A pigment called melanin is responsible for the color of the skin. Melanin production is higher in individuals with dark skin and lower in fair skinned individuals. Hyper pigmentation is a condition that arises when an excess of melanin is produced in the body. This usually occurs due to over exposure of the skin to the sun. Sun rays contain UV radiation which can have harmful effects on the body. In an attempt to protect the skin from these adverse effects, the body cells called melanocytes begin to produce melanin. This increased production of melanin causes the appearance of darkened patches on the skin. The areas that are most prone to hyper pigmentation are the neck, arms, elbows and feet, as these areas are often left exposed to the sun. Since you are fair skinned, these areas appear more prominent and darker.
There are several easy to do home remedies that help greatly in lightening the skin and in reducing dark spots. You can make a paste of one teaspoon each of honey, milk powder, lime juice and half a teaspoon of almond oil. Apply this to the darkened areas of the body. This will reduce the tan and also make the skin soft and smooth. Rubbing the affected areas gently with a pack of oatmeal, tomato juice and curd is effective in lightening the skin. Leave this pack on for twenty minutes and then wash with cool water. Potato is a natural bleaching agent and grated potato can be applied to the skin. You can also rub the dark areas with a slice of potato. This will help greatly in lightening the areas. Turmeric is an age old remedy used for lightening the skin. Mix some turmeric powder with a couple of drops of lemon juice and massage into the darkened skin. Use this remedy on a regular basis for best results.
Dried orange peels may be mixed with curd and applied to the skin. Keep this on for fifteen minutes before rinsing it off with cold water. A paste of almond works very well to get rid of tanned areas. You can soak five almonds in water and allow it to stay overnight. Grind these into a paste the next morning and apply to the skin before going to bed. Rinse it off the next day with cold water. Another good remedy for tanned skin is to mix a tablespoon of gram flour with a couple of teaspoons of raw milk and a few drops of lemon juice. Grated tomato mixed with lemon juice may also be applied to the affected areas.