Sun Tan Removal Treatment Tips: Skin and Face

Enjoying a vacation on the beach can be a wonderful way to spend your time. It is possible that you have noticed the darker color of the parts of your body exposed to sunlight, such as the feet, the arms, the legs, the neck, the face and the back. This is the result of sun tanning. Sun tan can be removed by using skin care products and home remedies or opting for professional, safe treatments. Learn more about the causes of sun tan and its types. Also, learn how to prevent it, as well as remedies.

Sun Tan: What Is It?

Your body will enter defence mode when your skin is at risk of damage from sun exposure. Melanocytes create pigment that is then transferred to the keratinocytes in the upper skin layer. The pigment protects the skin from UV rays and prevents cell damage. Melanin is deposited on the nucleus in each cell of the skin’s upper surface. It then spreads out to all the cells on exposed parts.

Sun tan is caused by the pigment melanin in your skin increasing when it comes into contact with harmful sun rays. This results in a darker effect. This is your body’s natural way of protecting your skin from UV rays. Sun rays come in two forms: UVA, or Ultraviolet A, and UVB, or Ultraviolet B. These sun rays both penetrate your lower epidermis, which causes cells to produce more melanin. Both UVA and UVB cause a tan on the skin[ 1]. Long-term exposure to sunlight can cause skin damage, such as sunburns. It also reduces the elasticity of your skin and causes premature ageing.

Sun Tan Causes

Sun tanning can have serious effects, whether you use tanning beds at home or take a bath in the sun on your favorite beach. [ 2]. The tan on your skin is a sign of DNA damage, and this can cause skin cell harm. Sun tan type is determined by the ultraviolet spectrum of sunlight’s varying wavelengths.

1. UVA Rays

The UV rays cause a severe skin tanning. The sun’s rays are able to penetrate deep into skin layers and cause severe damage. As a result, the melanocytes produce an excessive amount of melanin. This produces a dark or brownish tan.

2. UVB Rays

UVB rays are known to harm the uppermost layer of skin. In summer, you are more susceptible to UVB exposure. Winter has less of an effect. These UVB rays do not cause melanocytes overproduction, unlike their UVA counterpart. It causes DNA damage which leads to increased melanin and tanning.

3. UVC Rays

The melanocytes are activated to produce excess melanin when UV rays reach your skin. It causes darkening of the skin due to tannification and oxidation.

Sun Tan Types

According to the Fitzpatrick skin scale, a person’s type of skin determines how much sun they will tan. The Fitzpatrick scale[ 3] indicates that the degree of tanning depends on the skin type. Indian skin is mainly classified as 4th or 5th type, which makes it more susceptible to tan.

• Type 2 Skin: This category includes people with pale skin. These people have blonde or red hair and green or blue eye color. They have a skin that doesn’t tan easily, but can be damaged by sunburns.
• Type 2. People with fair skin and blue eyes have a poor ability to tan. They do get sunburns.
• Type 4 Skin: People with this category have dark skin. The sun burns this skin initially, but later it becomes tanned.
• Type 4, Light Brownish Skin Tone: This skin type is not affected by sunburns. This skin type tans quickly.
• Type 5-Skin: People with brown-colored skin are more likely to be tanned easily by the sun’s rays. They are less likely to get sunburns than the other skin types.
• Type 6-Skin: This category includes people with dark skin tones or black skin. The risk of sunburn is never present, but they tend to get very tanned.

Sun Tan Effects

Before getting a sun tan, it is important to be aware of its effects. You can:

1. Skin cancers

Sun tan increases your risk of skin cancer. The effects of sun tanning are the same whether it’s indoor or outdoor. Sunlight causes DNA to be altered, which can lead to skin cancer[ 4]. Melanoma[ 5], basal cell cancer, and squamous-cell carcinoma are all more likely to occur. These cancer genes can also be passed down through the generations.

2. Sun Burns

This is a side effect of a sun-tan. Sun rays can cause irritation or redness in the skin’s outermost layers. Your outer layers of skin may peel off if your sunburn gets worse.

3. Actinic Keratosis

After prolonged exposure to UV rays, solar keratosis (also known as actinic Keratosis) can occur. You can identify it by the irregular texture of your skin and any raised bumps. Some people may also show signs of early skin cancer.

4. Weak Immunity

Exposure to UV radiation can affect your immune system, reducing its ability to protect you from infections. Sometimes, it can also cause skin cancer and other diseases. You may experience a heightened sensitivity to cosmetics and topical medication.

