Protect arms from sun's rays

Wish to bare arms when the sun shines bright, but scared of putting your tanned arms on display? Save them by using sun protection products. Celebrity dermatologist Kiran Lohia shares tips for keeping your arms gorgeous:

Prevention with sunblock: A lot of tanning and discoloration occurs due to the ravages of UVA and UVB rays. UVA causes long-lasting pigmentation, freckles and wrinkled skin, while UVB rays cause tanning. It is vital to protect against both types of UV rays. Wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen will help you do that. Look for SPF 30 with PA++ and above for the best coverage. SPF refers to UVB protection and PA++ refers to UVA protection. Wear copious amount of sunscreen and re-apply every four hours for the best result!

Cover up: The fact is that sun exposure is the number one cause of freckles and darkened arms. So if you do not wear sleeveless and instead wear long sleeves when going outside, you will find that your arms will stay smooth. The problem is that it's mighty hard to wear long sleeves in 40-degree weather! So when it's hot, you can instead wear light cotton fabrics in light colours to help provide a physical protection to your arms.

The natural solution: For mild pigmentation and for those with patience, there are natural options. 'Ubtans' can help get rid of tan because they exfoliate the dull, old and dead skin cells, revealing newer and brighter skin underneath. For an effective 'ubtan', combine buttermilk and chickpea flour. Apply it on your skin and let it dry.

Then rub it off and wash. Do this once or twice a week. Another option is to create a natural scrub. For softer arm skin, combine sugar crystals with rose oil. Apply while in the shower using gentle circular motions and then wash off. Do this once a week for the ultimate glow.