The hassle of getting sunburns while on vacation and then not being able to properly enjoy the rest of your time there. Question is, how to get rid of tan?

A tan is your body’s attempt to prevent damage from UV rays. Melanin is a chemical in dark skinned people that comes out after dealing with natural light. It helps absorb harmful ultraviolet radiation. The more exposure to UV rays from the sun or tanning bed, the more melanin your body releases, which makes your skin darker.

The best way to get light skin is not to get a tan in the first place. Wearing proper sun protection, a hat and clothes that protect your skin should prevent you from getting burned and wanting to go outside. Make sure that you reapply sunscreen when needed.

 

Ways to Fade a Suntan 

People can try the following methods to help remove or fade a tan from the sun or a sunbed:

1. Exfoliation 

How to get rid of tan? First exfoliating your skin will help to remove dead skin cells, making it look healthier and more radiant. Regular exfoliation can also slow the buildup of skin pigments, preventing a gradual skin colour change that will make you look tanner over time.

Those with dry skin may find that soft washcloths and chemical exfolization works well. Whereas those with thicker, oilier skin may find this to not be the best choice as they will be more prone to irritation.

Regardless of skin type, be sure to exfoliate gently. If this is done too much it can cause irritation, inflammation and acne breakouts. If you have darker skin types, over-exfoliating may give rise to dark spots on the skin

One of the many benefits to using a facial scrub is that it can help exfoliate the skin. After this, be sure to moisturize or else it could lead to an over-dry face. Moisturizers containing aloe are a good place to start if you’re looking for something that will nourish your skin and make it soft.

 

2. Skin Lightening Products

Many skin-lightening treatments are now available over the counter. It is recommended to look for a skin-lightening product that contains one of the following ingredients:

Look out for products containing the following ingredients:

• azelaic acid
• glycolic acid
• retinoids
• vitamin C
• kojic acid

Both drugstores and online stores sell skin lightening products. Remember to check the ingredients before buying- some can cause negative reactions

Chemical peels that contain certain active ingredients can help lighten an existing tan or dark spots by exfoliating the skin and encouraging new cells to grow. Some of them can also help slow the production of melanin which will help prevent or reduce dark spots. It is important to use only one product with a single active ingredient at a time, as using more than one can lead to irritations or side effects.

Keep in mind that most of these treatments should only be used under a dermatologist’s supervision. You should avoid irritating the skin by using too high of a concentration or applying it too many times-excessive irritation can result. This can happen if you use a product in areas which are too large for the product, or when you use the product more than it’s supposed to be used. Overuse of skin-lightening products can also cause permanent discoloration.

What Not to Do

There are many blogs and social media accounts offering advice on self-tanner removal but not all of the advice is good. The skin is a sensitive organ so it’s important not to use any product that doesn’t state “for skin”.

These are some methods that are ineffective when it comes to removing a tannin:

1. Lemon Juice 

For many years, people have used lemons to lighten their hair and skin. You can mix fresh juice with other products or apply it on its own, like in the case of a tanning streak remover. However, lemon juice is acidic and can therefore be damaging to the skin.

People should dilute lemon juice in water before use, and rinse it off a few minutes after application to reduce the risk of skin irritation.

 

2. Skin Bleaching Products

Bleaching creams can be irritating to the skin and may affect skin pigmentation. They tend to worsen, rather than reduce, dark spots on your skin. So instead of getting lighter patches, you’ll just end up with more dark spots.

We highly advise that you never use liquid bleach on your skin, as it can severely burn and damage it.

 

Summary 

The only foolproof way to get rid of a tan is by protecting your skin from the sun. If you’ve missed a few days of sunscreen, there are some treatments that may help reduce the appearance of your tan. Always conduct a spot-test on your inner forearm twice per day for a couple of days to see if you have any reactions. Apply treatments as directed and make sure to do the test first. Do not use any new product or remedy on the face, chest, neck or mouth if it starts to sting or burn, even if a dermatologist has advised that this is safe.

No matter what you try, time is the best treatment on how to get rid of tan. A tan will eventually fade when your skin cells naturally shed ones that were burned or tanned. A new layer of untanned cells will form and replace the tanned ones. Tanning to a light colour will not reverse skin damage and reduce your risk of skin cancer. A darker tan does not protect you from the sun, nor does it offer any protection from skin cancer in the future. Building up a base tan is not a healthy or safe way to avoid harmful UV rays.

Read also: How to treat sunburn fast, How to get rid of dark spots

 

References

How to Get Rid of a Tan: Remedies That Work (2022). Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-get-rid-of-a-tan 

How to remove a tan at home: Best methods and what to avoid (2022). Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326261