Summer is almost here, and it is bathing suit season. Are your stretch marks making you feel underconfident? Are you worried about everyone noticing your stretch marks while you wear shorts and a tank top?
Let me tell you something ‘Everyone has stretch marks.‘ Now that it is clear, you may still feel the need to hide them. That’s okay! What can be the best way to hide your stretch marks with a spray tan? It will give you that beautiful olive glow along with taking care of your stretch marks. But, a spray tan is not the only way to hide your stretch marks. Keep reading to find out about tan and how to get it. This article will answer all your questions regarding getting a spray tan on stretch marks.
Key Takeaways
Stretch marks are a sign of growth. But sometimes, they may look unappealing to many. Spray tanning your stretch marks can be a great option. Many feel apprehensive about covering stretch marks with tan, especially if your natural skin tone is already dark.
Listed below are a few facts that will help you understand spray tan stretch marks in detail:
- Spray tans are only a temporary solution to stretch marks.
- Young stretch marks can be reversed with Retin-A and moisturizer.
- Older stretch marks are permanent; they can only get lighter, like a scar.
- Spray tan only covers the outer surface of the skin.
- You have to get a spray tan every 6-10 days.
- A spray tan can be removed by exfoliating or with antibacterial gel.
- It is a quick procedure.
What Are Stretch Marks?
Stretch marks are scars that appear when our skin is suddenly stretched or shrinks rapidly. This means any sudden change in the skin can cause these scars. Collagen and elastin, which hold our skin, burst due to the abrupt change. Stretch marks may form when the skin recovers.
Stretch marks appear on both men and women. The cause of such sudden changes is highly due to hormonal changes. Stretch marks appear during a puberty growth spurt, sudden weight gain, pregnancy, or maybe it is in your genes. Stretch marks fade over time but never completely heal.
Genetics control your development pattern. If your parents have these narrow lines, you will likely have it too. Contrary to the famous belief that stretch marks appear on a woman’s body during pregnancy, stretch marks do appear on the bodies of thin and small people. The most common areas to have stretch marks are upper arms, stomach, calf, breasts, thighs, knee, waist, and hips.
What do the stretch marks look like?
Stretch marks look like long narrow lines running up and down your skin. It is a sign that your skin has been in the process of growth. The new stretch marks are red, thin, and itchy. I know it is tempting, but the best course of action is not to scratch. Scratching the stretch marks will agitate the skin, scarring them permanently.
These further become wider and turn purple-gray or brown. It becomes a little raised and noticeable from your normal skin. The older stretch marks are wider and a few shades lighter than your skin color. Stretch marks are scarred skin. They are not harmful to your skin. The only downside of stretch marks is that it leads to uneven-looking skin. This, in turn, may affect your confidence to wear summer clothes in public.
What Are Spray Tans?
A spray tan is a sheer color tint applied to your skin. Naturally, UV rays change your skin composition. On the other hand, Spray tan is a sheer wash and fake tan. Outer skin eventually turns into dead skin cells. These excess dead skin cells are shed after a week, along with your spray tan.
Spray tan solution comprises a chemical known as Dihydroxyacetone (DHA). DHA is derived from sugar. On its own, the tanning solution is colorless, but when it touches the skin, it reacts with amino acids, which form proteins and turn darker. Spray tan cover stretch marks appear smoother, just like a natural suntan. DHA is not the only chemical available as spray tan, but it is the safest.
The different types of spray tanning options available are:
- Airbrush spray tan – looks best after 12 hours and lasts 4-10 days.
- Booth spray tan – done in a booth with machines like Ross gets in Friends.
- HVLP spray tan – These are more professional and highly preferred
- LVLP spray tan – It requires more experience, and the device is hard to maintain.
How to Completely Hide Stretch Marks Without a Spray Tan?
There are many ways to cover stretch marks like
- Makeup – Use a concealer with a green tone to evenly disguise scars with entire body makeup.
