Sunbathing and vacation go hand in hand. Since our hands are the most exposed to the sun’s rays, they also suffer the most damage. Prolonged sun exposure, especially if you forgot sunscreen, will result in blotchy and tanned skin on your hands and can make you unsafe in social situations. Luckily, you can remove tan from your hands by following simple home remedies.
1. Yogurt
Yogurt contains L-cysteine peptide, a compound known to suppress tyrosinase activity (1). This helps reverse the effects of excess pigmentation that fades the tan and effectively exfoliates your hands.
you will need
2-3 tablespoons of yogurt
1 tablespoon lemon juice
What you have to do
Mix a few tablespoons of yogurt with lemon juice.
Apply this paste to your hands and leave it on for 15 minutes.
Wash it off with clean water.
How often should you do this?
You can apply this paste to your hands once or twice a week.
Caution: Don’t forget to do a patch test before using this remedy as lemon juice can cause skin irritation.
2. Tomato
Tomatoes are high in bioactive compounds called carotenoids, which act as sunscreens ( 2Trusted Source ). They can reduce tanning caused by the sun’s harmful UV rays.
you will need
2 medium tomatoes
What you have to do
Blend the tomatoes into a thick paste.
Apply this paste to your hands.
Leave on for 15 minutes and wash off with water.
How often should you do this?
You can do this twice a week.
3. Lemon Juice
Vitamin C or ascorbic acid is the main component of lemon juice. It is known to have anti-pigmentary properties that can help reduce the effects of tanning (3).
you will need
A lemon
Water
cotton ball
What you have to do
Extract the juice from one lemon. Dilute it with water.
Soak a cotton ball in it and apply to hands.
Rinse with water after 15-20 minutes.
How often should you do this?
Repeat this twice a week.
Caution: Lemon juice can cause a stinging sensation on the skin. Please do a patch test before trying this remedy. It also increases your skin’s sensitivity to UV light. It is therefore essential to use diluted lemon juice and wash it off thoroughly after the specified exposure time.
4. Aloe vera
Aloe vera contains bioactive compounds (aloesin, aloe emodin, and aloin) that suppress tyrosinase activity (4). This leads to reduced pigmentation in your skin.
you will need
2-3 teaspoons of aloe vera gel
1 teaspoon of honey
What you have to do
Extract the gel from the aloe vera leaf and mix it with honey.
Apply this pack to your hands and leave it on for 10 minutes.
Wash it off with clean water.
How often should you do this?
For best results, apply this paste to your hands two to three times a week.
5. Cucumber
In addition to having moisturizing properties, cucumber contains bioactive compounds (like trans, cis-2,6-nonadienal) that inhibit tyrosinase activity and reverse the effects of sun tanning (5).
you will need
A cucumber
1 tablespoon of aloe vera gel
What you have to do
Slice half a cucumber and puree in a blender.
Add a tablespoon of aloe vera gel and mix well.
Apply this mixture to your hands and rinse off.
How often should you do this?
Apply this once a week until the tan disappears.
6. Papaya
Papaya extracts act as an exfoliant and can help remove dead skin cells from the skin’s surface (6). This will help fade the tan on your hands.
you will need
1 ripe papaya
1 lemon
What you have to do
Mash the papaya to a puree and add a teaspoon of lemon juice.
Mix well and apply to hands.
Rinse with water after 15-20 minutes.
How often should you do this?
Repeat twice a week.
Caution: Before using this remedy, do a patch test as lemon juice can cause skin irritation.
7. Sweetheart
Honey has excellent moisturizing properties and promotes tissue repair. Not only does it leave your skin soft and smooth, but it also contains antioxidants that help reverse the skin damage caused by UV rays (7), (8).
you will need
1 tablespoon of honey
1 lemon
What you have to do.
Extract the juice of one lemon and add honey.
Apply this mixture to your hands.
Wash off with water after 10-15 minutes.
How often should you do this?
Apply this paste twice a week.
Caution: Before using this remedy, do a patch test as lemon juice can irritate your skin.
8. Orange peel
Studies show that the peel of an orange contains compounds that can suppress melanogenesis and reverse the effects of a sun tan (9). The juice in oranges moisturizes your skin.
you will need
1 teaspoon powdered orange zest
1 pinch turmeric powder
1 teaspoon of honey
What you have to do
Mix the ingredients into a fine paste.
Apply to hands and leave on for 15 minutes.
Rinse with water.
How often should you do this?
You can do this twice a week.
9. Turmeric
Turmeric contains curcumin, which inhibits melanogenesis (10). This leads to decreased melanin production, causing the tan on your hands to fade.
you will need
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon of milk
What you have to do
Prepare a pack from the above ingredients and apply it on your hands.
Leave it on until it dries.
Wash your hands thoroughly with water
How often should you do this?
Do this once a week until the tan disappears.
10. Saffron
Saffron is widely used in traditional medicine to restore natural complexion. Research shows that it has a moisturizing effect on your skin and also eliminates the damage to your skin caused by the sun’s UV rays (11).
you will need
¼ cup fresh milk
A few strands of saffron
What you have to do
Soak the saffron strands in milk for 2 hours.
Strain the milk and apply to the tanned areas.
Wash it off with clean water after 10-15 minutes.
How often should you do this?
Do this 1-2 times a week.
In summary, removing tan from hands can be achieved through various natural home remedies that are gentle on the skin and effective in reducing pigmentation. Ingredients like yogurt, tomato, lemon juice, aloe vera, cucumber, papaya, honey, orange peel, turmeric, and saffron offer beneficial properties that can help fade tans and promote healthier skin.
However, care should be taken when using these remedies, especially with ingredients like lemon juice, which can cause skin irritation in some individuals. Always do a patch test before trying a new remedy. If you have sensitive skin or existing skin conditions, it is best to consult a dermatologist before proceeding.
In addition to these remedies, prevention is key to maintaining healthy, tan-free hands. Regularly applying sunscreen with an adequate SPF, wearing protective clothing, and avoiding prolonged sun exposure can help prevent tanning and protect skin from harmful UV rays.
