Exfoliate the skin Another way to fix patchy tan is with an exfoliator, as gently scrubbing the skin will tone down the color. Massage our Tan Enhancing Body Polish and Exfoliator onto the streaky areas until the pigment has faded. Top Tip: The key to an even-looking tan is smooth skin.
Using body products with either vitamin C or coconut oil (or both!) are good products to apply onto the skin. All types of natural oils are extremely healthy for your skin. Simply take some coconut oil (mixing other natural oils is okay as well), apply it on the uneven tanned areas, and leave it on overnight.
A tan from being outside will last an average of 7–10 days. The sun's UV rays stimulate melanin production in the cells of the outer skin layer, so once these cells are shed, you are left with your original skin tone.
If you're wondering how to fix a patchy tan quickly – as in within the next hour – you can also use an instant, wash-off tan. Or a liquid or powder bronzer should also do the trick.
For a tan that fades evenly, it's important to start gently exfoliating three days after you have applied your tan – and then every day until your tan has been buffed away completely.
Evening them out usually takes time and a lot of patience, but it IS possible. You just need a nudge in the right direction and several neat tricks, and your skin's even tone will be fully restored.
Look into a mirror in natural light. Artificial lighting can alter the appearance of your natural skin colour. Notice the colour of the skin along your jawline or behind your ear. These areas typically tend to show your skin tone in its purest form, without any redness or discolouration that could get in the way.
Changing position frequently, every 30 minutes, such as lying on your stomach, back or side, is important to ensure your skin tans evenly. In addition, it is important to position yourself correctly in the sunlight, moving the towel or lounger towards the sun, so that you are always in direct sunlight.
Why won't my tan go away? When the cells become damaged with pigment, discoloration that doesn't fade occurs, leading to a tan that doesn't fade. In fact, it tends to stay dark unless you choose to have this hyperpigmentation treated professionally.
These melanocyte cells generate melanin, which is what causes your skin to tan in the sun. Unfortunately, sometimes the sun causes the melanocytes to increase unevenly, which can then result in darker and lighter patches of skin.
A natural tan will usually last for around 7-10 days, although this can vary for each different skin type and colour. However, any exposure to sun during that 7-10 day period could mean that your tan will hang around for longer, so the length of time it lasts really does depend on the individual.
Sun tan removal is possible. There are several products, treatments, and solutions to reduce the pigmentation from sun tan. Any method to treat tan involves exfoliation of the top skin layer that removes excess melanin, provides a uniform skin tone and reduces premature ageing signs.
The quickest steps are the basic (olive, coconut or baby) oil, soak in the tub, then use an exfoliating body mitt and body scrub or the specialist products designed to remove fake tan efficiently.
Baking Soda to the rescue
According to Artesian Tan, sodium bicarbonate aka baking soda can also fix that horrible tan you're sporting. Just mix some in a glass of water until it forms a paste. Apply on the tan lines and rinse away after 15 minutes. The lines should be barely visible within a few days.
Exfoliating can indeed help in removing tan and restoring your natural skin tone. However, it's important to remember that tan removal is a gradual process and may require multiple sessions of exfoliation or other methods.
Uneven pigmentation
To protect itself from the damaging effects of the sun, skin makes more brown pigment, called melanin. That extra melanin is what creates a suntan. But sometimes skin doesn't make melanin evenly. As a result, the skin's coloring, called pigmentation, looks patchy.