Summers are about to reach its zenith and the first dread that envelopes us is losing the beauty of our fair, glowing skin in the sun.

Many times, even after soaking the skin in sunscreen and wrapping it in gloves and scarf, the sun somehow manages to sneak in. It’s actually, quite impossible to be all covered and protected whenever you move out!

And then, much to your disgust, you develop a strong tan on your body. How you hate to look into the mirror… at a face that has darkened beyond recognition!

In Indians, melanin formation is higher than other people of the world, thus, you have to wait longer for the tan to fade away.

But, like always, Indians also have a number of home remedies to accelerate this process. Here is the best of remedies to remove the tan from your body and face.

• Take a few teaspoons of hot coconuts oil, add 1 to 2 pieces of camphor and apply to the affected area every night before going to bed. You can also make a paste of sandalwood powder mixed with coconut oil and almond oil. Apply the paste on the exposed area and leave it for some time before washing off with cold water.

• Another thing that you can do is, apply butter milk using cotton on the tanned areas.

• If you have formed patches on your skin because of the tan, some cucumber juice will do you some good. Just rub the cucumber slices on your face, neck and arms.

• And of course, the evergreen… or rather yellow… home remedy-HALDI-works here too! Apply before taking a bath or washing your face to lighten the tan.

If your tan has developed into a more serious form, a sunburn, there are remedies for this too. Sunburn is caused due to overexposure to ultraviolet rays. It can cause a lot of itching and discomfort to the skin.

• Milk is the best remedy for any kind of burns. Applying a cloth dipped in milk to the burn will provide relief. Similarly, applying ice to the area will also be beneficial to any kind of burns including sunburns.

• Rub the area with mustard oil and leave for sometime. It will pull out the heat from the affected area, providing relief from itching and redness.

• Keeping cold tea bags on the area also helps remove tanning from the sunburns.

• Make a mixture of yogurt, turmeric (haldi) and barley and apply it on the affected areas. Applying any cream containing vitamin E to the affected areas also reduces itching.

• Finally, for ultimate relief and relaxation from the sunburns: Pour one small box of baking soda to the bathtub and immerse the body in it.

We wish all the tanning and sunburns could be simply rubbed off our skin. But sadly, the sun affects us deep inside. Now, with all these remedies, you can certainly accelerate the pace of curing and fading of the tan.