Why am I getting a patchy tan?

Author: Jody Simonis III  |  Last update: Thursday, September 11, 2025

Tan often settles in areas where skin is dry so the rougher texture causes tan to look patchy. Use a scrub or exfoliating glove to buff dry and rough areas. When you apply your tan, always use a tanning mitt for the smoothest application and a seamless blend.

Why is my tan going on patchy?

An equally crucial step in the preparation process is to make sure you hydrate your skin with an oil-free moisturiser after your deep exfoliation. And keep it up! Your gradual tan may go patchy if you let your skin dry out. The best gradual tanning results come from keeping your skin as hydrated as possible.

Why do I get a blotchy tan?

Comments Section
  • exfoliating too hard or not enough
  • did you shake the fake tan bottle enough before use
  • how are you applying it?
  • you could be using too much, or too little
  • make sure you blend it in circles on your body, not in lines
  • do small areas at a time
  • let it air dry for a little bit before getting changed

How to fix a patchy natural tan?

  • Gradual sun exposure: Gradually exposing the untanned skin to the sun can help even out the tan lines over time.
  • Self-tanner or bronzer: Using self-tanning products or bronzers can help blend the tan lines and create a more even skin tone.

Why is my tan going away in patches?

YOU FORGOT TO MOISTURISE DAILY.

When your skin becomes too dry, the skin cells on the surface begin to flake off, taking your golden colour that sits within them away! This is where you may see your tan fade or become patchy over time.

Why is my skin patchy when I tan?

Why is my tan coming off in spots?

While patchy fake tans can partly be caused by a dodgy application, a lot of it comes down to prep. Or lack thereof. You should ALWAYS, we repeat, ALWAYS exfoliate before self-tanning. Firstly, to remove dry skin that will drink up the lion's share of DHA and get extra-bronzed.

Why do I still have a tan after 6 months?

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.

Why did I tan unevenly?

Sensitivity to the sun due to medicine reactions or certain medicines. Sunburn or suntan. Tinea versicolor. Unevenly applying sunscreen, leading to areas of burn, tan, and no tan.

What happens if I put tan over patchy tan?

You'll be able to top up your tan with a fresh new layer once your existing tan shows signs of fading. We'd advise waiting until your colour has completely faded away before stepping back in the booth to ensure even coverage and to give your new tan the best chance to last as long as possible.

How to avoid patchy sun tan?

Start by cleansing and exfoliating skin 12-24 hours before you tan. Tan often settles in areas where skin is dry so the rougher texture causes tan to look patchy. Use a scrub or exfoliating glove to buff dry and rough areas.

Why do I have random patches of tan skin?

Changes in skin pigmentation can occur for many reasons, such as birthmarks, pigmentation disorders, rashes, and infections. An increase in melanin, for example, can cause darker patches to appear. Skin contains melanin, which is the pigment that gives the skin its color.

What does sun damaged skin look like?

Pigmentation changes such as age spots, liver spots (solar lentigines) and freckles. Loss of skin tone (decreased elasticity) Rough, uneven skin texture. Broken capillaries (spider veins), usually around the nose and chest.

How to fix blotchy skin?

Treating blotchy skin involves identifying the underlying cause, whether it's environmental, related to skin conditions, or exacerbated by lifestyle factors. Implementing a gentle skincare routine, protecting the skin from sun damage, and consulting a healthcare provider for persistent issues are effective strategies.

Why am I tanning blotchy?

Uneven pigmentation

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. The sun also can cause small blood vessels to stretch, giving skin a blotchy look.

How to get patchy tan off?

Exfoliate

Use exfoliating mitts, loofah, or washcloth and gently rub your skin in circular motions to loosen the tan and exfoliate. Remove dead skin cells and remaining self-tanning residue with Clarins Exfoliating Body Scrub and apply Clarins Moisture-Rich Body Lotion for maximum nourishment and hydration.

What is the best self-tanner?

After extensive testing, we determined the highest rated self-tanner to be the St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse. It's an airy mousse that's easy to apply and blend and leaves you with a natural-looking glow. You can also customize the depth of color based on how long you leave it on your skin.

How to fix a splotchy tan?

How to fix patchy tan
  1. Gently buff away excess tan. Excess tan often settles onto dry areas, like the elbows, knees, ankles, hands and feet, causing patchiness. ...
  2. Exfoliate the skin. ...
  3. Fill in the gaps. ...
  4. Always use a tanning mitt. ...
  5. Opt for a gradual self tanner.

How soon after tanning should you moisturize?

We want your tan to be 20/10 and unfortunately if moisturiser is applied it can leave blotches, marks and strip the tan in certain spots on the skin. Once you've washed off the colour guide and waited at least 8 hours, you can apply your favourite moisturiser to your entire body.

How long does it take for an uneven tan to fade?

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.

Which body part tans the fastest?

Previous research by Rees has confirmed what sun worshippers already knew: that the upper back is much more likely to tan than the legs, and that the outsides of the arms go brown far quicker than the insides.

How to fix uneven sun tan?

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.

How to get back original skin tone?

How To Even Out Skin Tone
  1. Use Vitamin C Regularly. Vitamin C is a true force of nature. ...
  2. Regular Chemical Exfoliation. Exfoliation is a powerful tool to fight pigmentation and get your skin tone back on track. ...
  3. Target Your Dark Spots. ...
  4. Brighten Your Under Eye Circles. ...
  5. Defend Against Your Environment.

Why isn't a tan permanent?

Suntan does eventually fade as the new skin cells will generate over time but consistent sun damage for a period of time might lead to permanent skin darkening. Damage done by the sun can be permanent even though the tan fades. It may lower the immunity and causes the skin to sag, can cause wrinkles, and pigmentation.

Does exfoliating remove tan?

Yes, a tan will naturally fade away due to the exfoliation of our skin. It may not be the nicest thing to think about, but the human skin sheds and then generates millions of cells everyday. When the tanned skin cells are replaced with new, untanned skin cells, your body will gradually return to its normal colour.

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