Worried about the onset of the summer season? If hot and humid weather is one side of it, the effects of suntan on our body is another! Tanning is a common problem in sunny climates like India, where the UV radiation is particularly high from mid-morning to early evening. If you noticed dark patches, discolored skin or pigmentation, it’s high time you try these best home remedies to remove tan.
The best part of using these tan removal remedies is that they use natural ingredients that not only treat the harmful effects of the sun but also keep your skin radiant and glowing. Ready to ban the tan? Read along!
What Causes Sun Tan?
Did you know that our skin has a pigment called Melanin, which determines the color of our skin? Higher the Melanin levels, darker the skin gets. When we get exposed to sun, the UVA rays triggers melanocytes which produce Melanin. The result is a brown pigment that forms all over the exposed area of the skin. While tanning is a natural defence mechanism of the skin to protect itself from sunburns, excessive Melanin can lead to skin disorders, including Cancers.
15 Best Home Remedies To Remove Sun Tan
Here are some of the best tan removal home remedies to try this summer:
1. Papaya and Honey for Sun Tan:
Papaya and Honey face mask is one of the best home remedies for suntan. It contains an enzyme called Papain which is a natural exfoliant that removes dead cells from your skin(1). By encouraging the formation of new cells, Papain helps in removing the tan and lightening the color of your skin. Adding honey to Papaya treats sunburns and replenishes the lost hydration.
Needed ingredients:
- Ripe papaya pulp – ½ Cup
- Honey – 1 tbsp
How To Do:
- Take a ½ cup of pulp extract from mashed ripe papaya and then add a tablespoon full of honey to it.
- You need to mix them well before applying it on your face.
- Clean your face properly and then apply this face pack.
- Leave it for about 30 minutes and then rinse off your face properly with water.
How Often You Do This: Once or twice a week to remove tan.
[ See More: Homemade Papaya Face Packs ]
2. Yogurt and Tomato:
Yogurt and Tomato is one of the most effective remedies for sun tan removal. Yoghurt contains lactic acid, a type of alpha-hydroxy acid that can exfoliate skin and lighten dark spots(2). It also offers intense moisturization to keep your skin soft and supple. Tomato juice works like a mild bleaching agent and its antioxidant properties encourage new cell formation to reveal a fresh and bright looking skin.
Needed ingredients:
- Yoghurt – 1 tbsp
- Tomato – 1 tbsp
How To Do:
- You must take one tablespoon of fresh and plain yoghurt along with one tablespoon of tomato juice and mix them to form a paste.
- Apply this mixture affected areas of the face.
- After that, you need to let it dry for around 30 minutes before washing it off.
How Often You Do This:
- This process can be used at least twice a week to get visible results.
3. Milk and Turmeric for Tan Removal:
Turmeric is a natural ingredient that is considered to be one of the most effective homemade remedies to remove tan. Turmeric contains curcumin known to inhibit melanogenesis, a process that produces Melanin from melanocytes(3). Milk, on the other hand, contains lactic acid which exfoliates the upper layer of skin and lightens your complexion at the same time. Together, these two agents help you attain a tan-free skin.
Needed ingredients:
- Turmeric powder – 1 Pinch.
- Gram flour – 2tbsp.
- Raw Milk – 2 tbsp.
How To Do:
- You need to take two tablespoons of gram flour, a pinch of turmeric powder and add milk to them to form a smooth paste.
- You should apply this pack on a clean face and let it dry completely.
- Just wash it off with water after scrubbing off the pack gently.
How Often You Do This: Once a week
[ Read More: Benefits of Aloe Vera for Skin ]
4. Oatmeal and Buttermilk for Sun Tan:
One of the best home remedies for tanned skin is Oatmeal and Buttermilk face pack. Oatmeal is a gentle scrub that buffs away the peripheral layer on your skin and gets rid of tan and impurities. Buttermilk contains lactic acid, which diminishes the appearance of dark patches and evens out your skin tone. It also moisturizes your skin and offers soothing relief from burning sensation.
Needed ingredients:
- Oatmeal – 2 tbsp.
- Buttermilk – 1/4th Cup.
- Lime juice – 2tbsp.
How To Do:
- Just take 2 tablespoons of oatmeal, 1/4th cup of buttermilk and 2 teaspoons of lime juice and blend them well to form a paste.
- Apply the paste evenly on your face and leave it for 20 minutes.
- Wash your face with some lukewarm water.
How Often You Do This: Once or twice a week.
5. Baking Soda Scrub:
If you are looking for best home remedies for suntan removal on hands and legs, try using Baking Soda. It has exfoliant properties that can scrub away the outer later of your skin and reduces the appearance of tan. It also lightens pigmentation and dark spots with its mild bleaching properties.
