If you are looking for tips for glowing skin, then you need to first understand that only truly healthy skin can glow. If you are looking for a true glow, then it has to come from within because even makeup can give you a temporary glow, but it will wash off eventually. When your skin is subjected to pollution, dirt and grime, it is bound to be affected. Similarly, when your skin has to bear the consequences of the harsh sunlight, it will tan. And if you want your skin to truly glow from within, you need to get rid of that tan too.

Here are some of the important things you need to know about a sun tan:

What exactly is a tan and how does it happen?

When you have been out in the sunlight for too long, without the right protection, your skin will become a few shades darker. Technically, a tan is the skin’s version of self-defence – when the ultraviolet rays of the sun are trying to penetrate the skin, the skin starts to form a lot more melanin. This will turn the skin brown, but it will also protect the skin from any chances of getting burnt by the sun. This darkening of the skin is what is commonly known as a suntan.

What can a sun tan do to your skin?

Although a little bit of exposure to the sun is important for the skin because sunlight is the best source of Vitamin D, too much of sunlight can lead to problems. When your skin gets a sufficient amount of sunlight, there is the proper production of melanin and your skin has a healthy glow to it. However, when there is overexposure, it can lead to tanning and in the more severe cases, it could lead to the skin getting burnt and ageing faster. As a matter of fact, if your skin is overly affected by sunlight, it could also lead to melanoma, which is a type of skin cancer that is caused by overexposure to sunlight. It is important to understand the difference between a healthy tan and one that can cause serious problems – a healthy tan will leave your skin looking flushed, but if the sun exposure has gone overboard, it could lead to skin that is burnt.

Is a tan permanent or can the skin heal?

For a lot of people, a tan is a way of showing off a healthy glow, and as long as it is not overdone, there is nothing in enjoying a little bronze on the skin. A normal tan is not permanent, and within a few days, the effects should wear off. In case your tan was not intentional, there are several natural tan removal remedies that can help remove the effects of the tan. Because many of these remedies use household ingredients, there is little to no chance of any side effects. Even if you don’t use any face masks or tan removal methods, the tan should start to fade on its own in a matter of days – in most cases, it doesn’t take more than three to five days. However, if you are sunburnt, then it might take closer to a week for the skin to heal completely.
However, things might be a little different with artificial tanning – such as tanning beds or spray tanning, because these use ultraviolet rays or chemical colours.
If your tan is starting to bother you, then there is more than just one sun tan removal treatment that you can try, and several of them are actually home remedies, which means that you can try them out with ingredients you can find at home.

Potato juice

Oatmeal and buttermilk

Pineapple and honey

Lemon juice and honey

Gram flour and turmeric

Tomato and curd

Cucumber

Now, if it is very specific body parts that you want to take care of, there are specific remedies for sun tan removal too. So, if you want to remove the tan mainly from your face, there are methods, and there are remedies that work more effectively on hands and legs too.

• For instance, if you are most concerned about the tan on your hands, then you could use a combination of potatoes and lemons. Combine equal parts of lemon juice and potato juice and add a few drops of genuine rose water. Using a cotton pad or ball, apply this mixture all over your hands and arms. After about 20 to 30 minutes, wash it off. Ideally, this procedure should be repeated every other day, and you should continue doing it till your tan has disappeared completely.
• Another one of the effective home remedies for skin tan removal on the hands is gram flour and curd. Create a paste using the two and add a few drops of rose water and apply generously over the hands. Once dry, scrub it away gently using cold water and repeat this mask a minimum of 3 times a week for best results.
• If you want to remove the tan from your feet, then you can use a lemon sugar scrub, by mixing equal quantities of sugar and lemon juice. Use this the same way that you would an exfoliating scrub and wash it away once done. Follow this up with a de-tanning mask for your feet – mix half a cup of milk with one fourth cup lemon juice. Apply liberally on the feet and after it has dried up, you can wash it off with warm water.

In case you want to know how to remove tan from face, then you can try out any of the above mentioned packs, masks or home remedies. However, in order to see proper results, you need to make sure that you keep repeating them.