5. Premature Ageing

Indoor or outdoor tanning may disrupt the normal ageing process of skin cells. You may notice dark spots or fine lines on your face. You might develop patches of leathery skin texture.

6. Eye Injury

Photokeratitis and cataracts are caused by UV rays from the sun. Photokeratitis occurs when the sun’s UV rays damage the cornea of the eye. Other symptoms include decreased vision, irritation of the eye, and eye burning. Your eye lens becomes cloudy and can reduce or affect your vision.

Sun Tan Prevention

• When heading out in the heat of summer, cover up completely.
• Keep your scarves and sunglasses handy, as well as your hats.
• Avoid outdoor activities between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. This is when the sun is at its strongest.
• Apply sunscreen before you go out, and then again after some time to prevent tanning and maintain healthy skin.
• To prevent dehydration, in the summer drink lots of water and fruit juices. Drink at least 15 glasses water, and consume water-rich foods like watermelon or cucumber.
• Apply sunblock and sunscreen with mineral ingredients every 20 minutes if you must work in the sun.
• You should wash your face at least twice a day to remove sweat, oils, and dirt.
• Eat lots of fruit and vegetables to boost your immune system. This boosts the skin’s immune system and fights sun damage.

Professional Sun Tan Removal Treatments

Professional treatments can be used to remove the tan from the skin or reduce the effect of a tan. These treatments can be obtained from skin clinics with highly trained specialists.

1. Peels of Chemical Peels

The acid solution is applied to the skin and creates a controlled injury site. This will eventually cause the skin to peel off, leading it towards new skin growth. The chemical peels may sting and cause a burning feeling for several minutes. To relieve the pain, you can use OTC or cold compresses.

The tan-removal treatment will remove the dead skin cells that have an excess of melanin[ 6]. Chemical peels are a great way to remove tan. They use ingredients such as phenol, carbolic or glycolic acids, salicylic or trichloroacetic acids, or even lactic acid. Chemical peels can be classified based on the intensity and effectiveness of their chemical ingredients.

1. Deep Chemical Peel
2. Medium Chemical Peel
3. Chemical peeling is a superficial treatment.

2. Microdermabrasion

The topmost layer of skin is removed by gently removing the microdermabrasion. The skin is removed using an applicator with an abrasive and suction tip. The session is about an hour long and there’s no pain. This eliminates the need for any anaesthesia. This treatment may temporarily cause your skin to appear pinker or tighter.

The treatment removes the melanin-rich dead skin cells. This treatment also promotes a faster regeneration of new skin cells. You will then have a youthful-looking, tanned skin that is firm and tinged. Choose between two microdermabrasion methods to remove sun tan.

3. Cryotherapy

The liquid nitrogen used in Cryotherapy is effective at removing sun tan, and also sun spots. The procedure is painless and gentle. It only takes a few moments per session of Cryotherapy to see your skin become visibly lighter and free from sun-tan.

4. Laser Treatment

1. IPL laser

IPL Lasers use Intense pulsed light energy[ 9] and can be used to treat the area of skin that is tanned. The melanin is heated and broken down to remove the discolouration of the skin caused by tanning. One IPL session lasts about 30 minutes, and there is no pain or very little. It is possible that the number of sessions you need will depend on your skin type and how darkly tanned you are.

2. Laser Toning

A dermatologist uses a laser to remove the skin tanning and break down the melanin pigment. High-intensity light is converted to heat energy when applied to skin. This allows the laser to target the melanin-chromophore pigment without damaging the surrounding soft tissue. The laser beams reach deep layers of the skin to remove excess melanin.

Sun Tan Treatments: Natural remedies

Use these natural remedies for removing the effects of sun tanning on your skin.

• Mix honey and lime juice with bleaching agents. Apply the mixture to tanned areas. After 20-30 minutes, wash it off to remove the sun tan.
• Apply the paste made from equal amounts of rice flour and potato juice to sun-tanned areas. Potatoes have a bleaching action that will effectively lighten sun tan. After 15 minutes, rinse with cold water.
• Let the saffron soak in milk for 2 hours. Apply the mixture to the skin that has been tanned and rinse after 20 minutes. Saffron has skin-lightening properties, soothes the skin and contains bioactive compounds that protect it from UV rays.
• Use curd to mix a teaspoon of besan with a tiny amount of turmeric powder. A few drops of Lemon Juice can be added. Leave it on for 30 minutes. To see the results, rinse well.
• Coconut milk contains mild acids and vitamin C to combat tan. Coconut milk can be applied to tanned areas with a cotton ball. Allow it to dry. It can be removed with a gentle cleansing soap.

