How to Lose the Color of a Tan

Sometimes a tan is too dark for a person's liking.

Attaining the perfect skin color is difficult. Make-up and bronzing lotions make skin appear darker, but what happens when the sun gives our body too much glow and we want to lighten our skin color or banish the tan all together? While there is no quick way to revert skin color back to its natural color, there are things you can do to help fade a tan faster. With the proper materials and patience, tanned skin will significantly fade within one week.

Things You'll Need

• Healthy foods
• Body wash
• Towel
• Lotion
• 2 tbsp salt or sugar
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• Jar
• Loofah
• Papaya
• Knife
• Fork
• 1 tsp plain yogurt
• Small orange
• Spoon
• Cup
• Warm water
• Wash cloth
• Sunscreen
• Clothes that cover the body

Instructions

1. 

   Healthy eating helps regulate your skin tone.

   Consume a healthy diet. Make sure you eat enough healthy foods so that the body is able to naturally get its pigment back. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables in a well-balanced diet and stay hydrated with juices and water. A healthy diet will regulate your body and, in turn, help your skin return back to its natural glow.

2. 

   A loofah sponge will help loosen dead skin and exfoliate a tan.

   Scrub your body in the shower or bath to exfoliate the tanned skin. Add a cleaning body wash, with alpha hydroxy acid to a loofah sponge and rub in circular motions all over the tanned skin. Repeat again and rinse with warm water. Dry off with a soft, clean towel and apply a moisturizing lotion.

3. 

   The coarseness of sugar or salt acts as an exfoliator.

   Mix salt or sugar with lemon juice in a small jar. Pour the mixture onto your skin and rub using your hands. The citrus acid in the lemon juice breaks down the skin cells and acts as a bleacher, while the sugar or salt exfoliates the skin. Papaya is also a natural skin-lightening agent. Peel one with a knife and mash with a fork until lumpy. Scoop up a palmful and massage into the tanned skin while in the bath or shower.

4. 

   Yogurt moisturizes the skin.

   Apply a face mask made of plain yogurt and the juice of a small orange. Squeeze the orange juice into a cup and add the yogurt. Mix well with a spoon. Scoop a handful into your palm, smooth evenly onto the face and wait 10 minutes. Rinse the mixture off by splashing your face with warm water. Dry with a clean wash cloth. The orange's vitamin C and natural alpha hydroxy acids aid in fading the tan, while the yogurt moisturizes dry skin.

5. 

   Wear long sleeves and pants to shield skin from more rays.

   Cover your body during the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when outside. It is important to shield the tanned skin from more sun. Wear a sunscreen on your face and body with at least an SPF 30. Keep a long-sleeved shirt and pants on when possible and stay out of direct sunlight.

Tips & Warnings

• Dark clothing helps diminish the appearance of a tan.

• Exfoliating leaves certain skin types dry. Apply a moisturizing lotion to soften the skin.

• If a tan does not begin to fade within seven days, consult your doctor. A skin condition, such as Addison's disease, may be present.

• Skin lightening creams can only reduce the appearance of freckles, melasma, age spots and scars.

References

• Daily Glow: How to Get a Suntan to Fade
• How to Get Rid of Things; How to Get Rid of a Tan; Adam Bjerk
• Mayo Clinic; Addison's Disease; Mayo Clinic staff; June 2010