How to Get Rid of an Annoying Farmer's Tan Fast

Download Article

Best ways to fade awkward tan lines so you have an even color

Co-authored by Mohiba Tareen, MD and Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: September 4, 2024 Fact Checked

Download Article

Fading a Farmer's Tan

|

Evening Out Your Tan

|

Prevention

|

Video

|

Tips

If you forgot to wear sunscreen after a long, sunny day outside, you’ve probably developed a farmer's tan on your arms, face, and neck. These tan lines are unwanted and could stick around for the rest of the summer, leaving it hard to wear certain clothes that make the odd tan lines visible. While it may take a week or two to remove unwanted tan lines naturally, it’s possible to speed up the process. We talked to licensed dermatologist Mohiba Tareen to bring you the best advice, so take a look at the tips below to learn how to restore your skin’s even tone and say goodbye to that farmer's tan.

What is a farmer’s tan and how can you get rid of one?

A farmer’s tan is a suntan with awkward tan lines around the shoulders, chest, or thighs and is usually the result of wearing a shirt or shorts in the sun for long periods. You can get rid of a farmer’s tan by exfoliating, applying aloe vera, and wearing sunscreen.

Section 1 of 3:

Fading a Farmer's Tan

Download Article

1
Exfoliate to help fade your tan. Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells from the top layer of your skin, which can help get rid of awkward tan lines faster. When the dead skin cells are scrubbed off, your tan can lighten and restore your skin tone. Use a gentle exfoliating cleanser or scrub with a loofah.^{[1]
X
Trustworthy Source

American Academy of Dermatology
Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists

Go to source}
- How often you exfoliate depends on your skin type and sensitivity. Stop exfoliating if your skin becomes red or irritated.
- It may take several exfoliation treatments before you begin to notice a difference, so be patient.
- Avoid using a loofah if you have a sunburn, as it could damage your skin.
Aloe vera gel is proven to help rejuvenate skin and promote healing.^{[2]
X
Trustworthy Source

PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health

Go to source} All you have to do is apply 100% pure aloe vera gel to your farmer’s tan and leave overnight. Wash the gel off in the morning, and continue repeating the nightly process for the best results.

Advertisement
3
Soak in a milk bath. Taking a bath with whole milk could help naturally exfoliate and soften your skin, helping the farmer’s tan fade faster. The milk in the water can help soften dead skin cells and make them easier to fall off, resulting in a more even tan. Draw a bath and add a cup or two of milk to the warm bath water.^{[3]
X
Trustworthy Source

Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source}
- Stay in the bath for no longer than 15 or 20 minutes.
- The best milk for this DIY solution is whole 2% milk from a cow, as milk alternatives may not have the same effect.
4
Rub lemon juice and sugar on your skin. Some people have found success using this method to fade tan lines, although it isn’t officially tested by dermatologists, so proceed with caution. It may work because lemon juice is a natural skin brightening agent and sugar has exfoliating properties.^{[4]
X
Expert Source

Mohiba Tareen, MD
FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist

Expert Interview}^{[5]
X
Research source} For this remedy, cut a lemon in half and squeeze the juice in with some sugar. Apply the mixture to a washcloth or your fingertips, and rub it against your skin using circular motions.
- Avoid the sun for at least an hour after doing so, or you may get a darker tan.

Section 2 of 3:

Evening Out a Farmer's Tan

Download Article

1
Apply a self-tanner to the sections of your skin that didn’t get tanned. This is the safest way to disguise a farmer’s tan! Simply choose a self-tanning product with an added moisturizer that’s a light tone, as this can help blend in any awkward tan lines. Then, use the product on your non-tanned skin as instructed on the packaging.^{[6]
X
Trustworthy Source

American Academy of Dermatology
Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists

Go to source}
- It may be tempting to match the self-tanner to your tanned skin areas, but if the colors don’t match up exactly, it could make your tan lines more obvious.
- Gradual self-tanners take about one week to work, but they will look the most natural.
- If you don’t like how the self-tanner looks, don’t worry! Tareen suggests removing it by rubbing on white vinegar, letting it sit for 10 minutes, and then rinsing.^{[7]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Mohiba Tareen, MD
  FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist
  
  Expert Interview}
2
Get a spray tan from a professional. Spray tan specialists use an airbrush to gently apply fake tan to blend in your skin tones in a semi-private atmosphere. These tans can last about 2 weeks and fade away at the same rate as your natural tan.^{[8]
X
Trustworthy Source

Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source} Find a specialist near you by searching “spray tan near me” online.
- This is a good option if you don't feel confident in applying your own fake tan.
3
Go to a tanning bed. Tanning beds can create a consistent, full-coverage tan all over your body. While this is a good way to conceal a farmer’s tan and even your skin tone, it’s also the most risky. Tanning beds emit the same UV rays as the sun, which can lead to skin damage and cancer, so use them at your own risk.^{[9]
X
Research source}
- In a tanning bed, you can control which areas of your skin are exposed to UV rays and for how long. This allows you to match the tone of your skin more accurately.
- Find a tanning bed salon near you by searching “tanning bed near me” online.

Section 3 of 3:

Preventing a Farmer's Tan

Download Article

1
Prevent a farmer's tan with sunscreen. The best way to protect your skin and stop unwanted tan lines from forming is to wear SPF 30 or higher. Tareen notes, even after you get a tan, continue applying sunscreen to protect your skin (and so your tan lines don’t become even darker).^{[10]
X
Expert Source

Mohiba Tareen, MD
FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist

Expert Interview}
- It takes 30 minutes for sunscreen to absorb into your skin and start protecting you.^{[11]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  
  University of Rochester Medical Center
  Leading academic medical center in the U.S. focused on clinical care and research
  
  Go to source}
- If you know you are going to be outside in the sun all day, continuously apply sunscreen to your exposed skin every hour to prevent a farmer’s tan.
2
Wear different cuts of clothing every day. Odd tan lines happen when you have long sun exposure in a specific cut of clothing. By mixing up what you wear, you can expose different parts of your skin to the sun and help even your skin tone.^{[12]
X
Trustworthy Source

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services

Go to source}
- Try alternating between a tank top and a T-shirt to avoid getting a tan line across your arm and neckline.
- Wear loose-fitting, long-sleeve shirts or pants to protect your skin from the sun.
3
Stay out of the sun from 10 AM to 2 PM. As Tareen says, “The most natural way to fade a sun tan is to reduce the amount of sun exposure to the skin.”^{[13]
X
Expert Source

Mohiba Tareen, MD
FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist

Expert Interview} The sun and its powerful UV rays are at their strongest during the afternoon hours. Because of this, it’s easier to tan or burn between the hours of 10 AM and 2 PM. If you find yourself outside during these hours, try standing in the shade as much as possible.^{[14]
X
Trustworthy Source

American Cancer Society
Nonprofit devoted to promoting cancer research, education, and support

Go to source}
- If shade isn’t an option, try protecting your skin with clothing or sunscreen.

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

Tips

Drink lots of water to stay hydrated if you have a sunburn, as this can help repair skin tissue.^{[15]
X
Trustworthy Source

American Academy of Dermatology
Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists

Go to source}

Thanks
Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
Tareen recommends using a daily moisturizer to help support and heal damaged skin quickly.^{[16]
X
Expert Source

Mohiba Tareen, MD
FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist

Expert Interview}

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

When out in the sun, don't say in one spot. Instead, move around so you decrease the possibility of getting a bad burn on one part of your body.
Try using a turmeric face mask to even out a tan on your face. It helped me a lot!

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!