A tan is the result of increased production of melanin, a pigment in the skin, after exposure to ultraviolet rays emitted by the sun. One of the usual functions of melanin is to protect the skin from ultraviolet rays, and when you expose the skin to the sun, the cells that produce melanin, called melanocytes, become more prolific. People who have dark skin have more pigment and turn blacker, while those who are fair often end up having reddened skin once exposed to the sun. If you have more tan than you want, know that there are ways you can reduce or eliminate it in your home.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Reduce a tan at home
Step 1. Use lemon juice
Lemon juice is acidic and contains vitamin C. This type of juice has traditionally been used to lighten the surfaces of the skin. Squeeze the juice into a bowl from a freshly cut lemon. Pour the juice onto a cotton ball and apply this directly to your tanned skin. Let the juice sit on your skin for 10 to 20 minutes. Then rinse it off with lukewarm water. Repeat this process every day to reduce the tan.
- If you want, you can also rub fresh lemon slices on your skin to get the juice.
- Even though the whitening effect becomes stronger under the sun, it is a good idea not to expose yourself to daylight while the lemon juice is on your skin. In fact, there is no way to predict how much whitening you will experience in the sun. In addition, you should avoid exposing your skin to more sun than necessary, especially without sunscreen.
Step 2. Try tomato juice
Like lemon, tomato juice is also slightly acidic and contains high levels of antioxidants. These antioxidants could interact with the pigments in the skin and reduce tanning. Take a tomato and cut it then squeeze all the juice inside into a bowl. Take a cotton ball on which you will put the juice and apply it directly to the tanned skin. Let this sit on your skin for 10 to 20 minutes and then rinse it off with lukewarm water. You can repeat the process every day.
You can put tomato slices directly on your skin if you want. You can also purchase and use canned pure tomato juice from a grocery store
Step 3. Use vitamin E
Vitamin E could be useful in reducing a tan due to its antioxidant activity. You can get vitamin E naturally from food or as a supplement or as an oil. To get vitamin E from food, it is a good idea to regularly consume more foods that contain it, including almonds, oatmeal, peanut butter, avocados and green leafy vegetables. Vitamin E oil can be applied directly to the skin to increase skin hydration and help heal lesions from ultraviolet rays that are responsible for tanning.
Daily doses of vitamin E supplements should be taken under careful consideration of the manufacturer's instructions
Step 4. Use papayas and apricots
Apricots and papayas contain natural enzymes that may eliminate tanning in some people. Cut slices of fresh papaya and apricot and apply them directly to the tanned area for 10-20 minutes. After this time, rinse off any juice residue with lukewarm water. Repeat this every day.
If you want to use papayas and apricots on large areas of your skin all at once, you can mash these fruits and apply the resulting paste on it. If you have a juicer, you can also make apricot or papaya juice and run it over your skin
Step 5. Use kojic acid
Kojic acid comes from fungi and can help remove tans. It has also been shown to be effective in the treatment of melasma, a temporary dark coloration of the skin that occurs during pregnancy. There are a number of products that contain kojic acid, such as gels, oils, detergents, and soaps. Each of these products has a different concentration of kojic acid, so you might want to try several to find one that will easily remove your specific tan.
Try these products on a small area of the skin first and follow the directions provided by the manufacturer
Step 6. Make a turmeric mask
Turmeric is a famous yellow spice native to Asia that is often used in dishes and curries. Turmeric masks are used to remove facial hair and acne, in addition to brightening and adding glow to your skin. Take a few pinches of turmeric powder, a little honey, a few drops of lemon juice, wheat flour and milk. Mix these different ingredients in a bowl until you get a paste and use a cotton ball or a brush to brush the mixture over your skin. Then let sit for 20 minutes or until the dough hardens. After that, you can wash yourself off with lukewarm water.
Turmeric might leave a yellow residue on your skin. Use a makeup remover, cleanser, or tonic lotion to remove this staining
Step 7. Apply aloe vera to your tan
Aloe vera is a plant that has moisturizing properties. The use of this could be useful against the inflammation and the pain caused by too much exposure to the sun. Aloe can also help keep skin hydrated and healthy, which means it might allow your tan to fade a bit faster. You can buy aloe vera gel at a drugstore or supermarket.
Pass the gel two or three times a day on your skin and after you have been in the sun
Method 2 of 2: Understand tans and sun exposure
Step 1. Find out more about tanning and sun exposure
A tan is generally considered to be an indicator of health, beauty, or the ability and length of time to be able to sunbathe. However, it is also associated with cancer and aging of the skin. It is also important to remember that a tan does not protect someone from sunburn.
- If you're going out in the sun, consider putting on sunscreen, especially if you're trying to avoid getting more tan.
- Some dermatologists recommend a broad spectrum sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB rays and has a sun protection index (SPF) of at least 30 or higher. Sunscreen should also be water resistant.
Step 2. Get adequate sun exposure
You need to get adequate sun exposure to promote vitamin production. Exposure to the sun allows the skin to produce an important vitamin, namely vitamin D. To obtain a significant amount of this vitamin, you should limit the exposure of the face, legs or back to the summer sun to about 5 to 30 minutes. This can be done at least twice a week between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. without you having to use sunscreen if you have dark or already tanned skin. If you have lighter skin, you should in this case avoid exposure to the sun during off-peak hours and instead regulate exposure outside this time slot in order to have the necessary vitamin D, without however increasing the risk considerably. cancer or damage to the skin.
- The New Zealand Dermatology Association suggests that people with lighter skin can spend five minutes in the sun before 11 a.m. and after 4 p.m., times that represent the peak sunshine times. Due to the light tint of their skin, these individuals produce good levels of vitamin D during this time. People with darker skin can spend 20 minutes outside of the off-peak hours and get good levels of vitamin D.
- Some French dermatologists recommend staying in the shade as much as possible. This doesn't mean you have to lock yourself up all the time or while the sun is strong. There are steps you can take to do this, including favoring shady alleys when walking, bringing an umbrella on the beach, and more.
- Sunscreen decreases the production of vitamin D, but it's important to understand the benefits of protecting the skin.
Step 3. Consume more vitamin D
Since there are several guides and concerns around sun exposure and the actual length of time it takes, there are other ways you can get your vitamin D and avoid too much sun exposure. There are dietary sources of vitamin D including yogurt, cheese, fish and fish oil, eggs, and liver.
You can also try other foods and drinks that are high in vitamin D such as juices, milk, and breakfast cereals
Step 4. Assess the risk of skin cancer
When you expose your skin to the sun, it is important that you can understand your risk of getting skin cancer, so that you can avoid it as much as possible. If you think that you have this disease or that there is a high chance of contracting it, talk to your doctor immediately for tests and to find out about the best prevention measures for your particular case. Risk factors that increase the chances of getting skin cancer include:
- pale skin;
- history of sunburn;
- excessive exposure to the sun;
- sunny climates or high altitudes;
- moles;
- the presence of precancerous skin lesions;
- a family or personal history of skin cancer;
- a weakened immune system;
- exposure to medical radiation;
- exposure to certain carcinogens.
Advice
- A tan is actually damaged skin. You must therefore avoid any aggravation of this lesion.
- Avoid using facial scrubs. You should remove only the superficial skin cells, while the deeper ones, i.e. those with increased pigment content, remain.
- Avoid using bleach chemicals that are too strong to reduce the tan. These can also damage your skin.