Stretch marks are just one of those things so many people struggle with. The truth is – almost everyone has them and they can appear at any given moment.
What’s more, the stretch marks are super difficult to get rid of once they appear. They are scar tissue, which means they are deep within the skin.
Many creams and gels promise to remove stretch marks from your skin, but to be completely honest – they are a waste of money. Creams can help make them less visible or less purple. Purple stretch marks are fresh, but they will become white or pale over time.
That’s about it when it comes to drugstore products that could help you remove your stretch marks. There are some laser treatments like dermabrasion that could help your stretch marks become less visible.
However, those treatments can cost a fortune, and it can take more than a few treatments to remove the stretch marks. You heard that spray tanning can help conceal your stretch marks.
Is that true? Does spray tanning cover stretch marks, truly? Continue reading to find out can you use a spray-on tan to conceal your marks!
What Is Spray Tanning?
Spray tanning is a mist that makes your skin a deeper tone. It contains Dihydroxyacetone or DHA. DHA interacts with the cells in your skin, making them tan.
This is a temporary effect and it lasts usually between a few days to a week. Spray-on tanning is a form of sunless tanning – because it doesn’t require any exposure to the sun to work.
Spray tanning has nothing similar to the tan boosters – since tan boosters help your skin tan when sunbathing. However, do keep in mind that your skin doesn’t tan better in the sun after a spray-on tan session, as you can burn easily still.
After the spray-on tan, make sure that you use a UV cream when you’re out in the sun. If you get burns on your skin, your tan will look bad!
The reason why spray tanning became so popular is that it’s harmless. Sunbathing is dangerous because of the UV rays from the sun. UV rays are connected to developing skin cancer, especially melanoma.
Also, it doesn’t take much more than one appointment to get the skin tone you want. Tanning in the sun could take days, but spray tanning takes a little more than a few minutes!
Spray tanning isn’t connected to any skin conditions, but your skin could be a little dry if you use the technique often. If that happens, pick a good moisturizing cream to give your skin the hydration it needs!
There are two main ways to get a spray-on tan. The first way is to go to a salon and have the spray applied in a booth. Those special booths have jets or nozzles, which spray your entire body with the spray tan.
The second way is to have a beauty technician apply the spray with an airgun or airbrush tool. This tool looks similar to the tool that is used to color furniture or the house!
This method is a little better because it’s more mobile. Also, the technician will be more careful when applying so you get good color in all the nooks of your body.
There is also a product called self-tanner, which creates a look just like spray tanning. It’s in a bottle or a tube, and it’s applied at home. The effect is pretty much the same, and the self-tanner can be purchased in any drugstore or beauty store!
While we’re at it, we can always see bodybuilders rocking that wonderful bronze skin. Why do bodybuilders tan, even? Read our article to find out!
What Causes Stretch Marks?
We all know how stretch marks look – so few people don’t have them, but they know how lucky they are. Stretch marks are indented streaks that are usually located on the abdomen, hips, buttocks, breasts, and thighs.
The streaks can develop on your calves or your back, too. When they first appear, they are very noticeable, but they fade over time and become less visible.
When people think about stretch marks, they usually associate them with pregnancy, and they’re not wrong to think this way. Getting stretch marks during pregnancy is incredibly common, but it can happen at any other point in life.
We already mentioned those drugstore treatments can help fade your stretch marks. On the other hand, only laser treatments or dermabrasion can help remove them completely.
Stretch marks don’t hurt or cause discomfort – even if they seem painful. They do cause people to be self-conscious, especially if those people have deep marks on their bodies.
Stretch marks are caused by the skin stretching out. How deep your marks will be depends on your genetics, how much stress your skin endured, and the level of cortisone in your body. Cortisone is a stress hormone that weakens the elastic fibers in your skin.
There are a few risk factors when it comes to developing stretch marks, that make a person more susceptible to stretch marks. Females have a better chance of getting these marks, but other causes are genetics, rapid weight loss or gain, or pregnancy at a young age.
Corticosteroid medication can make you more susceptible to stretch marks. Obesity or being overweight, and some genetic disorders can, too. When you undergo breast augmentation surgery, you could expect some stretch marks afterward, too.
Does Spray Tanning Cover Stretch Marks?
In reality, spray tanning is one of the best and the most effective ways to cover stretch marks. So, yes, spray tanning can cover stretch marks!
Stretch marks are close to impossible to remove, we already established that. But if you hate the sight of them, you can get a spray-on tan to make them less visible for a special occasion.
Be careful when you’re choosing a color for yourself, though. Golden, warm colors tend to disguise stretch marks and scars better than colder tones.
Subtle color works better than a deeper tan – and if you want a darker tan, the flush look will be achieved by layering the tan. Layers of tan will color your entire body better than one round of a dark tone.
When applying spray tan, there is some prep work beforehand to make the stretch marks less visible. Some barrier cream should be applied to any scars with a cotton puff.
The cream will prevent the scars from appearing darker after the treatment because the solution will stick on your dry skin. The barrier cream will stop the scars from absorbing too much spray-on tan. Of course, do talk about your stretch marks with your technician to make sure they do a good job of concealing your scars.
If you imagine that spray tanning will completely conceal your stretch marks – unfortunately, it will not. Spray tanning will make them less noticeable, though, as it will create an even tone over your whole body.
You can even do the self-tanning at home, using drugstore self-tanner. Just make sure to use a tanning glove and to exfoliate your body beforehand.
Non-committal tans that wash off can be much more effective than wear-off spray tans. They can cover the stretch marks more efficiently because they’re more like a type of body makeup.
If you’re wondering what might work better for you, we advise you to try both a spray tan and a self-tanner. When you try both, you will see what works better for you and what makes you more comfortable in your body!
When you want to tan naturally in the sun, how long does it take? How long do you have to bathe in the sun to get that bronze skin? Read our article to find out!
Does Spray Tanning Cover Stretch Marks? – Bottom Line
To conclude, spray tanning can cover stretch marks. Stretch marks are best hidden with spray tanning rather than any other method available.
There are so many creams and treatments that promise they will remove the stretch marks from your body in just a few short weeks. In reality, those things are just a scam, and it can easily become a financial burden to invest in numerous products.
And after all those products, you will still see those stretch marks on your thighs and belly! However, spray tanning can conceal your stretch marks pretty successfully.
Talk with your beauty technician about your stretch marks and methods to conceal them. The technician will likely apply a barrier cream to make sure your scars don’t over absorb the tanning solution.
Furthermore, consider using a self-tanner at home to cover stretch marks. Some people believe that self-tanner does a better job of covering stretch marks than spray tan!
Related: How Much Does a Spray Tan Cost?
