We all love summer, however, the summer heat maybe not so much. While we get more time to enjoy and explore the outdoors, the sun’s heat tends to damage skin and hair to quite an extent. Be it the scorching heat, or the increased pollution levels, our skin takes a huge toll.
As a result of the increased skin exposure our skin faces tanning under the sun as it emits UVA rays which can reach the lower layers of your skin’s surface to cause harm. As a natural reaction to the harmful sun rays, special cells called melanocytes get triggered and react by boosting the production of melanin. (1)
Melanin is a brown pigment that deepens your skin colour. Tanning not only affects your skin colour but may also put it at the risk of premature ageing, pigmentation, and skin cancer.
To deal with tanning on hands, feet, and legs, usually, people use harsh methods like bleaching, however, it can be rather harmful as it causes further darkening and dryness to the skin. There are, however, much safer methods to restore your skin’s health after tanning such as home remedies and natural Ayurvedic products.
Home Remedies To Remove Tan Quickly
We have, at some point in time or the other, heard from elderly women in our families about the magic shop known to us as kitchens and the plethora of magic potions that can be concocted to remedy any form of ailment from there. Regular items such as turmeric (haldi), lemon, honey etc. are easily found in our kitchens and are a huge part of home remedies for skin. These home remedies are age-old bits of wisdom that have been used by generations to keep their skin supple and glowing. And we have listed below a few that will help you get rid of skin tanning in a safe way. Keep reading to know how to remove tan from hands and legs -
Curd, lemon juice and gram flour mask to remove tan from hands, feet & legs
Curd acts as a moisturiser for the skin and lemon juice along with gram flour works on skin brightening.
Make a paste of these three ingredients and apply it gently to your legs, feet, and hands.
Leave it for 30-35 minutes then wash it off with lukewarm water.
Repeat the process twice a week.
Lemon and sugar to detan hands, feet & legs.
Lemon and sugar can help you remove stubborn tan from your hands, feet, and legs.
Lemon helps in the reduction of melanin and sugar helps exfoliate your skin revealing a healthier skin from underneath.
Make a mix of granulated sugar and lemon juice. Scrub your feet, hands, and legs with it for 10-15 minutes.
Be gentle in the affected areas.Wash it off with cold water. Make sure to grind sugar to a fine coarse level as big sugar particles may be harsh on the skin.
#JustHerbs Tip
Apply Steam Distilled Rose Water Mist after cleaning the areas as it will soothe the skin. Do it every day until you de-tan completely.
Potato and lemon to remove tanning from hands, legs & feet
Potato acts as a bleaching agent for the skin while lemon removes the blemishes and the tanning from the body. The combination is perfect if you’re looking to restore your natural skin colour.
Make a paste of potato and lemon juice.
Apply it to your legs, hands, and feet.
Allow it to sit for 15-20 minutes and then wash it off with cold water.
Repeat the process at least twice a week for the best results.
Orange, sandalwood, and milk cream tan removal pack for hands and legs
Vitamin C present in oranges help in detoxifying and brightening the skin while sandalwood soothes the sunburn and cools down the skin. Milk cream in the mask further helps in moisturising your skin.
Make a paste using orange, sandalwood and milk cream and apply it to the affected areas.
Keep it for 30-35 minutes and wash it off with cold water.
Repeat the process twice a week.
Oats and curd to remove tan from hands, feet & legs
Oats are great at exfoliating and getting rid of the dead skin cells. Curd, on the other hand, does a good job of moisturising and restoring the health of the skin.
Make a paste of oatmeal, lemon juice, and curd and apply it to your legs, feet, and hands.
Scrub it gently for 10-15 minutes.
Wash it off with cold water and pat dry.
Moisturise your skin after the process and repeat it at least once a week.
Yogurt and tomato juice
Tomato juice can help in balancing the pH level of your skin and they have amazing skin brightening properties. Yogurt has anti-inflammatory properties and can be helpful in reducing tan.
- Take a tomato and remove its skin
- Blend it to make a juice
- Mix one tablespoon of yogurt in it to form a nice paste
- Apply it all over your face and let it stay on for 20-30 minutes
- Wash your face and pat dry.
You can keep on doing this home remedy once or twice a week until the tan is gone. If you are wondering about ‘how to remove tan at home’? This is one of the easiest ways to go about it.
Cucumber extracts
Cucumber has an impressive water content and it is helpful in keeping your skin hydrated. In addition to that, cucumber also has a calming and soothing effect on your skin that is beneficial for removing tan (2).
- You can start by peeling the cucumber's skin and grating it.
- Squeeze out the juice and collect it in a bowl.
- Use a cotton swab or a brush to put it all over your face.
- Keep the cucumber juice on your face till it dries out.
- Wash your face and pat it with a soft towel to dry.
You can use this home remedy one to two times a week to significantly lighten your skin tan.
Honey and papaya
Honey is very good for your skin as it can nourish and heal your skin at the same time. Papaya, on the other hand is infused with a special enzyme called papain that aids in wholesome healing of your skin. (3)
- Take a ripe papaya and scoop some pieces out of it.
- Mash it with a fork and add honey to it.
- Apply the pack on your face and wash it after 20-30 minutes
Try doing this a few times a week to experience satisfactory results.
