how long does it take for tan to fade

how long does it take for a tan to fade?

by Dylan Baker
Updated on

So, how long does it take for a tan to fade completely?

In the scorching sun, no matter how many precautions you take, getting tanned is something that is extremely hard to avoid.

Even people who literally lather and drown themselves in sunscreen cannot escape from tanning their skin by staying in the sun for too long.

Now if you ask how long does it take for a tan to fade the most reasonable answer would be that it can vary from 7 days to a month or even more than depending on various factors.

The skin tone, complexion, texture of the skin, and a lot more play a huge role in determining how long it takes for a tan to fade. 

Just knowing how long it takes for a tan to fade is probably not enough. You must be aware of what actually causes our skin to tan so much, the ways in which we can help in preventing tanning of the skin, and most importantly the remedies which will help in speeding up the process of fading a tan from our skin. 

Without further ado, let’s get into details of how, why, and ways to speed up the process of fading a tan without beating around the bush! 

What is Melanin? 

The tanning of your skin is actually caused by the secretion of melanin into your skin.

The melanin content determines how pale or dark someone’s skin complexion will be.

Now we must know why melanin is produced in our skin. The answer to this is that the skin needs to protect itself from the harmful radiations of the sun rays called UV rays which are known to cause skin cancer among humans.

In order to protect the skin from these harmful rays, our body secretes melatonin into our skin. Melanin acts as a shield and protective layer against the harmful UV rays from the sun. 

You will notice most people who belong to tropical and hot regions have darker skin tones as compared to people living in colder regions like America or Canada.

This is the major reason why people in hotter regions produce more melanin content into the skin to protect them from the sun’s rays. 

While many people deliberately soak themselves in the sun rays just to get that bronze skin texture, others are not fan of it.

Age is a big factor

When our skin is still new, fresh, and young, it easily adapts to changes but as we age, our skin becomes quite resistant to changes.

For most people in their teen years and even early 20s, a tan takes about 7 to 10 days to start fading.

The complete fading of tan with no trace takes almost 21 days to a month.

As the age increases this time span increases, it becomes more difficult for old people to get rid of a tan because of wrinkled skin and texture. 

But there are ways in which you can speed up the process which will share in this article.

Exposure to Sun 

Another very important factor which determine how long it will take for your tan to fade is the amount of time for which you are staying outside in the sun.

Even if you are already tanned and you keep exposing your skin in the scorching sun thinking, “I am already tanned, I cant get more tan”, you are wrong!

In order to help the tan from fading from your skin, you need to completely block your exposure to the sun. 

You can sit at your home for a few days so that your skin gets the required time to cool and heal from the sun damage but its not feasible for most people.

Avoid staying in direct sunlight for too long and try to completely cover your skin by wearing fully covered clothing, gloves and hats and apply a good sunscreen. 

It is extremely important to avoid sun if you want the tan to fade quickly, otherwise no matter how many remedies and precautions you take, the skin condition will eventually get worse and even cause red skin and sunburn where extreme tanning causes peeling of the skin layer and unbearable pain! 

remedies to remove tan

Chickpea Flour and Turmeric :

One of the most effective ways to get rid of tan is by applying a paste of gram flour and turmeric to your skin.

Both of these are common food ingredients in southasian cooking and you can buy them from your local or store or you can order it online.

The process of application is quite easy .

  • Take a few tablespoons of gram flour.
  •  Dash a pinch of turmeric in it.
  •  Add water in it to form a thick paste. 
  • Apply it to your tanned areas to form a smooth layer. 
  • Leave it until it dries and rinse it off.  

Yogurt and Honey :

Another effective way of getting rid of tan is to apply a paste of Yogurt and honey on your tanned skin.

Yogurt is known to have acidic properties which help in reducing skin pigmentation caused by excess melanin secretion and honey has healing properties which help in maintaining the pH balance of the skin. 

  • Take a few tablespoons of yogurt in a bowl. 
  • Add a tablespoon of honey into it. 
  • Mix it properly to form a paste. 
  • Apply it all over your skin and tanned areas.
  • Leave the paste on your skin until it dries. 
  • Rinse it off with lukewarm water. 

 Tomato 

Perhaps, the easiest remedy to fade a tan would be the use of tomatoes. Tomatoes are already available at our homes and do not require forming any mixture or paste for application. All you have to do is follow this more than a simple process. 

  • Chop a tomato into tiny pieces. 
  • Rub it onto the tanned area in circular motion. 
  • Do the same for a few minutes on your skin. 
  • Leave the tomato juice on your skin till it dries. 
  • Rinse it off using lukewarm water. 

Sunscreen 

Even if you have come back from the beach or you are only going out during the daytime for a few minutes, it is still important to wear sunscreen to help fade a tan.

The application of sunscreen is extremely important when it comes to protecting your skin from sun damage. 

The SPF content of a sunscreen is the most important determining factor of how much the cream can protect you from tanning. A sunscreen with a higher SPF provides more coverage and safety as compared to an SPF of lower SPF quantity. 

Though a lot of people widely misunderstand the application of SPF. Just because sunscreen provides higher SPF does not mean you can stay out in the sun for long hours and not get tanned or burned at all. That is now how the SPF content of sunscreen works.

If one needs to stay outdoors for a long period of time, one must apply sunscreen at regular intervals of 30 to 60 minutes for the sunscreen to work and protect you from tanning.

The sunscreen must be at least over 30 SPF to work efficiently and help to fade a tan. Any sunscreen with an SPF lower than that of 30 will not help in preventing you from suntan.  

the bottom line:

These were all the important details you need to know under one roof about tanning of the skin, how long does it take for a tan to fade, and not just how but also what can you do to prevent your skin from tanning along with ways to prevent your skin from the harsh sun rays which cause sunburn or tanning.

Make sure you use all these tips and tricks to get rid of that stubborn suntan and flaunt your glowing skin again! 

Make sure to protect your skin using sunscreen, covered clothing, sunglasses, hats, and so on, and avoid subjecting your skin to the damage and worries caused by tanning and excess melanin formation. 

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About the author

Dylan Baker

Dylan is a Men's fashion and image consultant, He is also the man behind Dapperclan. He is extremely passionate about fashion and wants to help men style and look better.

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