Stretch marks – almost all of us have them, no matter our lifestyle. Stretch marks can sometimes cause us to feel self-consciousness, and many people look for ways to lessen the appearance of their stretch marks.
While there is not much you can really do to permanently get rid of stretch marks, there are some ways to hide them. One such suggested way to hide stretch marks is by having a spray tan.
So, does a spray tan really cover stretch marks?
Thankfully, yes! Spray tans can often help to reduce the appearance of stretch marks, for the duration that the spray tan lasts. Spray tans are not permanent, but they help to reduce stretch marks for some time while giving your skin a wonderful glow!
What Are Stretch Marks?
Stretch marks are incredibly common, for both women and men. They can be caused by a whole host of different things, from pregnancy to weight gain, and even just genetics.
Long, narrow lines appear in the skin where the skin is suddenly stretched. They can appear on the stomach, hips, breasts, thighs, arms, lower back, and almost everywhere else on the body.
At first, stretch marks can appear as thin and pink skin, which can be itchy or irritated. Over time, this develops to raised streaks that can be red, pink, purple or brown. Eventually, stretch marks fade down to a silver color, becoming less noticeable.
Being scars, stretch marks are permanent. They might fade over time, but there are no ways to remove them permanently. They are not dangerous but can cause a decrease of self-image for many people.
How Spray Tans Help To Cover Stretch Marks
Unlike foundation or make-up, spray tan products are a transparent color. This creates a sheer wash of color over the surface of the skin.
Spray tanning products contain DHA, which reacts with the top layer of skin to develop a tanned color. This does not cover the skin, instead, it darkens the skin tone, so the skin is still visible after the application, rather than being covered up by makeup.
Sometimes, scarred skin does not absorb sunless tanning lotions, leaving the scarred skin lighter than the rest of the body. However, depending on the age of the stretch mark, the thickness, the color and how evenly it has healed, it is possible for the stretch mark to absorb some of the spray tan and develop a darker tone.
White or silver stretch marks tend to hold onto spray tans much better, evening out their appearance to blend in with the rest of the skin. This is dependent on the client and the stretch marks, but many people have found that spray tans help to cover up stretch marks.
How To Reduce The Appearance of Stretch Marks
Deciding to go for a spray tan to try and reduce the appearance of stretch marks can be both exciting and scary. You are so hopeful that the new golden glow will bring out the best in your skin, but also worried that the spray tan might accentuate your stretch marks more.
To try and ease your nerves, do a spot test the day before your spray tan. This will help you determine how each scar will react to the spray tan.
Using a cotton pad, apply some spray tan solution to the scarred area. Wash it off after hours and check for the absorbency. You might find that some areas of your body absorb the color more than others, but this is normal.
Scars that have healed and are not sensitive are fine to be spray tanned over. Some people choose to use over the counter products to reduce the appearance of stretch marks, such as bleaching agents, creams or acids, but these should be avoided if you are getting a spray tan. You should also avoid using spray tan if a scar is still healing.
When you go for your spray tan, let your spray tan applicator know that you are wanting to cover your stretch marks as best as possible.
They will do some test patches to check how your skin reacts, and they will help the spray tan formula blend better into the skin, allowing the stretch marks to be less noticeable.
Going to a salon for a spray tan to cover stretch marks gives you the opportunity to speak to a professional who has undoubtedly done many spray tans for people who want to hide stretch marks. They will be able to guide you with the right tone to choose to better blend your skin color to appear more even and natural-looking.
While a spray tan might not completely cover stretch marks, many people have found that they do help to reduce the appearance, and who doesn’t love a bronzed tone?
How To Prepare Skin (And Stretch Marks) For A Spray Tan
Preparing your skin before a spray tan is so important! And the same goes for preparing your skin for a spray tan to cover up stretch marks. The areas of your body that have stretch marks should be treated the same as the rest of your skin.
Exfoliate
You should exfoliate your body the day before a spray tan, and this is particularly important for stretch marks. The skin sheds skin daily, and this can cause a build-up of dead skin cells. This build-up can result in darker patches in your spray tan.
Exfoliate over your stretch marks gently, to make sure there is not an excess of dead skin cells. This will help the spray tan appear more even and natural, blending in the stretch marks to the rest of your skin.
My favorite body scrub to use for stretch marks is this one. I like it because it has arnica, which is known for reducing the appearance of stretch marks.
Moisturize
The skin found around stretch marks can be quite dry. This is another factor which could result in the skin around the stretch marks turning a darker tone than the rest of the body.
While exfoliating helps to remove the excess dead skin cells, moisturizing with an oil-free, perfume-free lotion will give the skin much-needed moisture that will allow it to absorb more color and blend in with the rest of the skin. My favorite body lotion to use before self-tanning is this one you can pick up on Amazon.
Moisturized skin holds a spray tan much better, so be sure to apply moisturizer regularly to your skin leading up to your spray tan.
Avoid Products
Do not apply any lotions, creams, perfume or deodorant to your skin the day of your spray tan. These products will act as a barrier to the spray tan and will cause streaks and patches. Something you definitely want to avoid if you are looking to cover up your stretch marks.
Spot Test
It is always a great idea to do a patch test the day before the actual spray tan. Apply some of the product to a hidden area of your body where there are stretch marks.
Once developed, wash it off. This will give you a pretty good indication of how the spray tan will look once applied over your whole body.
Related Questions
Does fake tan hide blemishes?
Spray tans, self-tanners, and other fake tan products do help to cover up blemishes such as cellulite and uneven skin. Whether applied at home or at a salon, many people have successfully been able to cover up a wide range of skin conditions thanks to a sunless tan.
Does a spray tan cover bruises?
Spray tans do not cause any damage to your skin and will leave you with a gorgeous bronze glow. Spray tans are effective at covering up bruises, as they work with the outer layer of the skin, turning it a darker tone. As the bruise fades, the coverage will be better.
How else can I cover stretch marks?
If you do not want to commit to a spray tan, you are able to cover up stretch marks using body makeup. Foundations and base can be used over stretch marks, to paint them with a natural tone.
This is different from using spray tan, as a spray tan changes the color of the skin, whereas body makeup is similar to painting over a wall. It is not long-lasting or permanent but can help when you are wanting to cover up for an occasion.
Does a spray tan cover dark spots?
Spray tans should not darken dark spots more than what they already are, but instead, they will darken the rest of the skin to even out the tone more, this helps blend the dark spots in and appear less visible.
Spray Tanning and Stretch Marks
If done right, spray tanning can effectively reduce the appearance of stretch marks, especially older stretch marks. The spray tan will not be permanent, and you will have to visit a salon regularly to maintain your sunless tan, but it is a great way to boost your body image if you are conscious about your stretch marks.
Covering your stretch marks is also another motivation for you to give yourself a beautiful summer glow, without the damage done to your skin by sitting in the sun. It is a win-win situation!
