Permanent Tan Lines

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The unwanted streaks and lines caused by a tan can be really frustrating, especially if you’re looking to achieve an even, glowing tan all over.

It can be challenging to deal with tan lines that develop from sun tanning, as you cannot simply remove the tan from your skin like you can with fake tanners.

How do you get rid of permanent tan lines?

Getting rid of permanent tan lines takes some time and patience. You cannot remove them instantly, as the tan is rooted in the top layers of your skin, and there isn’t much you can do to easily rid your skin of this. You can conceal the tan lines with bronzer, but it will take time to completely eliminate them.

You might be tempted to spend more time in the sun to even out the tan lines, but there are better options than putting your skin through more sun damage.

Below are some tips on how to fade your tan lines and how long it might take.

How Long Do Tan Lines Take To Fade?

Tans are not permanent, so they will fade over time, and with them, tan lines will fade too. Generally, tans begin to fade after 7–10 days.

This is when the skin naturally begins to exfoliate and shed, taking the tan along with it.

As the tan fades, the tan lines will begin to even out more, as they will no longer be as light in contrast to your darker tan.

The tan lines might not fade within 10 days, but if you avoid going into the sun and developing a tan further than this for some time, they should even out over time.

To help the tan fade evenly, keep your skin hydrated after your tanning session. Keeping your skin moisturized means that your skin cells will not shed irregularly, and the tan will fade uniformly as a whole.

How To Get Rid Of Tan Lines

Some people choose to spend more time in the sun to even out their tan lines, but we do not recommend this practice.

Instead, here are some easier ways to fix tan lines, both quickly and over a longer period:

Use Bronzer

Using bronzer is the quickest way to cover up tan lines. Apply the bronzer to your skin, focusing on the tan lines to blend them more evenly.

The bronzer will wash off the first time you shower, but it will do a great job of blurring out the tan lines.

Use Self-Tanner

Self-tanner takes a little longer to develop than bronzer, but it will also last longer.

The self-tanner can be applied all over your skin, focusing on the tan lines, and will develop over a few hours to give you an even tan without the tan lines being too obvious.

The tan lines might still be slightly visible, but a self-tanner will definitely help even out the contrast between the tan and the lighter tan lines.

Exfoliate Your Skin

A tan fades when your skin naturally exfoliates, and you can quicken this process by exfoliating your skin using a body scrub or an exfoliating mitt.

You can lightly exfoliate your skin nightly in the shower to reduce the appearance of the tan, making the tan lines appear less visible. However, be gentle when doing so.

This will take some time to work, and you need to ensure that you don’t exfoliate too harshly on your skin; however, this can help your tan fade quickly.

Use Sunscreen

To prevent your tan lines from becoming more noticeable, wear sunscreen every time you are out in the sun.

Use a sunscreen with SPF 30 Use a sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, even if you don’t plan on tanning.

The sunscreen will protect your skin from tanning, which in turn will prevent tan lines from appearing much lighter than the rest of your skin.

Wearing the sunscreen will also stop your skin from tanning further, helping it return to its natural, fairer skin tone.

Over time, this means that your tan will be even all around, and tan lines will disappear!

Tan Naked

This might sound odd, but you won’t develop tan lines if there is nothing causing tan lines in the first place!

Unless you feel completely comfortable tanning naked in your garden or on a sunbed, consider using thinner swimwear or underwear that won’t create obvious tan lines.

This is an important tip to keep in mind for when you are starting out tanning, so you don’t have to worry about tan lines later on.

Can You Remove Tan Lines From Fake Tanner?

Tan lines can also appear when you use fake tanner, and while these can be glaringly obvious, they are easier to fix than a natural tan.

Self-tanning products and spray tans typically last for up to 10 days, fading as your skin cells naturally exfoliate.

To speed up the process of removing tan lines, you can continue to exfoliate your skin where the tan lines are most visible, which helps reduce the tan color and blend the tan and tan lines more evenly.

The more you scrub, the faster your tan fades; however, avoid over-exfoliating, as it can damage your skin.

Another method you could use is to combine honey and lemon juice.

Mix a bit of each and apply this to the areas you want to lighten, such as around the tan line. Leave the mix on for up to 30 minutes before washing it away.

Together, the lemon juice and honey will lighten your skin, without drying it out. You might have to do this over two to three days to properly reduce tan lines.

The best way to deal with permanent tan lines is to prevent them from appearing in the first place.

To achieve this, wear clothing that is suitable for tanning, which will not cause obvious tan lines later on.

If you do develop tan lines, you can cover them up with bronzer or self-tanner, but this is a temporary solution.

For a more permanent solution, use sunscreen all over when you go out into the sun, so your tan does not darken and your skin returns to its fairer tone sooner, making the tan lines less noticeable.

Permanent Tan Lines – How To Finally Get Rid Of Them

How Long Do Tan Lines Take To Fade?