Glowing skin always looks great, doesn’t it? But most of us become victims of suntan. Our hands are not as bright as the rest of our body, and that adds to our woes. We wonder if we must go for expensive treatments to bring back our lost beauty.
But the good news is, we don’t have to! With the available resources right within our homes, we can treat suntan. If you are wondering how, then keep reading.
How To Remove Tan From Hands
- Listed here are the effective home remedies to check out.
- Yogurt And Turmeric Mask
- Aloe Vera
- Lemon Juice
- Cucumber
- Almonds
- Gram Flour And Turmeric
- Potato
- Honey And Lemon Juice
- Sandalwood
- Papaya And Honey
- Orange Peel With Milk
- Petroleum Jelly
- Exfoliation
- Borax Powder With Glycerine And Rose Water
- Oatmeal, Tomato Juice, And Curd
- Raw Milk
Home Remedies To Remove Tan From Hands
1. Yogurt And Turmeric Mask
What You Need- 1 bowl of chilled yogurt
- A pinch of turmeric
What You Have To Do
- Add the pinch of turmeric to the yogurt and mix thoroughly till you get a uniform paste.
- Apply this paste on your hands and leave it on for about 20 minutes.
- Rinse with cold water.
When You Need To Do This
You can ideally follow this remedy every day before taking a bath. Do it for two weeks or till you see the results.
Why This Works
Yogurt contains probiotics, which, according to a study, have been found to make the skin glow (1). In another Korean study, it was found that yogurt improved the brightness, elasticity, and moisture content of the skin (2).
2. Aloe Vera
What You NeedA little amount of aloe vera gel (you can get this either from the sap of a broken aloe vera leaf or in the market as a tube)
What You Have To Do
- Apply the fresh aloe vera gel on your hands and leave it on overnight.
- Wash off with normal water in the morning.
- When You Need To Do This
- Every night, before going to bed.
Why This Works
Aloe vera has been found to protect the skin from radiation damage. Being rich in antioxidants, it also eliminates free radicals in the skin (3). Aloe vera is also known to lighten the skin and remove tan (4).
Caution
If you have applied aloe vera gel on your hands sometime in the day, ensure you are not stepping out without applying sunscreen. This is because aloe can make your skin photosensitive, which might lead to further tanning if you haven’t applied sunscreen.
3. Lemon Juice
What You Need- Juice from 3 to 4 lemons
What You Have To Do
- Take a basin full of warm water and add the lemon juice to it.
- Mix well till the juice is diluted.
- Soak your hands in the lemon-infused water for about 20 minutes.
- Wash off with cold water.
- You can directly apply four to five tablespoons of lemon juice to tough tan-stained areas like your elbows. You can wash off with cold water after about 20 minutes.
When You Need To Do This
You can follow this remedy in the morning after bath. Do this twice or thrice a week for about two weeks and check the results.
Why This Works
Lemon juice is rich in vitamin C, and according to the Oregon State University, vitamin C can have skin lightening effects (5). Vitamin C has also been found to protect the skin cells and help them survive after exposure to UV rays (6).
Additionally, a study conducted by the University of Arizona has supported the efficacy of citrus fruits in reducing the risk of skin cancer (7).
Caution
Lemon juice can dry out the skin. So, ensure you use a rich moisturizer on your hands after trying this remedy.
4. Cucumber
What You Need- 2 tablespoons of fresh cucumber juice
- 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
- A pinch of turmeric
What You Have To Do
- Mix all the ingredients well till you get a smooth paste.
- Apply the paste on your hands and leave it on for 30 minutes.
- Wash off with cold water.
- Alternately, you can also rub freshly cut slices of cucumber on your skin. Let the residue stay on your hands for about 15 minutes, after which you can wash with cold water.
When You Need To Do This
You can follow this remedy once every night for about two weeks.
Why This Works
Cucumber has a cooling effect on the skin. This can be soothing and helps remove suntan.
5. Almonds
What You Need- 5 to 6 almonds
What You Have To Do
- Soak the almonds in water overnight.
- The next morning, blend the almonds with some milk and mix till you get a smooth paste.
- Apply this paste on your hands and leave it on overnight.
- Wash off with cold water the next morning.
Alternate Method
- Take about 10 green and fresh almonds and grind them.
- Mix this powder with a little amount of sandalwood oil.
- Once you get the paste, apply it to your hands.
- Rinse with water the next morning.
When You Have To Do This
Follow the remedy regularly for two weeks, after which you can reduce the usage to twice a week.
Why This Works
Almonds are a rich source of riboflavin, an essential vitamin that maintains and improves skin health (8), (9). They are also packed with antioxidants including vitamin E that protects the skin.
6. Gram Flour And Turmeric
What You Need- 2 tablespoons of gram flour
- A pinch of turmeric
- 1 tablespoon of milk
- A bowl of cold rose water
What You Have To Do
- Add the ingredients to the bowl of rose water and mix them thoroughly till you get a smooth paste.
- Apply the paste on your hands and leave it on for about 20 minutes, allowing it to dry.
- Wash off with cold water.
When You Need To Do This
Follow this remedy in the night before going to bed, once every two days.
Why This Works
In one Chinese study, it was found that compounds derived from plants are safe to be used as skin lightening agents. Curcumin, a plant-derived polyphenol, has shown to inhibit melanin activity, which is primarily responsible for skin darkening (10).
Gram flour was also found to cleanse and exfoliate the skin, thereby improving its health.
7. Potato
What You Need- 3 medium-sized potatoes
What You Have To Do
- Peel the skin of the potatoes. Slice them into chunks and add them to a blender to make a paste.
- Apply this paste on your hands and leave it on for about 30 minutes.
- Wash off with cold water.
- You can also cut a raw potato in half and rub the flesh on the tanned portion of your hands.
