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After a long weekend at the beach or travelling daily in the hot weather, your skin bears the brunt in the form of a tan. And then the next few days go in applying skin-lightening creams or trying natural remedies to get rid of the tan. But can you get rid of it? How long does it take for tan to fade? Well, If you spend long hours in sun or at a beach, you are bound to get a tan irrespective of whether you use a sunscreen or not. It also depends on exposure to sun after you are tanned.
Dr Rohit Batra, Dermatologist, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi, says, No one can get rid of a tan completely. You can only lighten it with the use of skin lightening creams or ointments, whereas use of natural remedies might take longer. However, it depends on the type of skin you have and differs from person to person. It might take a span of six months for one person while another person might take a year. Also, read about expert solutions to 10 common beauty problems.
How do skin lightening products work?
Be it chemical based products or natural remedies, skin lightening products work on the principle of exfoliation. These products exfoliate the outer layer of the skin that has dehydrated. As you exfoliate your skin, it also strips off the dead skin cells that are present in the topmost layer of the skin, thereby making it look tanned. This process also stimulates the growth and regeneration of skin cells that in turn results in a lighter skin tone over time.
How to choose the right one?
While choosing chemical-based skin lightening creams, make sure you buy the one that contains hydroquinone, glycolic acid or mandelic acid. Available for topical application, avoid using these creams frequently as they might harm your skin. Whereas for natural ways to deal with tan, you can use honey and lemon juice pack, curd and lemon pack, turmeric pack or oats and buttermilk pack. Wondering how to make them? Here is a list of 9 home remedies and how to use them to deal with a tan.
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