Masoor dal (red lentil), aloe Vera & tomato pack
Masoor dal is rife with skin healing and nourishing properties. It is an excellent exfoliator and is endowed with potent benefits to give you glowing skin. Tomato has natural skin lightening properties and Aloe Vera has a phenomenal soothing effect on the skin. In order to use these ingredients together
- Soak masoor dal in water till it becomes soft.
- Subsequently, blend it and keep in a bowl.
- Add fresh tomato juice and Aloe Vera to the blended Dal.
- Put it on your face and let it stay there for 20-30 minutes
- Scrub your face while washing this mixture off your face
Perform this home remedy at least once a week for evident results.
Pineapple pulp and honey
Pineapple contains a number of antioxidants and nutrients that can provide holistic skin benefits (4). Furthermore, honey is a natural moisturiser and has antimicrobial skin benefits as well.
- Take a ripe pineapple and cut a few pieces for this face pack.
- Put it in a blender and add a teaspoon of honey into it.
- Blend it into a paste and apply all over your face and neck.
- Leave it on for 20 minutes and wash your face after that.
Use this home made face pack a few times a week to experience impressive results.
#JustHerbs Tip
If you wish to use a product that’ll protect your skin from tanning in the first place instead of home remedies, go ahead and bring in the power of Ayurveda into the picture with Nosun Jojoba-Wheatgerm Moisturising Sun Protection Gel.
How To Remove Tan From Legs?
It’s easier to keep your face all pampered and moisturised but we often skip the other areas of our body while exfoliating and moisturising. During winters our legs are mostly covered, however, in summers, UV rays seem to find a way through the skin. If your legs are sun tanned, make sure you use the above suggested home remedies immediately after experiencing the tan in order to achieve the results faster, without much damage and side effects. Be mindful to not miss any exposed areas. You might not need to use the remedies as often as you do for your face but twice a week is still recommended.
How To Remove Tan From Feet?
When using these tan removal home remedies for your feet, remember to not miss the soles of your feet. The thickness of the skin on the soles is different from the rest of your body and it potentially releases a lot of dirt and dead skin when exfoliated and hence requires more effort to detan. In fact, if you repeat the process enough times, you’d probably succeed in restoring soft and supple skin on the soles of your feet.
How To Remove Tan From Hands?
Do not be harsh with the skin on your hands, especially, when it is tanned. Tanning makes your skin more sensitive because of sun damage so make sure you treat your skin well. Be easy on it while applying the de tanning treatments and masks. Choose ingredients that are easy to find and have a calming effect on the skin.
How To Prevent Tan On Legs, Feet, and Hands?
The easiest way of keeping the skin of your legs, feet, and hands from sun damage would be to avoid direct sunlight, completely. Sun rays are troublesome for your skin and in this case, prevention is a lot better than the cure. So avoid going out during afternoon hours. If you must go out, make sure your legs, feet, and arms are not directly exposed to the sun. Wear gloves, socks, shoes, full pants, and full-sleeved clothes.
If you wish to use a product that’ll protect your skin from tanning in the first place instead of home remedies, go ahead and bring in the power of Ayurveda into the picture with Nosun Jojoba-Wheatgerm Moisturising Sun Protection Gel. In addition to that, you can also try out our Sun’nil Jojoba Grapeseed moisturising sun protection lotion to mitigate the detrimental effects of sun rays on your skin.
After covering yourself as much as possible, apply a sunscreen with high SPF on the exposed areas, and re-apply it after two hours. Sunscreen is formulated to minimise the skin damage caused by the UVA rays. It prevents the appearance of wrinkles and hyperpigmentation and stops the premature ageing of the skin.
Besides these, drink enough water if you plan to go out in the sun. This will protect your skin from dehydration under the sun.
In the present day and age, it is practically impossible to limit your exposure to the sun because one needs to step out of their homes to get work done, socialise, run errands or pretty much do anything else. Having said that, we have to pay attention to the harmful effects of extended or unprotected sun exposure because it can have serious repercussions on our skin. (5)
Besides hampering your physical appeal, tanning can cause serious skin issues if left unchecked. Therefore, it is imperative to do your due diligence for selecting g the perfect products for your skin care routine that can help you in protecting your skin from any kind of external aggressor, including the sun.
FAQs
- Is it possible to remove tan completely?
There is no conceivable way to remove tan completely. You eventually lose the tanned skin cells and get new ones in their place. (2) With the right treatment, you might be able to achieve a visibly lighter tan in a couple of weeks. The time taken to remove your tan completely will depend on how deep your tan is.
- Will sunscreen remove tan?
A good sunscreen can help you in protecting your skin from the harmful UVA and UVB rays. Having said that, there can not be a 100 percent barrier to sun exposure. Tanning is a natural process of the skin to protect itself from sun exposure. Sunscreen can help you in managing the effects of sun induced pigmentation.
- How many days does tan take to remove?/
The time taken by a tan to go away completely will depend upon the intensity of your tan and the effectiveness of the tan removal treatment or products that you are using. It can take anywhere from 1-4 weeks.
Also read-
- The ultimate guide to remove tanning for Indian Skin
- Home remedies for men to remove sun tan
- How to remove tan from arms
- How to treat sun tanned skin with ayurvedic, herbal and natural products.
References-
- https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Melanin.aspx
- https://bit.ly/3puSKgx
- https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-reduce-melanin
- https://www.healthline.com/health/potato-for-face
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/citrus-fruit-benefits
References-