Sun Tan Skin Care Products

1. Tan Removal Creams

Tan removal creams contain ingredients that lighten melanin to remove the tanning effect on the upper skin layer. By targeting the deeper skin layers, a tan-removal serum or cream will inhibit the enzymes that prevent melanin from being produced.

2. Tan Removal Products containing Lightening Actives

They contain chemical and lightening ingredients that fight the tan on the skin and increase the effect of the product. Select products that contain one or more lighting actives.

• Liquorice Root Extract: The liquorice extract contains glabridin[ 10] and flavonoids[ 11] that can remove skin tanning and UVB effects.
• Kojic acid: This is a fermented mushroom-shaped fungus that contains the Kojic acid. The sun-tan fighting ingredient stops the production of melanin and has a whitening effect.
• Vitamin C : The vitamin C in your tanning lotion acts as an inhibitor of the tyrosinase. This enzyme stimulates melanin to reduce the tanning effects.
• Niacinamide The vitamin B3 derivate is helpful to lighten skin and remove sun tanning. This works by cutting the number of melanocytes on the surface of your skin in half.

3. De-tan Face Pack

The ingredients in the de-tanner face pack can help to remove the tanning effect of skin that has been exposed to UV radiation. These products won’t lighten skin but they will help to even out skin tone.

4. Exfoliation Products

These products will remove the dead pigmented cells from the surface of your skin when you gently scrub it. The appearance of the tan will be reduced and a more even toned skin is obtained. Scrubs containing chemicals such as beta and alpha-hydroxy acids will dissolve pigmented skin cells.

Summary

It is important to protect your skin from the UV radiation. It will be a while before the sun tan fades away when combined with de-tanners and natural remedies. Contact Kolors if you need to remove the tanning marks fast to make yourself look better or if your skin is sensitive and has been affected by a deep tanning. Kolors Healthcare provides safe and professional treatments to remove pigmented, dead skin cells.

FAQs

1. What is a sun tan and how does it happen?
A sun tan is the darkening of the skin caused by an increase in melanin pigment due to sun exposure. This occurs when UVA and UVB rays penetrate the skin, triggering melanocytes to produce melanin, which darkens the skin as a natural defense against UV radiation.

2. What are the main types of UV rays that cause tanning?
The primary UV rays that cause tanning are UVA and UVB. UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin, leading to long-lasting tanning, while UVB rays affect the outer layer and can cause sunburn. Both contribute to increased melanin production, causing a tan.

3. Are there different types of sun tans?
Yes, the type of sun tan varies based on skin type, often categorized using the Fitzpatrick skin scale. For example, lighter skin types tend to burn easily, while darker skin types tan more readily but are less prone to sunburn.

4. What are the health risks of prolonged sun tanning?
Prolonged sun tanning can increase risks of skin cancer, premature aging, sunburn, and immune system suppression. UV exposure may also lead to eye damage and skin conditions like actinic keratosis.

5. How can I prevent sun tanning?
To prevent sun tanning, wear protective clothing, use broad-spectrum sunscreen, avoid direct sun exposure during peak hours (10:00 am – 2:00 pm), and stay hydrated. Regularly applying sunscreen with mineral ingredients helps protect skin from UV damage.

6. What are some effective professional treatments for removing a sun tan?
Professional treatments for sun tan removal include chemical peels, microdermabrasion, cryotherapy, and laser therapy. Each treatment works by removing or reducing melanin-rich skin cells to reveal a lighter, even skin tone.

7. Are there natural remedies for removing a sun tan?
Yes, natural remedies like applying lemon juice and honey, potato juice, saffron milk, and coconut milk can help lighten sun-tanned skin. These ingredients contain skin-brightening and soothing properties that reduce the appearance of tanning.

Referrals

• https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/tanning/risks-tanning
• National Library of Medicine (NLM) – https://medlineplus.gov/tanning.html
• Ward WH, Farma JM – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK481857/table/chapter6.t1/
• Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9272582/
• Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3672405/
• American Academy of Dermatology – https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/sun-protection/shade-clothing-sunscreen/sunscreen-faqs
• Maulana Azad Medical College and Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi, India – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3461803/
• Dermatology Clinic, University Clinical Center of Kosovo, Pristina – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4720453/
• Departments of Surgery and Biomedical Engineering, Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3982879/
• Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Huizhou Municipal Central Hospital, Guangdong China – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9123664/
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/glabridin