Lemon for Tan Removal – Benefits and DIY Remedies

Lemon for Tan Removal – Benefits and DIY Remedies – Sun tan is something that we cannot escape, no matter how much sunscreen we apply. Sunscreens protect our skin from getting severely damaged, but it is normal to get a bit tanned even if we apply sunscreen religiously every single day. Sun tan is normally the skin darkening due to UV exposure, however it is not too difficult to get rid of. In fact, you can found several ingredients lying in your pantry that can give you back even toned, bright and clear skin. Lemon is definitely one among them and a very effective one as well. Lemon is actually quite popular for its skin lightening benefits. Keep on reading to find out simple ways to use lemon for tan removal.
Check – 10 Different Ways to Use Lemon for Stretch Marks Removal

Before we start our discussion about the benefits and different DIY remedies using lemon for tan removal, take a look below to know little bit about sun tan and UV exposure.

What is Sun Tan?

We all have heard about melanin – the natural pigment present in our skin that determines our skin color. The more the melanin, the darker the skin color. Sun tan is also the result of excess melanin production.

When our skin is exposed to the sun for a long period of time, our body starts to produce more amount of melanin to protect the inner layers of our skin. This excess amount of melanin gets accumulated on the top layer of our skin giving it a dark appearance. This is what we call ‘sun tan’ in general.

UV radiation can be classified in to two categories – UVA and UVB. UVA is long wavelength UV rays, which can penetrate deep into the skin and cause skin damages like severely dry skin, thick skin, premature aging as well as skin cancer.

UVB is short wavelength UV rays, which normally affects the surface of our skin. It is responsible for sun tan and in severe cases, sun burn.

Types of Sun Exposure

So, we have already discussed that sun tan is caused by sun exposure. However, the severity depends on what type of sun exposure you are facing. Sun exposure can be classified in to two categories – incidental and intense.

• Incidental sun exposure is when we are out in the sun for just few minutes. A sunscreen with SPF 15-25 along with broad spectrum protection is good enough to protect the skin from this type of exposure. It helps to filter out about 93% of UV radiation.
• Intense sun exposure happens when you are out in the sun for hours. A sunscreen with SPF 30 or more with broad spectrum protection is required for this type of exposure. These sunscreens help to filter out almost 97% of the UV rays.

Why to Use Lemon for Tan Removal?

• Lemon juice is known for its wonderful skin lightening and whitening benefits for our skin, which is the main reason why it is used for sun tan removal.
• Lemon juice is a rich source of vitamin C, which can be credited to lemon’s skin lightening and brightening benefits. . Vitamin C is highly beneficial for our skin and it has powerful anti oxidant properties.
• Being an anti oxidant, vitamin C helps to reverse UV damage, which is the major factor behind getting sun tan. Also, the anti oxidant properties of vitamin C boosts skin’s cell-regeneration process. This helps our body to repair the damaged skin cells and restore even toned and bright complexion.
• In addition, vitamin C has the ability to reduce melanin production in the skin, that further helps with skin lightening process.
• Thanks to its anti oxidant benefits, vitamin C can boost collagen production in the skin, which has been proved to be beneficial in lightening marks, scars and skin hyper-pigmentation. Enhanced collagen synthesis makes skin even toned and bright.
• Besides vitamin C, lemon juice is rich in citric acid, which has great cleansing benefits for our skin. When we use lemon juice on the skin, its citric acid content exfoliates the skin deeply and removes the pigmented and damaged skin cells. Exfoliation also helps with cell-renewal process, and as a result, skin becomes even toned, bright and clear.

How to Use Lemon for Tan Removal

1. Apply Diluted Lemon Juice

How to do?

Cut one fresh lemon into half. Take one half and extract the juice. Dilute the lemon juice in some water. Apply the diluted lemon juice on the tanned parts of the face. Leave it on for 20-30 minutes and then wash off with plain water. Repeat the process daily. This is the simplest way to use lemon for tan removal.

2. Rice Flour, Tomato and Lemon for Tan Removal

How to use rice flour, tomato and lemon for tan removal?

Grate one tomato and extract the juice from the grated tomato. Keep the tomato juice in a bowl. Add some rice flour to that. Also add juice of one fresh lemon. Mix together. If it appears too thick, add some plain water to bring it to your desired consistency.

Apply this face pack on the tan affected parts of the face and leave it on for 15-20 minutes. Once it gets dry, scrub it off with wet fingertips. Finally wash everything off with fresh water and repeat this remedy with lemon for tan removal twice weekly.

Why it works?

Rice Flour –

Rice flour itself is a great natural remedy to lighten sun tan. When used in combination with tomato and lemon for tan removal, it works even better. Rice flour is known for its wonderful exfoliating benefits. When used on the skin, it removes the pigmented and damaged skin cells from the top layer of the skin and lighten the skin darkness due to sun tan.

Through exfoliation, it boosts cell renewal process, which is the key to get even toned and clear skin.

