Fitzpatrick Skin Types

• Pale white skin - Always burns, does not tan
• Fair skin - Burns easily, tans poorly
• Dark white skin - Tans after initial burns
• Light brown skin - Tans easily after minimal burns
• Brown skin - Easily tans darkly, rarely burns
• Dark brown or black skin - Always tans darkly but never burns

Types of Tanning

1. Immediate pigment darkening

• This tan develops immediately after UVB and/or UVA exposure and maximises within a few hours. Therefore, this results in free radicals gathering on the skin and damaging the DNA.
• The pigment that is already present in the skin is redistributed and no new melanin granules are produced. Moreover, the thickness of the dead skin cells’ layer ends up increasing.

2. Delayed pigment darkening

• This tan develops immediately after overexposure to UVB rays that cause sunburns. In fact, this type of tanning begins 2 to 3 days after the overexposure and maximises after two weeks.
• It occurs when the skin cell’s DNA has been damaged by the UVB. The skin produces more melanin pigment granules and spreads them out in the living layer of the skin, thereby forming the tan. This tan also causes an increase in the dead skin cell layers, hence thickening it and providing some sun protection.

Skin problems caused by sun tan

Skin conditions associated with overexposure to UVA and UVB rays include:

• Acne
• Fine lines
• Wrinkles
• Dark spots
• Hyperpigmentation
• Premature aging of skin
• Sunburns
• Skin cancer

Treatments for Tan Removal

Tanning is a result of overexposure to harmful UVA and UVB rays. Moreover, these rays penetrate the skin and affect the DNA. In fact, this can often cause long-term damage.

Tanning causes an accumulation of pigmented cells. Moreover, it also causes an increase in the dead skin cell layers. This makes the skin look dull and dry.  In addition, it may also result in the formation of sunspots, fine lines and wrinkles. However, skin tan removal is possible. There are different topical applications, home remedies and certain medical procedures to reduce skin tanning.  Some of the suntan removal methods are elaborated here:

• Topical Applications:

Topical creams and gels that contain retinoids, vitamins C, E, and other antioxidants are a good option. They help to increase collagen & lighten spots. Moreover, alpha and beta hydroxy acids help to exfoliate dead skin cells to stimulate faster skin cell turnover.

• Chemical Peels: 

Chemical peels help to exfoliate dead skin cells. They also aid the regeneration of skin cells by removing tanned skin layers. Moreover, these peels come in different concentration strengths and remove the superficial dead skin layers that have excessive melanin. Chemical peels may be superficial, medium or deep can be performed as indicated. They require longer recovery time.Chemical peels are mostly safe if done by experts. However, mild side-effects such as irritation, redness, and peeling of the skin are common.

• Microdermabrasion:

Microdermabrasion is a non-invasive, non-chemical procedure that involves manual exfoliation of the top layer of the epidermis. Therefore, it improves the appearance of sun-damaged skin by removing the outermost layer of dry skin. In fact, it also exfoliates dead skin cells to reveal younger, healthier-looking skin.

Moreover, microdermabrasion should not be performed if the patient is taking tretinoin for acne in the past 6 months, or anti-inflammatory medication (NSAIDs) in the past week. In fact, this procedure can suit any skin type and is completely painless. Microdermabrasion increases cell turnover, reduces scarring and smoothes skin.

• Laser Therapy:

Stubborn tans and pigmentation can be removed using laser therapy. Laser therapy is a non-invasive treatment that uses light to repair and regenerate damaged skin cells. In this procedure, damaged skin is exposed to a low-level red laser, which penetrates the skin up to three inches. This induces the skin to produce fresh and healthy skin cells, thereby improving the skin’s aesthetic appeal. Dermatologists use the Fractional Q switched 1064 Nd YAG laser for skin tan removal. Laser therapy for pigmentation and tan removal improves the healing response of skin and stimulates collagen production. It also increases the blood circulation to the skin and reduces inflammation.

• Intense pulsed light (IPL):

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) delivers a light emission which removes pigmented spots. The device coagulates and evacuates the blood vessels present beneath the skin surface and stimulates collagen production from fibroblast cells. A gel is applied to the skin after which an intensely bright light is pulsed through a chilled sapphire gem which is connected to the face. 

IPL can correct many skin conditions with minimal downtime. Moreover, it helps to create clearer, more vibrant and youthful skin through a process called photorejuvenation. In fact, dermatologists usually recommend one to five sessions.

Anti-Tan Treatment: What to Expect

• You may experience redness in the area of the face after treatment.
• Mild swelling may be seen in the treated area.
• A mild stinging sensation may be felt during the procedure. This is normal, however, inform your doctor if it becomes very uncomfortable for you.

Why choose ClearSkin for Skin Tan Removal Treatment in Pune?

ClearSkin is an advanced skin and hair care clinic in Pune that offers the best available treatment options for all your dermatological problems. Here, we have the latest in skin tan removal treatments that are provided by qualified dermatologists who have made a lot of clients happy and satisfied. We use the latest FDA approved machines and treatment methodologies so you can be assured of the best results.