Needed ingredients:
- Baking soda
- Water
How To Do:
- Take some amount of baking soda on your palm and then mix it with some water.
- Now just scrub this paste on the tanned areas of your skin.
- Washing it off with cool water.
How Often You Do This: Try this method once or twice a week.
Caution: This treatment is not recommended for very dry or sensitive skin.
6. Cucumber Remedy for Sun Tan:
One of the best tan removal home remedies is Cucumber. It contains more than 80% of water content, which nourishes and hydrates your skin. Studies also suggest that Cucumber extracts can treat sunburns and reduce Melanin synthesis in skin (4). Adding Rosewater and lemon juice can even out your skin tone and gives you a visibly fresh look.
Needed ingredients:
- Cucumber Juice– 1 tbsp.
- Rosewater–1 tbsp.
- Lemon juice – Few Drops.
How To Do:
- You need to take a tablespoon of Cucumber, lemon juice and rose water respectively in equal quantities and then mix them well.
- You can take a cotton ball to apply this mixture on the tanned areas of your skin.
- Just leave it for around 10 minutes before washing it off with cold water.
How Often You Do This: You can try this every alternate day in summers.
7. Sandalwood for Sun Tan:
Sandalwood is the best tan removal remedy that alleviates the burning sensation caused by sunburns. It can reduce the concentration of Melanin in your skin and gives you a fairer appearance.By adding Cucumber Juice, curd, honey and lemon juice, the effectiveness of Sandalwood in removing tan gets doubled up!
Needed Ingredients:
- Sandalwood powder – 1 tbsp.
- Cucumber juice – 1 tbsp.
- Curd – 1 tbsp.
- Honey – 1 teaspoon.
- Lemon juice – Few Drops.
How To Do:
- Mix one tablespoon of sandalwood powder, one tablespoon of cucumber juice, one teaspoon of honey, one tablespoon of curd and a few drops of lemon juice together.
- You need to apply this face mask on your face and then leave it for around 15 minutes before washing it off with plain water.
How Often You Do This: Once a week.
8. Lemon and Sugar for Tan:
Lemon Juice mask is one of the instant tan removal home remedies to try! It contains citric acid, which acts as a natural bleaching agent that lightens your skin tone. Vitamin C present in this agent is known to have reduced pigmentation and melanin formation on the skin(5). It is a versatile ingredient that can be mixed along with many anti-tanning ingredients to give you speedy results.
Needed ingredients:
- Lemon – half slice.
- Sugar granules.
How To Do:
- Slice a lemon into half and dip it in sugar.
- Apply it on the affected areas and massage gently.
- Just leave it for some time and then wash it off with some cold water.
How Often You Do This: Twice or thrice a week.
Caution: Avoid this remedy if you have dry or sensitive skin, as it can cause abrasion and irritation.
9. Bengal Gram Flour:
Bengal gram flour or Besan is one of the natural remedies to remove suntan. It has a coarse texture that can scrub away the tan on your skin and make you look fresh and young. By adding turmeric to Besan, the Melanin levels are significantly brought down to reduce the risk of discolouration and pigmentation.
Needed ingredients:
- Bengal gram flour – 2tbsp.
- Turmeric – 1 teaspoon.
How To Do:
- You must take 2 tablespoons of Bengal gram flour or besan and one teaspoon of turmeric and form a fine paste.
- Apply it on the face and wait till dry.
- After that, you need to moisten up the area and start scrubbing it gently before washing it off with cold plain water.
How Often You Do This: Once a week.
10. Multani Mitti for Sun Tan:
Multani Mitti or Fuller’s Earth is an excellent home remedy for suntan removal. It is known that Multani Mitti can remove dead cells from the skin and give you a fresher appearance(6). It also acts as a healing agent to the skin by treating sunburns and inflammation on sun affected areas. Adding Aloe vera and Turmeric powder enhances the properties of this agent.
Needed ingredients:
- Multani Mitti – 2-3 tbsp.
- Aloe vera – 1tbsp.
- Rosewater – Few Drops.
- Turmeric powder – 1 Pinch.
How To Do:
- Mix all the ingredients to form a smooth paste.
- You can apply this face pack on your clean face.
- Leave it for about 15 minutes to dry.
- After that, you need to scrub it off and wash your face with some plain water.
How Often You Do This: This face mask can be applied to the skin twice a week.
