The unwanted streaks and lines caused by a tan can be really frustrating, especially if you were looking to develop an even, glowing tan all over.
It can be difficult to deal with tan lines that develop from sun tanning, as you cannot just remove the tan from your skin like you would be able to 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 rid your skin of this easily. You can hide the tan lines with bronzer, but it will take time to get rid of them completely.
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 finally 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, tan lines will begin to even out more, as they will not be as light in contrast to your darker tan. The tan lines might not fade as soon as 10 days, but if you avoid going into the sun and developing a tan further than this for some time, then they should even out over time.
To help the tan fade evenly, you should keep your skin hydrated following your tanning session. Keeping your skin moisturized means that your skin cells will not shed irregularly, and then tan will fade together 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 this is not something that we recommend. 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, focussing on the tan lines, blurring the lines more evenly. The bronzer will wash off the first time you shower, but it will do a great job at blurring the tan lines out.
Use Self-Tanner
Self-tanner takes a little longer to develop than bronzer, but it will last longer too. The self-tanner can be applied all over your skin, focussing on the tan lines, and it will develop over a few hours to give you an even tan all over, without the tan lines being too obvious.
The tan lines might be slightly visible still, but a self-tanner will definitely help to 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, but make sure to only do so gently.
This will take some time to work, and you need to make sure to not exfoliate too harshly on your skin, but this can help your tan fade quicker.
Use Sunscreen
To prevent your tan lines from becoming more obvious, you will need to wear sunscreen every time you are out in the sun.
Use a sunscreen of SPF 30 or more, even if you are not planning on tanning. The sunscreen will protect your skin from tanning darker, which in turn will prevent the 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 back 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, you could use 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, to not 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 last for up to 10 days, and they fade as your skin cells naturally exfoliate.
To speed this up to remove tan lines, you can continue to exfoliate your skin where the tan lines are most visible, to reduce the tan color, blending in the tan and tan lines more evenly. The more you scrub, the faster your tan fades, but avoid over-exfoliating as it can damage your skin.
Another method you could use is to combine honey and lemon juice together. Mix a bit of each and apply this to the areas that 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.
Permanent Tan Lines
The best way to deal with permanent tan lines is to ensure they do not appear in the first place. To do this, wear suitable clothing when 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, you should 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, so the tan lines aren’t as noticeable.
Related Questions
Does sunscreen prevent tanning?
Sunscreen does not always prevent you from tanning. It protects your skin from damage done by the sun, but if it is not a high factor sunscreen, the UV rays can still penetrate your skin and give you a tan.
It is highly advised to use sunscreen, even when tanning, just to take the edge off the damage done by the sun.
Does SPF 50 prevent tanning?
SPF 50 can prevent tanning, as only 2% of UV rays penetrate the skin when SPF 50 is applied, as long as it is applied often.
