Question: I have deep grooves in my shoulders from bra straps. How do I get rid of them? Read on to find out.

An ill-fitting bra can be too constricting and sometimes painful especially if its tight. Straps tend to cause indentations or leave marks on the shoulders that are quite hard to remove. The dark lines are sometimes caused by wire clasps or plastic in the bra.

Most of us long for the day we can confidently show off our shoulders without having to worry about the strap indents. Fortunately, there are different ways to get rid of the deep grooves on your shoulders.

Causes of Deep Grooves in Shoulders from Bra Straps

The main cause of indentation and hyperpigmentation on the shoulders is wearing the wrong bra size. An ill-fitting bra puts a lot of pressure on both the shoulders and breasts. This is why its important to get measured by a professional bra fitter for a better fit.

Once you get a proper fit, run through our list of different habits, hacks and home remedies to help you get rid of the deep grooves on your shoulders.

Get Rid of Deep Grooves in Shoulders from Bra Straps

• 1. Exfoliate the skin around the shoulders and chest where the bra straps usually sit

Sometimes, a little TLC is all it takes to fade the dark lines on your shoulders. Incorporate exfoliation and relaxation to your routine so that it doesn’t feel like a chore.

These exfoliating tricks will see you through the entire process:

Lemon and Sugar Scrub

Sugar helps to remove the dead skin while lemon brings in some brightening action. Rub your shoulders and back for about five minutes with a mixture of the two.

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Brush Scrubbing

If you can’t get hold the two ingredients, use what you have. A body scrub and brush or loofah will work just fine when it comes to exfoliating your shoulders and back.

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Active Ingredients

Explore some skincare treatments, especially those with alpha hydroxy and glycolic acids. These are active ingredients that help to fade dark marks.

• 2 Make Moisturizing and Lightening Masks

Use rich smothering natural ingredients to lighten the dark marks on your shoulders. Dry patches tend to speed up skin darkening and wrinkling, and this is where a moisturizer comes in.

Almond Oil and Milk Pack

Milk has nourishing, exfoliating and moisturizing properties ideal for the skin. On the other hand, almond oil features emollient ingredients that promote skin regeneration and healing. Almond oil and milk are a great combination as the latter also increases overall suppleness of the skin.

Gently massage a mixture of the two on the dark areas, use a towel to cover it and then let it sit for about ten minutes before rinsing off with cold water.

Turmeric and Yoghurt Pack

Yoghurt is a healthy skin food, nourishing and comforting the skin. It equally doubles up as a great moisturizer. Turmeric has some antiseptic properties that go well with yoghurt. It will help lighten and heal the bra strap indentations on the skin.

Mix turmeric powder and a tablespoon of yoghurt to make a mask. Then, rub the mask on the affected areas and let it sit for about ten minutes before rinsing off with warm water. Do it weekly for better results.

• 3. Use Appropriate Bra-Related Products to Protect Your Shoulders

Get reinforcement if natural home remedies don’t work for you. Avoid unsightly marks and painful indentations on the shoulders by using pads to prevent the straps from digging into the skin. You can get the following products in a lingerie store:

Strap Cushions

These help protect your shoulders and are easy to use. You only need to slide them under the straps. You can also use shoulder pads from your old clothes to come up with your own bra strap cushions. Cut them in tiny pieces and place them under the straps before dressing up.

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Silicone Liners 

Silicone bra strap liners are super soft and feel great against the skin. The liners are ideal for preventing dark marks and indentations since they act as barriers between the bra straps and your skin.

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Liners come in handy especially on those sensitive days.

• 4. Use Makeup to Conceal the Dark Marks

Concealing the dark marks with makeup is the fastest and easiest fix when you are in a rush.  Moisturize the affected area then use a concealer in a lighter shade to hide the indentations on your shoulders. Finally, brush it off with loose powder.

Conclusion

Tight bras cause discoloration and pain on the shoulders, which can be quite embarrassing especially when wearing an off-shoulder top or dress. Use the above home remedies to get rid of the deep grooves and make your shoulders glow.

You can walk with you head held high and go conquer the world since you now know how to fix this problem.