What causes skin tanning?

What causes skin tanning?

Tanning occurs due to excessive melanin production that happens when skin is damaged by harmful UV rays of the sun. In summers, the sun rays are 6% stronger. In latitudinal divisions lying between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, sun rays strike at an angle of 90 degree making it more damaging and direct for the skin.

Ayurveda considers the triggering of Bhrajaka Pitta, a subdosha or pitta dosha, to cause the formation of melanin which leads to skin tanning. Excessive agni, in the form of an unbalanced diet or sun exposure, can affect both digestion and eyesight. Ayurveda advises healthier lifestyle choices and controlled diet as a suitable way to reduce agni.

Certain ingredients and herbs, according to traditional medicine, can help in curing skin tanning:

1. Aloe Vera: Also called Ghrita Kumara in Sanskrit is a miracle substance to heal skin tissues, burns, superficial wounds, and skin tanning. Aloe vera reverses the damage caused by UV radiation by producing Metallothionein. You can use the gel from a fresh-broken aloe vera plant leaf or go for packaged aloe vera gel available at local drugstores.
2. Use Mild Natural Bleaching Agents: Natural vegetables such as tomato and lemon can act as natural sunscreen, prevents sunburn, and repairs skin damage. Lemon can act as a natural cleansing project and can help in sun tan removal. Combine juice of tomato and lemon juice and apply it using a cotton ball and wash it after 10-15 minutes. Caution- avoid stepping out in the sun after washing it off to prevent further skin damage.
3. Rosewater: It has been the secret of Cleopatra’s beauty, undoubtedly the most beautiful woman of her time. Rosewater due to its cooling and soothing effects can be added to facemasks as a bonus ingredient to help in the rehydration of damaged skin cells.
4. Ayurvedic Face Mask: Ubtan is a traditional mask made from gram flour, turmeric and yogurt/milk has been the secret of the glowing skin of many Indian women. It has been proven to be very effective in detanning of the skin. This can be used all over the body to remove tan.
5. Face masks made out of ayurvedic herbs like lodhra, haldi, kapur, etc. can also help in providing a clearer and bright skin. You can try Dr. Vaidya’s Herbocharm: Ayurvedic Face Pack for Clear Skin which includes all these elements in a balanced form.
6. Yogurt Or Curd: Another effective dead skin removal ingredient is our home made curd. If combined with substances like turmeric, orange juice or flour can help in reducing tanning. Try applying this mask for 15-20 minutes and wash it off with cold water.

Prevention is better than cure. In the end, the best way to not have a tanned skin is to ensure you don’t get tanned! Even when you are using all these methods mentioned above, alongside, you must follow a proper skincare routine that includes sunscreen. Protecting yourself from harmful UV rays by using sunscreen, scarfs, hats, sunglasses, is the best way to prevent sun damage.

How Your Skin Gets the Tan: All of us have melanin on our skins. It is melanin that gives our skin the color. Dark-skinned people have a higher concentration of melanin, while light-skinned people have less of this. Cells in the human body that are called melanocytes produce this melanin through melanogenesis.

The human body creates melanin for protecting the skin’s deeper layers from damage. When you have been exposed to the Sun’s harmful UV rays for too long, your skin will make more melanin to prevent any damage. This is the skin’s defense mechanism. This overproduction of melanin changes the skin color. Those who are dark-skinned will turn darker brown, and those who are light-skinned will turn red. Besides burning or tanning, many individuals will also develop freckles and uneven color patches on their skins.

Some remedies:

· Try a face pack of Aloe Vera and add some lemon to it. Your tanned look will go away in no time at all. A little bit of Aloe Vera gel – all you need is two squeezes. Two to three drops of lemon. Squeeze out the Aloe Vera gel into your palm. Now squeeze your lemon. Be careful because you just require two to three drops maximum. Keep it for 20 minutes. Wash off with some cold water

· Prepare a solution or a paste by mixing baking soda with water and use it as a scrub to remove the tan from your hands or any affected area. If you are looking out for quick results, then try this procedure every alternate day.

· Take equal quantity of vinegar and water in a bowl and mix it well. Then dip your hands into the bowl and let it rest in the solution for 5 to 10 minutes. Once this is done just wash your hands with cold water.

· Prepare a mixture of lime juice, cucumber juice and rosewater and apply it on the tanned area. Let this mixture remain on your hands for 10 to 15 minutes and then wash it off with cold water. This mixture has proven to be quite effective to remove harsh sun tans and sun burns.

· Papaya pulp is also another effective ingredient to help remove tan quickly. Massage the Papaya pulp on the affected area for more than 10 minutes and leave it on for another 10-15 minutes. Once you feel that is starting to dry, wash it off with cold water.

· Mix required amounts of gram flour, lemon juice and curd or yogurt. Apply this paste on tan affected area of forehead and face. Leave it for 15 minutes and wash it with water. This is an exclusive face pack prepared at home to remove tan from your skin in a very easy and effective way. Try this thrice in a week to see difference.

· Milk powder is a good moisturizer and it also reduces the effects of sun tan and gives a clean texture to the skin. Mix 2 table spoon of milk powder1 table spoon of honey and a few drops of almond oil in a bowl and apply it on the face. Leave it on the face for 20 minutes before washing it off with water.

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