About Remedies that fade a tan
These remedies can help you fade a tan:
Exfoliation
Gently exfoliating with a homemade or store-bought scrub can help lighten the tone of your skin by removing dead skill cells on the surface. Just be careful to avoid the sun once you exfoliate. Dead skin cells can help protect against the sun. Once you remove them, you’re more susceptible to sunburn, tanning, and skin damage.
Aloe
It turns out this sunburn salve is more than a powerful, anti-inflammatory skin soother. A small study found that aloe vera may suppress the release of melanin and reduce pigmentation.
Turmeric
This bright yellow spice has traditionally been used in India as a skin lightener. While it has not been proven to visibly lighten the skin, one studyTrusted Source found that turmeric may help protect against sun damage when included in a cream. The study also found that turmeric may improve the skin’s hydration and natural protective oils.
However, turmeric can stain your face (and just about everything else, including your clothes and counter) yellow. Use face wash or makeup remover immediately after a turmeric mask or topical application to help remove residue and prevent staining.
Black tea
A small studyTrusted Source found that black tea extract can lighten a tan on guinea pigs, but more research needs to be done, especially on how homemade brews or topical products with black tea extracts affect humans.
Skin-lightening products
Many skin-lightening creams and treatments are now available over the counter. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends looking for a skin-lightening product that contains one of the following ingredients:
- vitamin C
- glycolic acid
- a retinoid such as retinol, tretinoin, adapalene gel, or tazarotene
- kojic acid
- azelaic acid
These active ingredients can help lighten an existing tan or dark spots by exfoliating the skin and encouraging new cell growth. Some of them can also help slow the production of melanin to help prevent or reduce dark spots. However, it’s important to use only one product with a single active ingredient at a time to prevent irritation or other side effects.
Many of these treatments should be used only under the supervision of a dermatologist. Irritation or dermatitis can result from using too high of a concentration or too many applications. It can also happen if you use a product on larger areas than it was designed for. Overuse of skin-lightening products can also cause skin atrophy and lead to permanent dark spots or discoloration.