Do we tan? But what must be the reason behind it?
Almost everyone of us must have tan lines or uneven skin tone or complexion that we would never wish to have or rather we would wish that we could wash it off. But getting rid of it is really a difficult task. Tan is the body’s attempt of protecting itself from the damaging UV rays of the sun. And melanin is the actual chemical which is responsible for tanning. Our skin releases this chemical under the surface layers of the skin to help in absorbing the UV radiation. The amount of melanin that your body releases is directly proportional to the body exposure to the sun or the harmful UV rays.
One of the best ways considered to lighten down a tan is by avoiding getting it. We tend to protect our skin from tanning by protecting and preventing it from the proper sun rays. People consider wearing a hat, or dress themselves in a sun protective cloth and applying sunscreen when they step outside. But the sunscreen needs to be applied at an interval of every two hours. The American academy of dermatology refers people to apply sunscreen everyday for best protection of their skin.
Remedies known to fade the tanning of skin
These remedies may help you in fading your tanned skin:
Exfoliation
Exfoliating in a gentle way with a home-made or a scrub bought from store, may lighten your skin tone as it removes the dead skin cells present on the surface of your skin.
You need to be careful in avoiding the sun after exfoliation. The dead skin cells may help in protecting you against the sun rays. Hence, after removing them your skin gets more susceptible to tanning or skin damage or the sunburn.
Aloe
Aloe is considered to be a more powerful anti inflammatory skin soother sunburn salve as it was found in a study that aloe Vera helps in suppressing the amount of melanin release, and hence, reducing pigment.
Turmeric
This Indian spice is traditionally used as a skin lightener in India. But it has not been proven yet that it lightens the skin although in a study it was found that turmeric can help your skin against any sun damage if in case it is included in a cream and it also concluded that the turmeric may help in improving skin’s hydration as well as the natural protective oils.
And turmeric is bright yellow in colour and hence, can easily stain your face or your clothes. So, it is recommended to use any face wash after applying a turmeric mask on your face so that the stain does not remain on your face.
Black tea
A study found that black tea extract can help in lightening a skin tan on guinea pigs but the research is yet to be done whether the homemade products with black tea extracts suits human or not.
Products available for skin lightening
Several types of skin lightening creams are available now on the online shopping sites like TrueGether. More specifically, the American academy recommends a skin lightening product that contains any one of these ingredients- glycolic acid, vitamin C, kojic acid, retinol, azelaic acid, adapalene gel, etc. These ingredients helps in lightening a tan or any dark spots by exfoliating the skin and also encourages growth of new cells as well. Some of these ingredients can even help in reducing the production of melanin to reduce dark spots or prevent them. It is however important to use only one product as a skin lightening remedy for preventing irritation or any other side effects.
And it is also true that most of the treatments for skin lightening must be used under any dermatologist’s supervision only.
Remedies that you should try at home
Lemon juice
Lemon is known as one of the best touted home remedies in order to get rid of skin tans. However, it is strictly prohibited to use it undiluted on your skin. Lemon slices or juice may help in removing the dead skin cells but at the same time, it may be irritating too. Going out under the sun with the lemon juice on your skin, leads to chemical burns as lemon juice causes a chemical reaction, making your skin even more sensitive to UV light.
Foreign products for lightening
It is highly recommended not to buy any skin lightening products from foreign countries, outside the United States since researchers have found in a study that the products from foreign countries outside of the US contains harmful ingredients like mercury, steroids, etc.
Bleaching agents
Bleaching agents are recommended not to be applied to the skin because these agents include household bleach or any other product that is sold as a bleaching or a whitening product.
How does sunscreen work?
Sunscreen works in two several ways. Famous sunscreens which are chemical based, absorb ultraviolet rays and totally alter them before letting them cause any damage to the body. Examples of such sunscreens include octisalate and oxybenzone.
While on the other hand, physical based versions reflect and finally scatter the UV rays from the skin. Examples of blocking agents in physical based sunscreens include titanium oxides and zinc. But on the other hand, these ingredients are recognised to be safe and effective by the FDA.
It is important to choose the type of sunscreen which is broad spectrum and hence, protects against the two types of ultra violet rays I.e; ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B rays.
It is also recommended to wear a water resistant sunscreen when going out for certain activities. This ultimately helps in ensuring that the product is not falling off your skin and does not leave it exposed to UV damage.
