Outrageous! I got tanned at the beginning of summer? How can I get my skin white again quickly?

Many people should feel it

Temperatures are rising this week

Facing the ravages of summer

Some people have already done sun protection

Some people have already tanned...

But it's not a big problem, there is still hope.

Let’s talk about it today

Accidentally got tanned

How can I go back for free?

Rely on it to recover slowly on its own, the answer is so simple.

During the process of skin darkening caused by ultraviolet rays, it may undergo three changes:

1. Instant blackening

2. Continuous darkening

3. Delayed pigmentation

The first two changes disappear within hours to days , while the third may last for several months.

Over a few months, the melanin that has formed will slowly migrate to the skin surface as the skin metabolizes, and will fall off with the aging keratin.

So, believe in your body's natural repair ability. Just be patient and wait, your skin will become whiter one day!

The prerequisite is to do a good job of sun protection, otherwise the old dark spots will not go away but new dark spots will come.

Of course, the answer everyone wants is definitely not this one, but the one that can make your hair whiter faster by trying hard.

There is such a method! Read on!

There are mainly two aspects:

Keep your skin moisturized

The significance of good moisturizing is to maintain the water content of the skin's stratum corneum and ensure the normal replacement of keratinocytes.

Compared with dry skin, hydrated skin has a more "comfortable" overall living environment and a better repair effect.

Whitening and repairing products

Topical products containing vitamin E, vitamin C, niacinamide, arbutin, tranexamic acid and other ingredients can be used as daily care and at the same time, sun protection can have a certain effect on brightening the skin tone.

Image source: Photo Network

Of course, these ingredients work differently, and there is a science to choosing them. Let me explain in detail:

1. Whitening by reducing melanin production:

Kojic Acid: A naturally derived whitening ingredient that is gentle yet effective, suitable for most skin types.

Arbutin: It reduces melanin production by inhibiting tyrosinase activity and is a widely used whitening ingredient.

Azelaic acid: It not only inhibits melanin production, but also has anti-inflammatory effects, making it suitable for acne patients.

These ingredients are all tyrosinase inhibitors , which reduce the formation of melanin by inhibiting tyrosinase, thereby reducing pigmentation at the source and gradually brightening the skin tone.

Image source: Photo Network

2. Whitening by inhibiting the transfer of melanin to keratinocytes:

Retinoids: Promote skin cell renewal, help reduce melanin deposition, suitable for acne patients, but need to be used under the guidance of a doctor.

Retinoic acid: A powerful whitening and anti-acne ingredient, but it is highly irritating. It should be used with caution or prohibited by women who are preparing for pregnancy, pregnant, or breastfeeding. It is best used under the guidance of a doctor.

3. Whitening by exfoliating part of the stratum corneum (also known as "acid peeling"):

Fruit acids: such as lactic acid, citric acid, etc., gently exfoliate and promote cell renewal.

Salicylic acid: Suitable for oily skin and acne-prone skin, it reduces blackheads and acne by dissolving the oil in the stratum corneum.

According to the characteristics of these whitening ingredients, friends can choose whitening products according to their skin type and needs.

Image source: Photo Network

Friends who suffer from acne can give priority to skin care products containing retinoids or azelaic acid ;

Friends with sensitive skin can give priority to whitening products containing kojic acid, arbutin or niacinamide .

Note: If your skin is very sensitive, or if your skin is already red, itchy, or peeling, please go to the dermatology department of a hospital first. It is not recommended to use whitening products directly.

If your skin color is still not good after resting for about a month, you can also consider improving your skin color through medical beauty methods, such as laser beauty with intense pulsed light (IPL). However, it is recommended to wait 3-4 weeks after sun exposure before undergoing relevant treatment .

As long as your wallet can handle it, other problems are not a big deal.

By the way, although we generally believe that the UVA band in ultraviolet rays is the main cause of tanning , while the UVB band mainly causes sunburn.

But in fact, sunburn can also cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, exacerbating the darkening of the skin.

Therefore, prevention and repair of sunburn are also very important.

1. First, apply cold compress: You can use cold towels or gauze to cool down, or wrap ice cubes in gauze for cold compress, but don't apply ice cubes directly to avoid frostbite. Using spray to cool down is also a good choice.

Image source: Photo Network

2. Treatment of blisters: If the blister is large, you can open it along the wall, use gauze to dry the liquid, stick the blister skin back to the original place to avoid infection, and wait for it to heal naturally. If it is a small blister, do not open it, and wait for it to absorb and heal naturally.

Please note that the fluid in the blisters is tissue fluid exudate, not "venom".

3. Prevent infection: If the blister skin is accidentally broken, you can use erythromycin ointment, Bactroban, fusidic acid cream and other medicines to prevent infection and help repair the epidermis.

4. Use of moisturizing lotion: It is not recommended to use skin care products immediately after sun exposure, especially for skin with blisters or ulcers, to avoid contaminating the damaged area and causing secondary infection. Wait until the blisters on the exposed area subside and the epidermis heals before resuming normal use.

Image source: Photo Network

5. Do a good job of post-sun repair on your limbs: You can use a body lotion containing fruit acid. Fruit acid can improve the adhesion of skin stratum corneum cells, promote epidermal metabolism, help melanin migrate out as soon as possible, and achieve a whitening effect.

Blisters caused by sunburn are located on the epidermis and are shallow in position.

If you follow the above care steps after sun exposure, there is no secondary infection, and the skin repairs at a normal rate, no scars will occur and the skin color will recover better.

Finally, I would like to remind everyone that if you want whiter skin, the best way is to do a good job of sun protection.

It’s always better to apply sunscreen and wear sun-protective clothing than to deal with it later!

Statement: This article is a medical-related educational popular science article. It does not involve specific treatment methods or medical behaviors and cannot replace hospital visits.

Experts collaborating on this article

References

[1] Liu Wei. Photobiological basis of skin tanning[J]. Chinese Journal of Dermatology, 2004, (12): 62-64.

[2] Liu Wei. Photobiological basis of skin tanning[J]. Chinese Journal of Dermatology, 2004, (12): 62-64.

[3] Zhou Zhishan, Li Benyue, Liu Haijun, et al. Current status of research on body skin whitening[J]. Guangdong Chemical Industry, 2023, 50(22): 70-73.

[4] Gong Quanquan, Xie Lianke, Dong Yanjun, et al. A systematic review of the research on the influencing factors of sunburn in the population[J]. Environmental and Occupational Medicine, 2023, 40(01): 101-106.

Content Production

Editor: Zhang Fuyao

Map: Eastern Zhou Dynasty