✕

How To Remove Tan From The Hands

Easy DIY remedies to fade unwanted tanning and restore your original skin tone.

Medically Reviewed by Dr. CP Thajudheen, MD
By Sucharita Mishra
How To Remove Tan From The Hands

Sunbathing and vacationing go hand in hand. Because our hands are exposed most extensively to the sun’s rays, they take the most damage. Prolonged sun exposure, especially if you have forgotten the sunscreen, results in blotchy and tanned skin on the hands and can make you self-conscious in social situations. Luckily, you can remove tan from your hands by following simple home remedies.

Continue reading and try these home remedies to remove tan from your hands.

Why Do We Get Tanned? 

Tan is the pigmentation in your skin when it is exposed to excessive sunlight. Melanin is the pigment that gives your skin its color. On exposure to sunlight, your skin overproduces melanin, thereby imparting a tanned look. This also often makes your skin look dull.

Contrary to popular belief, melanin production in your skin is not mere pigmentation but your body’s mechanism to protect you from harmful UV rays of the sun. This makes it imperative to protect your hands and prevent unwanted tanning. We have discussed prevention tips later in this article.

Let’s first look at a few home remedies that can help fade the tan on your hands.

Home Remedies To Fade Tan From Your Hands 

1. Yogurt

Yogurt to remove tan from hands

Shutterstock

Yogurt contains L-cysteine peptide, a compound that is known to suppress tyrosinase activity (1). This helps reverse the effects of excessive pigmentation and fades the tan from your hands.

You Will Need
What You Have To Do
  1. Mix a few tablespoons of yogurt with lemon juice.
  2. Apply this paste on your hands and leave it on for 15 minutes.
  3. Wash it off with plain water.
How Often You Should This

You can apply this paste on your hands one to two times every week.

Caution: Do not forget to carry out a patch test before you use this remedy as lemon juice can cause skin irritation.

2. Tomato

Tomato to remove tan from hands

Shutterstock

Tomatoes are rich in bioactive compounds called carotenoids that function as photo protectants (2). They can reduce the tan caused by harmful UV rays of the sun.

You Will Need

2 medium-sized tomatoes

What You Have To Do
  1. Blend the tomatoes to make a thick paste.
  2. Apply this paste on your hands.
  3. Leave on for 15 minutes and wash it off with water.
How Often You Should This

You can do this two times a week.

3. Lemon Juice

Lemon juice to remove tan from hands

Shutterstock

Vitamin C or ascorbic acid is the major constituent of lemon juice. It is known to have anti-pigmentary properties that can help in reducing the effects of skin tan (3).

You Will Need
  • A lemon
  • Water
  • Cotton ball
What You Have To Do
  1. Extract the juice of a lemon. Dilute it with water.
  2. Soak a cotton ball in it and apply it to the hands.
  3. After 15-20 minutes, rinse it off with water.
How Often You Should This

Repeat this two times a week.

Caution: Lemon juice can cause a stinging sensation on your skin. Please do a patch test before trying this remedy. It also increases the sensitivity of your skin to UV light. Hence, make sure you use diluted lemon juice and wash it off thoroughly after the specified duration.

4. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera to remove tan from hands

Shutterstock

Aloe vera contains bioactive compounds (aloesin, aloe emodin, and aloin) that suppress tyrosinase activity (4). This translates to reduced pigmentation on your skin.

You Will Need
  • 2-3 teaspoons of aloe vera gel
  • 1 teaspoon honey
What You Have To Do
  1. Extract the gel from the aloe vera leaf and mix it with honey.
  2. Apply this pack on your hands and leave it on for 10 minutes.
  3. Wash it off with plain water.
How Often You Should This

For best results, apply this paste on your hands two to three times every week.

5. Cucumber

Cucumber to remove tan from hands

Shutterstock

Cucumber not only has moisturizing properties but also contains bioactive compounds (like trans, cis-2,6-nonadienal) that inhibit tyrosinase activity and reverse the effects of sun tan (5).

You Will Need
  • A cucumber
  • 1 tablespoon aloe vera gel
What You Have To Do
  1. Slice half a cucumber and blend it in a blender.
  2. Add a tablespoon of aloe vera gel to this and mix well.
  3. Apply this mixture on your hands and rinse off.
How Often You Should This

Apply this once a week until the tan disappears.