When You Need To Do This
In the morning, after a bath. Do this regularly till you see the results.
Why This Works
Potato contains an enzyme named catecholase that has been found to lighten the skin tone.
8. Honey And Lemon Juice
What You Need- 2 tablespoons each of honey, lemon juice, milk powder, and almond oil
What You Have To Do
- Mix all the ingredients in a bowl till you get a cream-like consistency.
- Apply the cream on your hands and leave it on for about 20 minutes.
- Wash off with cold water. You can store this cream for about a week.
When You Need To Do This
Follow this remedy thrice a day for best results.
Why This Works
Honey has amazing therapeutic properties that can be beneficial to the skin. It also acts as an emollient and humectant. This helps in the treatment of suntan. Lemon juice aids in skin lightening, and the milk powder and almond oil provide nourishment to the skin.
In case you do not have almond oil, you can skip it from the mixture.
9. Sandalwood
What You Need- 2 tablespoons each of sandalwood powder and turmeric powder
- A few drops of rose water
What You Have To Do
- Mix both sandalwood powder and turmeric powder, and add rose water to get a thick paste.
- Apply this paste on your hands and leave it on for about 30 minutes.
- Wash off with cold water.
When You Need To Do This
You can follow this hand tan removal remedy twice a week, in the night before going to bed.
Why This Works
Sandalwood is known to soothe harsh sunburns and even treat skin tan. It can improve the skin complexion as well.
10. Papaya And Honey
What You Need- 1 ripe papaya
- 1 tablespoon of honey
What You Have To Do
- Cut the papaya into small cubes.
- Take a bowlful of the cubes and mash them well.
- Add honey and mix well till you get a nice paste.
- Apply this paste on your hands and leave it on for about 30 minutes.
- Rinse off with cold water.
When You Need To Do This
Follow this remedy thrice a week, in the night before going to bed.
Why This Works
Papaya contains enzymes that have skin-whitening properties. In addition, it also has been found that papaya can help treat chronic skin ulcers (11).
11. Orange Peel With Milk
What You Need- 1 orange
- 1/2 to 1 cup milk
What You Have To Do
- Remove the orange peels from the oranges and grind them till they are powdered.
- Take this powder in a bowl and add milk. Mix nicely to form a paste.
- Apply this paste to your hands.
- Leave it on for 15 minutes. Rinse with water.
When You Need To Do This
Follow this remedy thrice a week, in the night before going to bed.
Why This Works
Orange peels contain vitamin C, which helps combat free radicals that destroy skin cell functioning. In combination with milk, it removes dead cells, lightens the skin and provides nourishment.
12. Petroleum Jelly
What You Need- Petroleum jelly
What You Have To Do
- Take the required amount of petroleum jelly and apply to your hands before going to bed.
- Cover your hands with a pair of cotton gloves.
- Leave them on overnight.
When You Need To Do This
Follow this remedy as and when required.
Why This Works
Petroleum jelly is an unconventional and yet inexpensive way to get the desired results. When you wake up the next morning, your hands should look smooth, fresh and radiant. Now you would love that, wouldn’t you?
13. Exfoliation
What You NeedA mild to medium skin scrub
What You Have To Do
- Rub the scrub over your hands in circular motions.
- You can also use lemon juice and salt as a scrub and rub the mixture over your hands.
When You Need To Do This
Exfoliate the skin on your hands two to three times a week.
Why This Works
This is the simplest way to reduce the darkness of your hands. Scrubbing removes dead cells from the skin surface, thus lightening the skin by letting the fresh cells come up to the surface.
The lemon and salt scrub works as a natural cleanser. It helps remove the dead skin cells and gives you a smooth and glowing skin.
14. Borax Powder With Glycerine And Rose Water
What You Need- 3 spoons borax powder
- 2 spoons glycerine
- 2 cups rose water
What You Have To Do
- Mix all the ingredients together to form a smooth paste.
- Apply over your hands evenly and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Wash off with cold water.
When You Need To Do This
Follow this remedy every day for two weeks.
Why This Works
The beauty of rose water is it can bring benefits to all skin types. It is also filled with antioxidants and various other vitamins which help in preventing aging and nourishing the skin. Borax powder has antibacterial properties, and glycerine acts as a moisturizing agent in this mixture.
15. Oatmeal, Tomato Juice, And Curd
What You Need- 1 medium sized tomato
- 1/2 cup oatmeal
- 2-3 tablespoons curd
What You Have To Do
- Mash the tomato and extract its juice. Mix with the oatmeal and curd.
- Apply the paste over your hands and leave for 15 minutes.
- Wash off with fresh water.
- When You Need To Do This
Follow this remedy every day for two weeks.
Why This Works
Curd is known for its antibacterial properties which help purify the skin and keep it healthy. Oatmeal is a great exfoliant and helps in removing dead cells. Tomato acts a toner and removes excess oil from the skin.
16. Raw Milk
What You Need- 1/2 cup raw milk
What You Have To Do
- Clean your hands before doing this
- Apply raw milk over your hands. Leave it on for 15 minutes.
- Wash with warm water.
When You Need To Do This
Repeat this process every day for two weeks.
Why This Works
This is one of the most simple and easy home remedies to give your hands an even complexion. Milk helps in lightening the skin on your hands, thus removing the tan. It also has cleansing and skin smoothening properties.
Reducing tan is not rocket science, neither is it a costly affair. Just by making proper use of the ingredients stocked in your kitchen, you can do wonders for your skin!
Now that you know how to remove tan from hands easily, what are you waiting for? With these simple remedies, you can easily get beautiful skin. Keep trying these remedies on a regular basis, and you might even remove tan permanently.
Tell us how this post has helped you. Do comment in the box given below.
