How to Get Rid of Tan Lines?

Most people would like to have a tan, a nice even tan. But no one wants tan lines. Unfortunately there is an obvious difference between the parts of our body exposed to the sunlight and the parts that are covered by clothing. These lines can appear between the flesh-colored skin left from winter and the places where we have gotten some sun.

When we are well into the summer we might have a tan that is fairly consistent around the body but during the times we aren’t sunbathing a few exposed places might get a little bit darker. There can be tan lines between two levels of tan.

Erasing the Difference
Some people have had success smoothing out their tans by exfoliating. When done properly with a body scrub or even a little bit of loofah action you can remove some of the dead cells on the skin’s surface. You may help the process along with a hot bath and some gentle massage in the areas where tan lines appear.

This tends to remove dead skin cells and stimulate circulation under the skin. You can use baking soda to help the exfoliation. It’s a great home remedy. There are some creams and lotions that may help reduce tan lines and uneven areas of skin color. Hydrogen peroxide can be used with a cotton ball or cotton swab to treat small areas of the skin. If you can find a lotion with alpha hydroxyl acids as the active ingredient, these may help as well.

Remember that once you take some of these steps you will need to avoid long periods of exposure to the sun. The exposed areas of the face, neck, arms and legs will darken quickly, giving you new tan lines.

Different Methods
Some methods of getting rid of tan lines are great for one part of the body but might not work as well in other places. For example, you may be able to balance out your tan and remove tan lines on the back of your hands and on the tops of your feet by treating them carefully with hydrogen peroxide. Some advice for removing tan lines suggests using the same product you use for lightening the color of facial hair. These are often referred to as hair bleaching agents.

These methods may suitable for the feet and hands but you might want to use a makeup remover on your face. This will take away some of the surface cells, perhaps removing a bit of the color. Use dry baking soda to massage the areas you want to change. This also works to balance the tan on the entire face and on the neck. Put baby oil on the spots you want to affect then take a long bath and massage the areas to take away those tan lines. Exfoliation is also a good idea for larger areas, such as the arms and legs. Don’t get too aggressive with changing tan lines. Remember, your skin is a living system that should be treated with care.

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