Does spray tan cover stretch marks?

After working out, dieting, and doing all the right things to achieve a great shape, you’re feeling good and want to show off your beautiful and toned beach body. However, you might not feel like putting on your swimsuit because of some blemishes on your body that include stretch marks, scars, and cellulite that can make you feel insecure about your body.

But is there a way that you can cover the blemishes and stretch marks. One of the best ways to hide your stretch marks is by spray tanning which is a popular alternative to outdoor sunbathing or sunbeds.

If done properly it will not only cover your stretch marks it will also significantly reduce their appearance, but this isn’t permanent.

What are Stretch Marks?

Stretch marks are very common in both men and women and can be caused by a wide range of different things from genetics, weight gain, or pregnancy. They’re long narrow lines that you find on your skin that has been stretched either on your arms, breasts, stomach, hips, thighs, lower back, or anywhere else in your body.

When you notice them, the stretch marks can, in the beginning, appear as thin and pink skin that can be itchy and irritating.

Later, they become streaks that can be brown, red, or purple, or pink, then eventually the stretch marks fade and become less noticeable, but will never be completely gone. Unfortunately, stretch marks are permanent and although they will fade with time, there are no ways of removing them permanently. They’re not dangerous, but they can affect your self-esteem and self-image.

How Spray Tan can Help Reduce the Appearance of Stretch Marks

If you decide to use spray tanning to try and reduce the appearance of your stretch marks, you’re hoping that your skin will acquire a golden glow with no traces of stretch marks, but you’re also worried that the spray can make things worse and accentuate your stretch marks even more. To ease your nerves, you can first do a spot test before you do the spray tan to see how your blemishes will react to the tan.

Apply a small amount of the spray tan on the blemish using a cotton pad, then after a few hours wash it off to see how well it absorbs the color. Some parts of your skin will absorb the color more than other parts, and that’s normal.

Healed scars aren’t sensitive to spray tanning, but some people may decide to use counter products like creams or bleaching agents, but if you want to get a spray tan it’s best not to use these products. These counter treatment products will affect your skin’s exfoliation, coloration, and tan fade rate, increase the tans fade off, and give them a more uneven look. A tan on treated skin is less likely to have a smooth and even appearance or even fade the same way as untreated skin. Some treatments increase your skin’s sensitivity but don’t spray any area that is sensitive or if the scar is still fresh.

When you go to a salon to get a spray tan, make sure to inform the professional applying your spray tan that you want to cover your stretch marks as much as possible so that they can do patch tests to see how your skin reacts, and also to help ensure that the spray tan blends well with your skin to help reduce the appearance of your stretch marks.

Speaking to a professional is also beneficial because you get to learn how to choose the right tone for your skin that will blend better with your skin color to give you an even and natural look. While getting a spray tan may not cover your stretch marks completely, it can help reduce them and you still get a beautiful bronzed tan.

Here is video on how to hide stretch marks with spray tan below.

Steps for Preparing your Skin and Stretch Marks for a Spray Tan

It’s very important to prepare your skin before a spray tan whether it’s for your whole body or just your stretch marks.

Exfoliate

You must exfoliate a day before you spray tan and especially for your stretch marks because your skin sheds daily so, there is a lot of dead cells that accumulate on your skin every day which can give you darker patches after a spray tan. Gently exfoliate over your stretch marks to ensure that there is no build-up of dead skin cells so that the spray tan gives you a more even and natural tone that will allow a nice blend of your stretch marks and the rest of your body.

Moisturize

Normally, the skin around your stretch marks can be very dry and this can give you a darker skin around that area compared to the rest of your body. You can moisturize with a lotion that is free of perfume or one that is oil-free to keep your skin well moisturized allowing it to absorb more color and easily blend in with the rest of your skin. A body that is regularly moisturized will hold a spray tan much better.

Do a spot test

It’s always a good idea to do a spot test a day before you spray tan to help you see how your body will react to the tan and what the results will be. Apply the spray on a hidden part of your body with stretch marks and once the tan has developed wash it off and this will give you a better indication of how your whole body will look like.

Avoid some products

There are some products you should avoid applying on your skin if you’re going to get a spray tan, especially if you’re looking to cover your stretch marks. Products like lotions, deodorants, creams, and perfume can prevent your skin from properly absorbing the spray tan causing streaks and patches to develop on your skin.

Conclusion. Do Spray Tan Cover Stretch Marks?

The short answer is yes it can. If done properly spray tanning can help reduce the appearance of stretch marks even though it’s only for a short time. But keep in mind that everyone has different skin types and spray tanning might not work well in covering everyone’s stretch marks.