11. Strawberry and Milk for Tan:
Very few people know that strawberry has also got skin lightening properties. This delicious fruit is loaded with Vitamin C which can lighten your complexion and reduce the amount of Melanin on your skin. The AHA’s present in Strawberries can exfoliate the uppermost layers of your skin and give it a smoother appearance. Adding a little milk cream can improve the skin complexion and also reduce dark spots and freckles, making it one of the best home remedies for suntan.
Needed Ingredients:
- Strawberry – 4.
- Milk cream – 2 tbsp.
How To Do:
- You need to crush four fresh strawberries and mix two tablespoon milk cream to make a fine paste.
- Now you can apply on face.
- Just leave it this way for about 30 minutes and then rinse the face pack off with plain water.
How Often You do This: Twice or Thrice a week.
12. Rice Flour to Remove Tan:
Rice flour is known to have anti-ageing and skin renewal properties which are extremely beneficial for the skin. It contains many agents like Allantoin and Ferulic acid which protect your skin from the harmful effects of sunrays. The grainy texture of this flour removes dead skin, while its skin lightening properties even out your skin tone. No wonder why rice flour is considered to be one of the best homemade remedies for removing tan.
Needed Ingredients:
- Rice flour – 1 tbsp.
- Gram flour- 1 tbsp.
- Tomato juice – 1 tbsp.
- Turmeric powder – pinch.
How To Do:
- Mix all the above ingredients well to form a fine paste.
- Apply it evenly on your face and neck.
- Just leave it for around 10 – 15 minutes and then wash off your face with the help of lukewarm water.
How Often You do This: Twice or thrice a week for better results.
13. Green Tea for Sun Tan:
Green tea is one of the best sun tan removal home remedies. It contains high amounts of anti-inflammatory agents that can soothe your sunburnt skin and offer quick relief. According to certain studies, Green tea extracts contain catechins which have shown anti-melanogenic activities on the skin(6). Along with removing suntan, Green tea can also diminish the appearance of dark spots to give you a flawless appearance.
Needed ingredients:
- Green Tea Bag – 1.
- Water.
- Cotton Balls.
How To Do:
- Prepare green tea by seeping the bags in a cup of hot water.
- Chill the tea for a 30-40 minutes.
- Use a cotton ball and dip it in the tea to apply it on your skin.
- Leave it for 20 minutes.
- Wash off with water.
How Often You do This: Every day after coming home from outdoors.
[ Read More: Green Tea Benefits for Skin ]
14. Potato for Tan Removal:
Potato is an excellent natural remedy for tan removal. It is rich in Vitamin C which can scavenge free radicals and prevent oxidative damage to your cells. An enzyme called Catecholase is known to clear dark spots and pigmentation from your skin. Potato juice also fights premature ageing signs like wrinkles, fine lines etc. which are caused due to UV radiation.
Needed ingredients:
- Medium-sized potato– 1.
- Lemon Juice.
How To Do:
- Make a paste with Potato cubes and water.
- Add lemon juice to this paste.
- Apply the paste on the affected areas of the skin.
- Let it dry for some time around 30 minutes and then wash off your face using cold water.
How Often You Do This: Twice a week.
15. Ice Cubes Remedy for Tan:
Ice cubes are the best tan removal remedies for calming and soothing of sun affected skin. Rubbing ice cubes directly on the affected area can give you instant relief from burns and gently cleanse the pores to remove tan. Instead of using plain water ice cubes, you can even try ice made with tomato juice, green tea etc. which offer amazing benefits.
Needed ingredients:
- Ice cubes.
How To Do:
- You simply need to apply ice cubes on the affected areas of your skin.
- You can put the ice cube inside a clean piece of cloth and then rub it on the affected area.
How Often You Do This: Every time after sun exposure.
Additional Tips To Protect Skin from Sun Tan
Prevention is always better than cure! Taking simple precautions can help in safeguarding your skin from suntan. Here are some of them:
- Apply a broadspectrum sunscreen all over your face, neck and other exposed parts of your body, at least fifteen minutes before stepping out. Reapply every two-three hours if needed.
- Avoid direct exposure to sun rays. If you have to, then use an umbrella or a hat for protection.
- Once you are back home, wash your face with a cleanser and hydrate it with a moisturizer.
- Use mineral-based makeup instead of creamy lotions to avoid grease and oxidation.
- Drink lots of water and hot beverages like green tea (in moderation) to flush out the toxins.
- Indulge in a nutritious, well-balanced diet comprising of fruits and vegetables.
Final Thoughts:
Before we wrap up this article, let us stress an important point. These home remedies for sun tan removal work best when the tan is freshly developed. Aged tan is very difficult to get rid of at home and might require medicated treatments. If you know of any such home remedies for tan, do let us know!