Also, rice flour is enriched with anti oxidants, that help to lighten skin darkening and make the skin even toned. Plus, they enhance collagen synthesis in the skin and restore the natural elasticity of the skin, which often gets damaged by UV exposure. Collagen also helps to reduce the appearance of sun spots and dark patches caused by UV exposure.

However, it is the presence of allantoin which makes rice flour an amazing natural treatment for sun damaged skin. Allantoin plays a massive role in lightening sun tan. In addition, PABA or para aminobenzoic acid in rice flour also shields the skin from UV damage. This is why rice flour is also known as ‘natural sunscreen’.

When our skin is exposed to the sun for a long times, our body starts to produce more melanin to protect the inner layers of our skin. This excess melanin gets accumulated on the top layer of the skin, giving it a dark appearance. This is what, we call sun tan. Rice flour can reduce melanin production and lighten up the complexion over time.

In addition, rice flour is a great source of B vitamins, and they are extremely effective in boosting new cell growth, thus lightening the sun tan and other skin pigmentation effectively. Regular use of rice flour makes skin lighter, even toned and healthy.

Tomato –

Tomatoes come with excellent skin whitening and lightening properties. This is why, it is used widely to remove sun tan. The juice of tomato is loaded with citric acid, which is known for its excellent cleansing properties. Citric acid exfoliates the skin and removes the pigmented and damaged skin cells, thus lightening sun tan gradually.

Along with citric acid, tomato is loaded with several skin friendly vitamins, including vitamin A, B vitamins, vitamin C etc. These vitamins work together to repair skin damage and lighten sun tan to help us achieve even toned complexion.

Both vitamin A as well as vitamin B boosts new cell growth, which helps replacing the tanned skin cells and makes the skin even toned and lighter. Tomato comes with a high amount of vitamin C, which also helps with reducing sun tan.

Vitamin C can control melanin production in the skin to lighten sun tan and other skin pigmentation. Severe sun damage results in loosing the natural elasticity of the skin and it gets wrinkled. Vitamin C, being an anti oxidant, can boost collagen production in the skin to restore its natural elasticity. Collagen also helps to lighten the appearance of sun spots and dark patches caused by UV exposure.

Along with vitamin C, tomato contains another anti oxidant compound, known as lycopene. Lycopene is extremely beneficial to provide protection against sun damage and prevent skin darkening due to sun tan. Not only vitamins and anti oxidants, tomato contains a lot of minerals as well, which are extremely effective to fight off sun damage and restore even toned skin.

Excessive sun exposure makes our skin dry and flaky. Tomato contains calcium and potassium, two vital minerals for our skin, which are able to moisturize the skin and heal dry and flaky skin, while the magnesium content in tomato makes the skin glowing.

3. Potato and Lemon for Tan Removal

How to use potato and lemon for tan removal?

Take a potato and cut few thick slices out of that. Grate the potato slices and extract the juice from the grated potatoes, using a strainer. Collect the potato juice in a bowl. To that, add equal amount of fresh lemon juice and mix together.

With the help of a cotton ball, apply the juice mixture onto the tanned parts of the face. Leave it on the skin for 10-15 minutes, before washing off with plain water. Repeat this remedy with lemon for tan removal 2-3 times every week.

Why it works?

Potato is a wonderful natural remedy to remove tan. Potatoes are a great source of vitamin C, which is why it is considered as a great natural remedy for tan removal. Vitamin C, a vital vitamin for our skin, is known for its skin lightening and brightening properties.

As a part of our body’s natural defense system, it releases more amount of melanin to protect skin from UV damage, when exposed to the sun for a long period of time. This leads to skin darkening which we call sun tan. Vitamin C can control melanin secretion and helps to lighten sun tan.

Along with that, vitamin C comes with anti oxidant properties which help to maintain healthy skin. Vitamin C has the ability to boost collagen production. Enhanced collagen synthesis in the skin helps to restore the natural elasticity of the skin, which often gets damaged by UV exposure. Collagen also helps to fade away sun spots and dark patches caused by UV exposure.

Potatoes also contain Vitamin B6, and it helps with new cell growth. The new skin cells then replace the damaged and pigmented skin cells and over time, skin becomes lighter, even toned and brighter.

Another reason why potato works great for lightening sun tan, is because of its catecholase enzyme. This enzyme is highly effective in lightening dark spots, sun tan, pigmentation, marks and scars. Also, potato comes with zinc in it. This is a vital mineral for our skin, which helps in soothing sun damaged, irritated skin, thanks to its anti inflammatory properties. Zinc also prevents skin dryness due to sun damage.

Sun damage can also cause thick and wrinkled skin in severe cases. Potato contains calcium and potassium in good amount and both these minerals are extremely effective in healing dry and flaky skin.

4. Honey, Rose Water and Lemon for Tan Removal

How to use honey, rose water and lemon for tan removal?

Combine two tsp raw honey, one tsp fresh lemon juice and some rose water in a bowl. Apply the liquid mixture on the sun tan affected parts of the face with the help of a cotton ball. Allow it to sit for 15-20 minutes before washing off with fresh water. Repeat this treatment with lemon for tan removal daily. This is an excellent way to use lemon for tan removal.

Why it works?

