age-old home remedy for tan removal. Multani mitti helps in soothing sunburns and effectively makes the skin to show a natural glow. Using a mask made by soaking Multani mitti in rose water or milk can help remove suntan.
Other popular suntan removal home remedies that have anecdotal evidence, include the following: -
Oats and buttermilk scrub and mask
A study conducted on hairless mice suggested that buttermilk can recover the skin barrier and may help with damage to the skin caused by sun exposure. Oat can exfoliate and cleanse the skin; mixing buttermilk and oats to prepare a mask for detanning at home may help improve the skin.
You can prepare this home remedy for tan removal by soaking two teaspoons of oats (or oatmeal) in water for a few minutes. Then mix two or three teaspoons of buttermilk in this and apply it to the face, neck, arms, or other body parts. Massage this mask for a minute or two and leave it on for 20 minutes. Wash the area with mask application with plain water. -
Tomato and yogurt mask
Tomato is rich in antioxidants and can help in brightening the skin. Tomato paste mixed with yogurt may also help in detanning at home. To prepare this mask, take a raw tomato and blend it to make a paste. After this, add one or two teaspoons of yogurt, and apply this mixture on a clean face. Wash the face with plain water after about 20 minutes. You can also strain the paste to make it smooth.
Here is a list of common ingredients included in home remedies to remove tan from face and body: -
Coconut water
The presence of kinetin in coconut water makes it a good choice for suntan removal at home. Many skin care products also include kinetin that are used to treat the photo-damaged skin. One can consider making a sheet mask with coconut water and use it weekly or bi-weekly for suntan removal at home.
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Saffron
The dried stigma of the plant crocus sativus L, Saffron, is believed to have skin lightening or tan removal properties. You can prepare a face mask for detanning at home and add this potent ingredient in the form of paste. To prepare saffron paste for your face mask, take one or two strands of saffron and soak in it a few drops of milk, then crush it nicely using a spoon, your fingers, or a small mortar and pestle.
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Long pepper
Also known as pipe longum L, long pepper is a spice that is often used in Indian kitchens. It has antioxidant properties that make it a good ingredient to treat sunburns.
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Amla
The Indian gooseberry or amla is a rich dietary source of vitamin C and antioxidants. It is widely used in many home remedies for tan removal and other ailments. Amla extract can be used to treat sunburns and reduce suntan.
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Liquorice root
Liquorice root can be used to treat skin pigmentation disorders caused by exposure to sunlight and other factors. Many skin lightening creams include liquorice root in their ingredients.
Here are some other ingredients that you can use for detanning:
- Apple cider vinegar
- Strawberries and cream (milk)
- Rice flour and milk
Tips for Sun Safety
Here are some tips to protect yourself against harmful sun exposure:
- Applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 50 in summers and 30 in winters can help in preventing suntan. A sunscreen with a high PA+ rating is better than a sunscreen with low PA+ rating. Reapply the sunscreen after every two hours and after swimming, sweating, or using a towel if you are spending the day out in the sun.
- Sit or stand in shade whenever possible to avoid direct sun exposure.
- Wear clothes that provide maximum coverage whenever possible to avoid harmful rays of the sun. Many people prefer covering their arms with a full-sleeved shirt while travelling and remove it upon reaching their destination.
- Use a hat and sunglasses to protect your head and eye from harmful UV rays.
