How to Remove Tan From Face & Body: 15 Natural Home Remedies

May 25, 2023

A tan can devastate your beauty regimen entirely, especially when you intend to go to some big event and wish to flaunt your best look. With this knowledge, we always try to be cautious about sun exposure and sun damage, especially in India, where the sun shines blazingly.

What is a tan?

Tan is the skin’s defense mechanism to shield itself from sun-induced damage. When the sun’s harmful Ultraviolet rays attack your skin and penetrate the deeper layers, a dark-colored pigment called melanin is produced. Sun exposure stimulates melanin production to protect your skin from charring or burning. ^[1]. Before getting tanned, your skin first turns red, and that phenomenon is referred to as erythema.^[1]

The scorching sun’s rays come with two ultraviolet radiation types that penetrate through your skin:

1. Ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation
2. Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation

These radiations seep through the skin to reach the epidermis, which triggers melanin production by Melanocytes, a kind of skin cell. Melanin produced by Melanocytes is then transferred to the keratinocytes, a skin cell on the surface. The pigment melanin forms a protective shield by accumulating atop the nucleus of skin cells, thereby blocking the Ultraviolet radiation from causing further skin cell damage.^[1]

Our face and hands are the most sun-exposed body parts, as clothing often does not cover these areas. In this article, we will study the topic of sun tanning and learn about how to remove tan.

How to Remove Tan From Face & Body – 15 Effective Home Remedies

You can try sun tan removal at home without taking professional help. To know about the Top 15 sun tan removal home remedies, read on:

1. Sandalwood (Chandan)

If you wish to know how to remove tan from face immediately with Sandalwood, a potent Ayurvedic ingredient, you must understand that both sandalwood powder and Sandalwood oil can be used on your skin as an anti-tan remedy. Constituents like α-santalol, β-santalol, and santenone in sandalwood oil can effectively remove tan from your face.^[1]

2. Manjistha (Rubia cordifolia)

Potent compounds like anthraquinones, quinines, and iridoids in Manjistha can soothe sunburnt skin and remove tan.^[1]

3. Fuller’s Earth (Multani Mitti)

Fuller’s Earth or Multani Mitti is cooling clay rich in minerals like silica, calcium, magnesium and quartz. These minerals can soothe sun-induced skin burns and eliminate tans. ^[2]

4. Turmeric (Haldi)

Turmeric, the common Indian kitchen spice and coloring agent, comes with a bioactive compound called Curcumin that removes tan. ^[5] As an answer to how to remove tan from body with turmeric, you are suggested to start applying a paste of turmeric on your body to get rid of tan (haldi lep).

5. Aloe Vera (Ghritkumari)

Aloe gel, if applied on sun-exposed areas, can remove tan from face. It is an excellent remedy for pigmentation disorders such as overproduction of melanin due to sun exposure. ^[6]

6. Saffron (Kesar)

saffron - how to remove tan from face naturally

Saffron can fight skin tanning issues effectively. Saffron acts as a natural sunscreen layer for your skin. An active compound called Crocin in saffron can reverse the ill effects of the sun’s UV radiation.^[8]

7. Licorice Root (Mulethi)

Licorice root extracts can be an answer to how to remove tan from face naturally. Licorice can inhibit melanin biosynthesis and disperse the skin pigment, melanin. ^[9]

8. Milk

Milk has excellent exfoliating properties. The lactic acid in milk treats pigmentation issues and sun tanning by bleaching the skin gently and naturally.

9. Oatmeal

Oatmeal contains effective tan-removal properties due to the constituents like flavonoids, tocotrienols, and tocopherols ^[1]. An oatmeal scrub, if used daily, can give you tan-free skin.

10. Orange Peel

Orange peels can be an answer to how to remove tan from face. High amounts of Vitamin C in orange peels can act as natural skin bleach, eliminating tan and dual skin tone. ^{[1] [3]}

11. Potato juice

Potato juice has a soothing effect on the sun burnt areas of your skin. The juice of potato is loaded with some de-tanning enzymes too.

12. Rose Petals

Anthocyanins present in rose petals can help in skin tan removal. This compound has anti-inflammatory properties and can soothe sunburns. It removes spots and blemishes from the skin too. ^[4]

13. Yoghurt (Dahi)

Lactic acid in Yoghurt or curd can remove tan and exfoliate the skin aptly to expose the brighter skin layer underneath.

14. Black Tea

Extracts of Black Tea have skin-lightening and whitening properties. Using such extracts topically on the skin is one of the most effective tan removal home remedies. ^[7]

15. Cucumber juice

The cooling effect of cucumber can soothe sun damage and can reduce the inflammation caused due to sunburns.

FAQs on Tan Removal

1. Does sunscreen lotion/cream help to remove tan?

Sunscreen lotion or cream acts as a preventative shield over your skin by stopping the sun rays from tanning your skin. However, it would be best to opt for a sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 50 for optimum protection.

2. Can a skin serum with Vitamin C be used in tan removal treatment?

Yes, it can be used. Vitamin C reduces the synthesis of melanin pigment and gives your skin a bright, glowing look.

3. How to remove tan overnight

Unfortunately, it is not possible. You cannot remove tan overnight.

Conclusion

Tan can be a cause of concern as it darkens one’s skin and impacts one’s appearance negatively. The tan removal home remedies tell you about how to remove tan naturally. Natural de-tanning ingredients are safe on your skin. Anti-tan products available in the market may contain harmful substances such as steroids or mercury, which may cause irreparable skin damage. So, it is better to go the natural way!

Disclaimer:
The information provided in this article is solely meant to enhance your knowledge and is not medical advice. Therefore, before opting for any remedy, you must consult a professional dermatologist.