Honey –

Honey has amazing skin lightening properties. When used in combination with lemon for tan removal, you can certainly expect great results. Honey works as a natural skin bleach, because of its ability to release hydrogen peroxide. When we apply honey on the skin and leave it on for some time, it starts to release hydrogen peroxide, which is has bleaching properties and it helps to lighten our skin color naturally.

In addition, honey is a source of several natural enzymes as well as gluconic acid which belongs to the AHA group. These compounds are highly beneficial to lighten the appearance of sun tan. Together, they exfoliate our skin and remove the damaged and pigmented skin cells. Over time, it helps to remove sun tan and restore even toned, brighter and clearer skin.

Another way honey helps to fight off sun damage is by improving our skin’s ability to rejuvenate itself after UV exposure. This facilitates the process of lightening sun tan and getting back even toned skin.

Honey contains multiple anti oxidants, which help boosting new cell growth. They replace the pigmented and damaged skin cells and gradually restore healthy and bright skin. Also, honey is a great source of several skin friendly vitamins and minerals. They are extremely effective in repairing our skin damage from within and help us get back our original complexion.

Honey contains thiamine (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), niacin (vitamin B3), pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), pyridoxine (vitamin B6), etc. as well as minerals like calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc, etc.

When used on the skin, honey penetrates deeply in to the skin layers and the nutrients present in honey help repairing damaged skin cells by providing nourishment and thus, they help lightening sun tan and other types of skin pigmentation.

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Rose Water –

Rose water is extremely effective to get healthy skin naturally. It is a great source of essential nutrients, including vitamin A, B3, C, E as well as anti oxidant compounds. These nutrients help in repairing skin damage from within and lighten and brighten our skin tone.

Vitamin A can boost new cell growth and over time, the new and healthy cells replace the damaged ones and this way, it lightens sun tan and other skin pigmentation. Vitamin B3 comes with with its anti oxidant benefits, which help promoting new cell growth and lighten the appearance of sun tan over time.

Rose water is a great source of vitamin C as well and it is the most important vitamin for removing sun tan. With its anti oxidant properties, vitamin C helps in boosting collagen production in the skin and restores the natural elasticity of our skin which can be damaged by UV exposure. Increased collagen content in the skin also helps with lightening sun spots, dark patches etc, caused by UV damage.

We have already discussed that prolonged sun exposure forces our body to produce more melanin in order to protect our skin, and this excess melanin caused skin darkening, commonly known as sun tan. Vitamin C has the ability to reduce melanin production, which helps to remove sun tan.

Along with these, rose water is a source of vitamin E, which has anti oxidant properties. Vitamin E is well known for its de-pigmentation properties. It helps with lightening sun tan, pigmentation and maintains bright and healthy skin.

In addition, the natural bio active chemicals in rose water also help to maintain healthy skin. Studies have shown that the rose oil content of rose water plays a vital role in stimulating the keratinocytes skin cells. These skin cells help with new skin cells production, that gradually move up to the upper surface of the skin and replace the pigmented and damaged skin cells, thus restoring even toned and bright skin tone over time.

5. Strawberry and Lemon for Tan Removal

How to use strawberry and lemon for tan removal?

Take 4-5 fresh strawberries and cut them into small pieces. Blend the strawberries to prepare strawberry pulp. Add one tbsp of fresh lemon juice to the strawberry pulp. Mix together and apply the resultant mixture on the tan affected parts of the face. Massage gently with your fingertips.

Allow it to sit on the skin for 15-20 minutes before washing off with plain water. Repeat this remedy with lemon for tan removal at least twice in a week.

Why it works?

Strawberries are one of the best natural remedies to enhance our complexion. It is a well known ingredient to remove sun tan and when used with lemon for tan removal, the results are even better. Strawberries are a great source of vitamin C which make it a wonderful tan removing ingredient.

Vitamin C, with its anti oxidant benefits, boosts skin’s natural re-generation process and repair the damaged cells to restore healthy and glowing skin. It helps in boosting collagen production in the skin and restores the natural elasticity of our skin which can be damaged by UV exposure. Increased collagen content in the skin further helps with lightening sun spots, dark patches etc, caused by UV damage.

Plus, vitamin C has the ability to reduce melanin synthesis which also helps with lightening sun tan and brightening the skin tone.

Strawberries contain folic acid which help with enhancing cell regeneration process and help restoring even toned, clear skin. Along with these, strawberries contain ellagic acid which boosts skin health and preserves its youthfulness for a long time.

Furthermore, strawberries are a source of salicylic acid that help exfoliating the skin, and lightening sun tan over time.

Strawberries are rich in AHAs, which are highly beneficial to repair uneven skin tone. The AHAs provide wonderful exfoliating benefits for our skin and lighten skin pigmentation, including sun tan. We can also exfoliate our skin with mashed strawberries to lighten acne scars, spots, sun tan and other types of skin pigmentation.

These were five simple ways to use lemon for tan removal. These are natural remedies, but we do recommend a patch test before trying out these ingredients, as sometimes our skin can react to the natural ingredients, too. Hope you liked this article, stay tuned for more.