But at the end of the day, it is important to remember that sunscreens act as a filter. And it is true that it cannot prevent skin’s exposure to the sun at a level of 100 percent. So, you may have a tendency to get tanned at some level.
As per the Skin Cancer Foundation, wearing SPF 15 sunscreen may help in reducing the risk of melanoma skin cancers by and large up to 50 percent extent and non melanomas by about 40 percent.
Importance of sunscreen
A sunscreen with a broad spectrum implies that the products are protecting you against both the harmful ultra violet rays- UVA and UVB. UVB rays is made up of shorter wavelengths that are prone to cause wrinkles, sunburns, and age spots. Whereas UVA rays are made up of longer wavelengths and may lead to skin cancers or burns.
Wearing the sunscreen protects the skin from the direct UV exposure, during activities under the direct sun. It is also considered as a protection of your skin against the day to day exposure from the sun, whether it is driving, or walking to any place or going to the park, etc.
In case your skin is left unprotected, even the small amounts of sun exposure may add up over time gradually. At least you must wear a moisturizer on your face, that contains sunscreen. You should apply it on your face, neck and chest as well and that too every day.
Ideal SPF
Almost every sunscreen consists of an SPF or any sun protection factor. The ideal SPF in any sunscreen product is based on your exposure level to the sun. Sunscreens that are worn every day, may contain lower amount of SPF but direct exposure to sun needs a sunscreen with a higher SPF.
What does SPF numbers mean?
The number refers to the time in which your skin may get burns if you are not wearing any sunscreen. It does not offer any specific level of protection.
For example, SPF 30 – it means that your skin will take about 30 times longer to get burns that it would otherwise take if it was left unprotected. But this stands true only if you apply it in the right quantity and in the correct way.
SPF also stands for a certain specific percentage of skin aging UVB rays that are still allowed to penetrate through the skin.
As per the Skin cancer Foundation, about 3 percentage of the UVB rays is prone to enter our skin with SPF 30 and about 2 percentage with SPF 50. But this also implies that you may still get tanned even after wearing a sunscreen.
The American academy of dermatology refers to use a sunscreen having at least SPF 30 or even more every single day.
And for those who are going to be working whole day under the direct sunlight, like swimming or any sports, etc, then they must use a higher SPF like SPF 100 or SPF 50 and make sure to reapply it frequently.
Sun protection and tanning
TrueGether has got a wide range of sun protection and tanning products to shop from, with a price beginning at around $ 5.94. The product range covers a wide range of segments which includes sunscreen, tanning lotion, sunless tanning products, after sun skin care and a lot more.
Sunscreen
At present, there are 26 distinct sunscreen available here at this online selling site, for purchase, which is offered by six different sellers. One of the best merchandising sunscreen are the ‘Alba botanica baby mineral sunscreen SPF 50+ reef are 4 Oz tube exp 2/2020’ at a price around $ 5.94. Keep visiting TrueGether, one of the best eBay alternatives, in order to keep a track of the latest offerings on the latest sunscreen brands so that you do not miss out any of the best deals to shop for your favourite sunscreen.
How much time does it take to get tanned?
People usually tan in the sun when the UVA rays come into contact with the skin. And once the rays have penetrated through your skin, it goes down in the lower layers of the epidermis and hence, the cells begin to produce melanin.
Sunless tanning products
Presently, there are seven distinct sunless tanning products available here for sale and offered by completely 3 different sellers. One of the top selling sunless tanning products are the ‘X2 Jergens natural glow tan extender moisturizer 7.5oz daily lot pump bottles’ at around $ 8.98. Keep visiting this marketplace to get the favourite tanning products for yourself !!
Tanning lotion
At present, there are 2 distinct tanning lotion available here for sale, which is offered by 1 different seller. One of the top merchandising tanning lotion are the ‘3 × Rimmel sunshimmer instant tan makeup, fair matte 125 ml’ at around $ 12.34. Make sure that you keep a track of the latest offers on the latest brands of tanning lotions so that you do not miss out any of your favourite lotion!
After sun skin care
At present, there are 1 distinct after sun skin care available here for sale, which is offered by completely one different seller. One of the top merchandising after sun skin care are ‘2 waigreens after sun lotion moisturising infused with botanicals 6 Oz’ at around $ 10.04. Keep visiting TrueGether to know about the newest offerings on new brands and make sure you do not miss out any of the best deals for yourself! Get one for yourself today !