Now that summer is starting, many of us are happy to be able to give color to our skin to make it look tanned, while others don’t know how to hide from the sun and avoid some of its effects, such as sunburn.
For these girls who want to know how to lighten sunburned skinThese are the best tips to lighten that reddened tone and return the skin to its natural color.
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Why the skin burns and changes color with the sun
Melanin is a pigment found inside the cells of the dermis and is responsible for giving our skin color, which is predetermined by our genetics. Melanin is also responsible for protect us from the sun’s ultraviolet raysIt is also responsible for protecting us from the sun’s ultraviolet rays, so that our skin does not burn or suffer effects such as loss of elasticity and aging.
Do we need sun exposure? Yes, because its light helps us to produce vitamin E. But direct and excessive rays of the sun can be quite damaging. When the skin is too much exposed to the sunWhen the skin is exposed to the sun, it produces a greater amount of melanin to protect the cells. This is why when we tan we take on darker tones, which fade as these cells are lost as they reach the surface of the skin.
When this exposure to the sun is even greater, UV rays penetrate the layers of the skin.This can cause sunburn and even damage or kill the cells found in the deepest layers, leading to cancer.
This is why we must be super conscious of our exposure to the sun and use sunscreens and suntan lotions that allow you to take that color that you like so much, but at the same time keep your skin protected, especially now that the ozone layer of the planet is terribly weakened.
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Recipes to lighten sunburned skin.
Now that you know the cellular process that occurs with melanin and the sun, we teach you how to get that excess melanin out of our skin and how to lighten sunburned skin. and how to lighten sunburned skin.
And as they say “it’s better to be safe than sorry”, so don’t forget to use sunscreen every day on your face even if you don’t see the sun, as well as tanning creams or sunscreens with sun factor for the days at the beach.
1. Consume foods rich in vitamin C and D.
This is a first step to support the other recipes we are going to give you and to give your skin a boost from the inside as well. Especially during the days following sun exposure make sure you have a balanced nutrition, rich in fruits and vegetables with high vitamin C and D content, so that the skin’s cellular processes are stimulated..
Drink your 2 liters of water a day without fail, because your skin needs water and hydration helps to eliminate toxins and renew cells.
2. Exfoliate your skin
Exfoliations are excellent to get rid of dead skin cells and stimulate skin regeneration. Instantly you will notice it is brighter and smoother and you will begin to see how it starts to lose its dark tone.
Do this twice a week to lighten sunburned skin. When applying it, apply it in an upward motion over the body and massage it in a circular motion, without using too much force so as not to irritate the skin.
You can choose an exfoliating scrub from a brand (without parabens) or make a natural exfoliating scrub at home. Make sure that part of the ingredients of the scrub are glycolic acid (oranges and lemons) and/or lactic acid (milk, yogurt).
If you decide on a natural homemade exfoliating scrub we recommend a scrub made with oatmeal, milk, brown sugar and strawberries. To prepare it you need 2 tablespoons of oat flakes, 2 cups of milk or natural yogurt, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and 1 cup of crushed strawberries. Mix all the ingredients until you get a homogeneous mixture.
To apply it, take the mixture and apply it on the skin you want to lighten (clean) massaging in a circular motion. Leave on for 15 minutes and remove with warm water, then moisturize with cream or oil.
- Related article: “How to exfoliate the face (with 6 effective home remedies)”.
3. Egg whites
If you do not know how to lighten sunburned skin, egg white is the answer, because it is great for this task due to its high protein content.
All you need to do is mix the whites of three eggs with a blender until it looks like a foam; when it is ready, you can distribute it on sunburned skin and leave it on for 15 minutes, then remove it for 15 minutes, then remove with lukewarm water. Repeat the application during the week as many times as you need.
4. Papaya mask
Papaya is another fruit that works very well to lighten sunburned skin, while you enjoy its delicious aroma. Just mash the papaya pulp until it turns into a puree and apply it directly on the skin.
Leave it on for at least 15 minutes and remove with cold water. Don’t forget to moisturize afterwards with your usual moisturizing cream or or with oils.
5. Other professional methods
There are specific treatments from different brands to lighten sunburned skin and remove blemishes, which you can find at the drugstore.
If you are looking for something more severe you can also opt for dermabrasion, a treatment that must be done by a professional.a treatment that must be done by a professional. It consists of removing the superficial layers of the skin with aluminum particles to get rid of skin imperfections, leaving only the cells that are able to regenerate.