6. Papaya

Papaya to remove tan from hands

Shutterstock

Papaya extracts act as exfoliants and can help slough away dead skin cells from the surface of your skin (6). This helps in fading the tan on your hands.

You Will Need
  • 1 ripe papaya
  • 1 lemon
What You Have To Do
  1. Blend the papaya into a puree and add a teaspoon of lemon juice to it.
  2. Mix well and apply it to your hands.
  3. Rinse off with water after 15-20 minutes.
How Often You Should This

Repeat two times a week.

Caution: Do a patch test before you use this remedy as lemon juice can cause skin irritation.

7. Honey

Honey to remove tan form hands

Shutterstock

Honey has excellent moisturizing properties and promotes tissue repair. It not only softens your skin and makes it smooth but also contains antioxidants that reverse the skin damage caused by UV rays (7), (8).

You Will Need
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 lemon
What You Have To Do.
  1. Extract the juice from a lemon and add honey to it.
  2. Apply this mixture to your hands.
  3. Wash it off with water after 10-15 minutes.
How Often You Should This

Apply this paste two times a week.

Caution: Carry out a patch test before you use this remedy as lemon juice can irritate your skin.

8. Orange Peel

Orange peel to remove tan from hands

Shutterstock

Studies show that the peel of an orange contains compounds that can suppress melanogenesis and reverse the effects of sun tan (9).

You Will Need
What You Have To Do
  1. Mix the ingredients to make a fine paste.
  2. Apply on your hands and leave it on for 15 minutes.
  3. Rinse off with water.
How Often You Should This

You can do this two times a week.

9. Turmeric

Turmeric to remove tan from hands

Shutterstock

Turmeric contains curcumin that inhibits melanogenesis (10). This leads to reduced production of melanin, thereby fading the tan on your hands.

You Will Need
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 1 teaspoon of milk
What You Have To Do
  1. Prepare a pack using the ingredients above and apply it to your hands.
  2. Leave it on until it dries.
  3. Wash your hands thoroughly with water
How Often You Should This

Do this once every week until the tan disappears.

10. Saffron

Saffron to remove tan from hands

Shutterstock

Saffron is widely used in traditional medicine to restore the natural complexion. Research shows that it has a moisturizing effect on your skin and also eliminates the damage to your skin caused by UV rays of the sun (11).

You Will Need
  • ¼ cup of fresh milk
  • A few strands of saffron
What You Have To Do
  1. Soak the saffron strands in milk for 2 hours.
  2. Strain the milk and apply it to the tanned areas.
  3. Wash it off with plain water after 10-15 minutes.
How Often You Should This 

Do this 1-2 times a week.

This was a list of simple home remedies that can help lighten the tan on your hands. Now, let’s see how you can prevent getting tanned.

Tips To Prevent Your Hands From Tanning

  • Use sun-protective clothing.
  • Use sunscreen before stepping out into the sun.
  • Do not forget to reapply sunscreen upon prolonged exposure to sunlight.
  • Always wash your hands and apply hand cream before you sleep.

Exposure to the sun for extended periods without sunscreen can lead to tanned hands. Tanning is the body’s mechanism of protecting the skin from harmful UV rays. You can try simple natural remedies at home to remove the tan from your hands. Using organic ingredients such as yogurt, orange peel, tomatoes, lemon, honey, or aloe vera twice a week may help lighten the tan on your hands. Taking precautionary measures such as applying sunscreen and wearing sun-protective clothing can prevent tanning in the first place.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a tan permanent?

Tanning by exposure to sunlight need not be permanent. However, if you regularly get tanned by artificial methods, you could be subjecting your skin to permanent damage.

Does bleach remove tan?

Bleach can remove tan, but not to a large extent. However, regular use of bleach can cause severe damage to your skin.

How long does sunburn take to heal?

Mild sunburn can take up to 2-3 days to heal. If you have a more severe burn, it can take more than 10 days to heal.

Sources

Articles on StyleCraze are backed by verified information from peer-reviewed and academic research papers, reputed organizations, research institutions, and medical associations to ensure accuracy and relevance. Check out our editorial policy for further details.
Was this article helpful?
thumbsupthumbsdown
The following two tabs change content below.

Sucharita Mishra

Sucharita Mishra has a Master’s degree in Biotechnology and specializes in writing on Health and Wellness. She has worked on... more

Dr. CP Thajudheen

(MD)
Dr. CP Thajudheen has over 20 years of experience in various lasers, light-based devices, and other advanced equipment. He was... more