- Tanning lotions – Many stretch marks do not soak up the cream making stretch marks appear uneven. These can be used as a self-tanner.
- Laser treatments – costly
- Tanning bed – Uses UV rays.
- Exfoliate – Removal of the outer layer renews the entire skin and decreases the raised streaks.
- Moisturize – Dry skin amplifies blemishes. Use aloe vera to soothe your skin, and good body lotion helps reduce the appearance of stretch marks.
Makeup is suitable for a few hours, and self-tan may not look like a natural tan or have darker patches. The latter two are just good skincare practices. A spray tan is a tanning product that can completely conceal your stretch marks. Choose spray tan according to your skin type and the actual color. Do not go more than 2 shades darker.
Spray tan before and after stretch marks looks the same as the dark hue completely covers stretch marks to make your skin look even. It may require frequent trips to the tanning salon as it does not penetrate deeper layers of skin.
Is Getting a Spray Tan Harmful??
Getting spray tan with DHA can be one of the safest options to cover stretch marks. Here are some pros and cons of spray tanning:
Pros of spray tanning:
- The tanning solution is entirely safe;
- It only stays on the skin surface.
- It gives you a perfect golden glow.
- Look toned to get a beach body look
- Get done in 30 minutes
Cons of spray tanning:
- Have to get retouched every week
- You can not take a shower for 12-24 hours
- No activities to cause sweat
What Are the Other Uses of a Spray Tan?
The spray tan help with uneven skin color. When skin looks even any kind of scar or white patches becomes invisible. It can cover stretch marks, cellulite, spider veins, melasma, acne scars, blemishes, and natural uneven tan line. It helps to attain a wonderful glow.
Do This to Prepare Your Skin Before Getting a Tan
You need to prepare your skin before getting a spray tan to get the best results. The stretch mark can absorb more spray tan and create a darker tone, based on the age of the stretch mark, its depth, color, and how smoothly it has healed.
1. Exfoliate
Gently remove the build-up dead skin layer to avoid dark patches and tan lasting longer.
No products found.
This scrub contains pure natural shea butter to prevent dry skin after scrubbing and smooths rough, cracked skin. Sugar is a natural exfoliator without being harsh on your skin. Safflower seed oil, Avocado oil, sweet almond oil, macadamia seed oil, and orange oil give you a healthy glow. The product is cruelty-free and paraben-free with a mango scent.
No products found.
2. Moisturize
Stretch marks are dryer than the normal skin, absorb more chemicals, and appear darker.
No products found.
It is a scent-free and oil-free lotion that does not cause difficulty in your tanning solution absorption and just lightly moisturizes your stretch marks. It hydrates dry skin makes it attractive and healthy-looking with a soothing oatmeal base. It is fragrance-free, non-greasy, non-comedogenic, and mild enough to use every day to promote skin health.
No products found.
3. Patch test
First-timers and people with sensitive skin, especially stretch marks, should apply a small amount of spray tan and wait for 24 hours to rule out any allergic reaction.
How to Make Your Spray Tan Last Longer?
Don’t use abrasive scrubs to exfoliate and use fragrance-free cosmetics. After you’ve taken a shower, pat your skin until it’s completely dry.
Acne treatments, hair removal creams, face brushes, and self-tanners are among the goods you should avoid. Do not avoid hydrating your skin on a regular basis. Keeping your skin hydrated can help you keep your results and guarantee that your tan fades evenly. If feasible, apply lotion to your face and body twice a day.
Wrapping Up
Now that you have a better understanding of stretch marks and different ways to hide them, feel free to experiment till you get the best opinion for yourself. Never forget that stretch marks are natural and universal. Try to embrace the growth of your body.
Spray tan may not be a permanent solution but is a fantastic way to hide your stretch marks. You can easily disguise stretch marks by evening out the skin tone. In between spray tan sessions, do not forget to care for your skin and keep it moisturized to have a natural glow and healthy-looking skin.