Body Tan – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Who doesn’t love those golden hours selfies? Or that beach trip coming to life that you took forever to plan? Or flea market shopping in the sun? The common result of all the above activities is “Tan”; the word that we end up dreading the most. Tanned skin is the most common concern we face in our day to day lives. It may not be evident immediately on your skin, but it gathers over a period of time and may lead to dull and uneven skin that lacks a healthy glow. Skin tan removal from the body then becomes a major headache.

Skin is the largest organ of the body. In Ayurveda, it is known as “Tvak” and according to Acharya Sushrut, it is said to have seven distinct layers, each with its own structure and function, providing support to the layers above it. Each layer has its own characteristics and their own unique functions. The skin’s first layer is known as “Avabhasini” in Ayurveda. As the outermost layer, it is the source of complexion and reflects the quality of the Rasa Dhatu (primary nutrient fluids) in our body. This indicates any inner health disorder that we may have and whether the body’s physiology as a whole is balanced or imbalanced.  When this layer is affected, an uneven skin tone may appear on our skin.

The skin can perform its overall functions effectively when all the layers are healthy and balanced. The skin’s most important function is to regulate the body temperature and also protect us against the harmful environmental stressors, which are continually affecting the skin. It acts as a shield and also allows the skin to “breathe” while enabling essential nutrients to get absorbed into the skin.

Ironically, the most useful yet harmful for the skin is the spitting ball of fire in the sky, namely the Sun. The sun contributes to the majority of skin concerns such as darkening of complexion, early signs of ageing, dehydrated skin and more. Excessive sun exposure leads to an overall dull skin appearance and loss of protective ability of the skin as it compromises the skin barrier. Hence, photodamage increases wrinkles. The ultraviolet radiations coming from the sun i.e UV rays namely UVA, UVB and UVC accelerate the skin damage. Acute photodamage is known as sunburn. With respect to dehydration due to the sun, the extracellular water content declines as cells migrate towards the outer skin thereby causing dry skin, which looks uneven with discoloured patches. Our body care routines should contain rituals that consist of pre, during and post bath rituals, which include effective body tan removal scrubs, body tan removal washes and so on.

Causes:

Melanin is a natural pigment produced by cells called melanocytes. Melanin protects the body by absorbing the ultraviolet radiation coming from the sun. Tanning can be triggered by natural sunlight. Although excessive UV radiation causes sunburn along with other direct and indirect DNA damage to the skin, the body however naturally combats and seeks to repair the damage and protect the skin by creating and releasing further melanin into the skin’s cells. With the production of melanin, our skin color tends to darken, leading to an increase in dullness and an uneven skin tone. 

UVA radiation coming from the sun creates oxidative stress, which in turn oxidizes existing melanin and leads to rapid darkening of the melanin. Tan skin from UVA exposure does not lead to significantly increased production of melanin or protection against sunburns. 

In the second process, triggered primarily by UVB radiation, there is an increase in production of melanin (melanogenesis), which is the body’s reaction to direct DNA photodamage from UV radiation.

Symptoms:

• Skin darkening
• Uneven and patchy skin tone
• Rough and scaly skin
• In severe cases, skin peeling due to sunburn

Treatment:

The first and best way to get rid of a tan is to protect your skin from the harmful UV rays. A tan usually fades away on its own as your skin naturally sheds the tanned skin cells and replaces them with new cells. However, if you want to lighten its appearance, you can opt for treatments with body tan removal creams or easy at-home remedies. Besides these, using a sunscreen lotion or cream is necessary to prevent further tanning and protect the skin from harmful rays.

A good skincare routine can go a long way in tan removal and keeping the skin healthy. The following body care steps for tanned skin are necessary to repair and renew your skin:

Cleanser: A mild cleanser that does not strip off the natural moisture from the skin is important to maintain the hydration in the skin tanning tends to deplete water levels. Even traditional cleansers like Ubtans that consist of brightening herbs and natural Vitamin C, work best as your daily tan removal body washes. 

Exfoliation is an extremely important step to accelerate the cell turnover and thereby reduce tan. Chemical (AHA’s and BHA’s) exfoliators can be used to remove dead skin cells and make the skin smooth and even. A body tan removal scrub like the Cane Sugar and Tamarind Body Polisher from Forest Essentials is an excellent natural option that is infused with raw cane sugar crystals along with cold pressed oils to mildly scrub the skin without being too harsh.  

Skin brightening products include potent ingredients in the form of a serum or moisturiser, which work effectively to reduce tan and help in skin repair as these products help in balancing the skin’s moisture and vitamin levels. There is a category of skin brightening herbs known as “Varnya” gan which have 10 exclusive herbs that help to add glow to the skin. Look for products that have this category of herbs such as Chandan, Manjistha, Ushira(Vetiver), Sariva, Liquorice etc.

Prevention is key. Follow the below steps in your body care routines to effectively prevent tan:

External management of skin: 

• • Cover yourself completely while going out during the day especially between the hours of 10am and 4pm. Try to avoid going outdoors during the peak hours of sunlight (10am to 2pm)
  • Swimming pools have chlorine laden water that tends to increase the skin darkening process. If you can’t avoid swimming, then make sure to apply a waterproof sunscreen, which gives higher protection in terms of SPF.
  • Consistent skin care is the key to achieve healthy and glowing skin. Always opt for suitable skin care and cosmetic products, specifically according to your skin type and concerns.
  • Use wide brimmed hats, sunglasses, scarfs, stoles, thin jackets and suncoats to cover your face and hands, which are most likely to be the first affected parts. 
  • Never leave the house without your sunscreen. Reapply often if the sun exposure is going to be for longer hours.

Internal management of skin

• • Stay hydrated. Drink an ample of water according to your health and metabolism and more in the summers, if you tend to get dehydrated easily.
  • Consume healthy, fibre-rich foods like vegetables and fruits to boost your skin’s immunity and prevent sun damage from within. Include antioxidant rich foods that help to slow down the ageing process, caused by UV rays. 

FAQ’s

What is a body tan?

Tanning is the process whereby our skin color gets darkened or tanned. It is most often caused by an increased amount of exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.

How do you get rid of a full body tan?

Covering yourself fully while going out, wearing an effective sunscreen, using daily tan removal products like cleansers or ubtans along with weekly exfoliators can help to get rid of tans effectively.

Can body tan be removed?

A tan is a temporary concern caused due to sun exposure. It can be reversed by using effective body tan removal products and shielding yourself from sun damage.  

Which product is best for body tan removal?

Body Polisher Cane Sugar and Tamarind by Forest Essentials is the best product for effective tan removal. Raw Sugar content exfoliates, intensively hydrates, and repairs the skin, leaving it gleaming and glossy. The refreshing citrus ingredients are rich in Vitamin C and are best incorporated to reduce dullness and dark skin.  

Does skin tanning permanently darken skin?

Gladly the sun never permanently darkens the skin. With the use of correct products and care the skin bounces back to its original color. However prolonged sun exposure may cause trauma to the skin causing sunburn and may take longer to repair.

References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanin
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanocyte
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_DNA_damage
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indirect_DNA_damage
https://skinkraft.com/blogs/articles/skin-care-routine
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_skin_color
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultraviolet