How to Remove Skin Tan

NOTE PLEASE: Readers are to test the remedies given at their own risk.

One of the most common skin issues in summers is skin tan or sun burns. 

CAUSES:
Sun tan is the skin's natural mechanism to protect itself from the harmful ultra violet rays of the sun. Exposure to the sun, induces the skin to produce a brown pigment called melanin. This causes the skin to appear dark.

REMEDIES:
Once the skin has been tanned, it will take a while to get it back to its natural shade, and that too will depend on the degree of the tan. Therefore, it's better to act ahead of time and take precautionary measures. Here are a few precautions that can be very helpful:

• Wear a sun block ALL THE YEAR ROUND! Always use sun screen of SPF 15 or more. 
• Try and carry an umbrella or wear a wide brimmed hat, when going out in the sun.
• Use a good daily use scrub to exfoliate your skin every night before going to sleep. This will remove the discolored skin to reveal the fresh skin underneath.

Here are a few home remedies that can come in handy when treating tanned skin. However, they must be used regularly for at least 10 to 12 days, or even more depending on the condition of the skin:

Lemon: lemon juice is an excellent skin whitener. Take a few drops of lemon juice and apply over the tanned area. Leave it for about 15 minutes and then wash off with cold water. You can do this twice a day as well.

Lemon and Yogurt: Mix lemon juice in some yogurt and apply over the tanned surface before taking a bath.

Potato: Potato juice also has some great whitening ability. Take a slice of potato and rub it over the tanned area. Wash  off after about 15 minutes. For faster action, you can extract potato juice and apply that.

Almond Oil and Honey: Take equal amounts of milk powder, honey, almond oil and lemon juice. Apply over tanned surface and leave for 20 minutes before washing off. Use it thrice a day for best results.

Rose Water and Cucumber Juice: Both of these are great cooling agents. Take equal amounts of rose water, cucumber juice and lemon juice to make a face pack. Apply over the face and wash off after 15 minutes.