I am naturally fair, but due to sun my shin has darkened, so is there any way to get back my skin color?

A sun tan is the body’s natural defense mechanism against the ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun. When your skin is exposed to sunlight, cells called melanocytes that are present in the outer layer of the skin, increase the production of melanin. Melanin is a pigment that determines the color of your skin. It also protects the body against the harmful effects of UV rays. Unfortunately, a tan on one part of your body can look a little strange, especially if your natural skin color is fair.What can I do to prevent tanning? If you spend long hours toiling in the sunlight, it would be a good idea to keep as little of your body exposed as possible. Wear long sleeved shirts and trousers. You should also use a sunscreen lotion on the exposed parts of your body. A sunscreen lotion with an SPF of 15 to 30 is recommended, especially if you spend long hours exposed to the sun.

In addition to preventing sun tan, a good sunscreen lotion also protects you from the harmful effects of these UV rays. We live in a world that where the ozone layer is getting thinner day by day. The ozone layer blocks a lot of the UV rays that emanate from the sun. Unfortunately, the thinning of the ozone layer means that more of these harmful UV rays come through. So, a good sunscreen will not only protect you from tanning, it will also help avert serious ailments such as skin cancer.Home remedies to naturally lighten tanned skin. There are a number of home remedies that you can use to lighten the darkened skin on your shin.

• Lime juice is one of the most effect natural skin lightening agents. Cut a slice of lime and rub it over the darkened skin on your shin. Leave it on for a few hours and then wash it off. Follow this routine on a regular basis and you will soon see some improvement in the color of your skin. You can even mix lime juice with some turmeric paste for better results.
• Another effective skin lightening paste can be made from milk powder, honey, almond oil, and lemon juice. Mix the ingredients until they form a paste and apply it on the areas that have tanned. Wash off with water after some time.
• You can even use potatoes to lighten your skin color and get rid of a sun tan. Just place a few slices of raw potato on the affected parts of your body. Potatoes help to lighten skin color due to their high starch content.

Another excellent homemade pack for lightening skin color can be prepared from curd and ground and dried orange peels.

answered by G M

Home Remedies to reduce Sun Tan

It takes some time to get rid of the sun tan, so have patience and follow these simple home remedies:

• Have an oat meal bath. Just add a cup of uncooked oatmeal in the tub and 1 cup milk and soak the tanned skin in it for 20-25 minutes.
• Apply fresh raw potato juice or cucumber juice or vinegar or milk on the affected skin and wash it with warm water after 10-15 minutes. All these are very effective in removing tan; however they tend to make the skin dry. So if you already have dry skins then consider using a moisturizer after following this remedy.
• Aloe Vera gel (fresh) work wonders for removing your tan simply break open a fresh aloe leaf and use the inner contents to apply on the tanned area.
• Never forget to wear a sunscreen lotion 20 minutes with a sun protecting factor of more than 20 before you step out in sun to avoid further tanning.
• Avoid stepping out in sun between 10am to 3 pm as this is the time when the suns rays are most intense. Prefer to cover your neck and hands when you step out in sun when the rays are at its highest peak.

answered by Dr S