How to rid of shoulder marks so I can actually be excited to wear my dress

Can you try wearing a strapless for a few weeks and see if they go away?

Yeah.. I'd be asking your doctor, they look like bruises to me too.

Switch up your bra for a while, maybe wear a strapless one for a little and see if they disappear

I bet a dermatologist could give you fading cream if it is hyperpigmentation from straps over the years! Call and get an appointment! If you can't get rid of them, your makeup artist can do wonders I'm sure!

I second the comments above. Maybe also going tanning or getting a spray tan that would even out your skin tone a little more? If everything else fails you could cover them up with makeup. There's some really good makeup out there made to cover up tattoos. They should work for your marks, as well. Your dress is beautiful. Don't give up. You'll figure something out

What everyone said.

And if it's hyperpigmentation, a makeup artist can airbrush over it. I'll be doing that for all of my scars.

Doctor.

Different bra (can you get away with a softer supportive sports bra?)

Make up.

No tanning beds. Because cancer is bad mmmmkkkkkkk.

Thank you all. I booked an appointment with my dermatologist for tomorrow (it was her last of the year...lucky!) I am hoping she'll know what they are.

I use a mini backpack to carry my kindle & Invisalign stuff for when I go to work.

I spoke with my makeup artist about it & she said they'll probably lighten up during the winter but regardless she'll cover them up if that's the case..but she doesn't do airbrushing.

I really hope something could be done to rid of them. I was so excited for my dress but now I keep second guessing it wondering if I should've gotten something with straps instead..just want to feel beautiful on our special day (as cheesy as that sounds)

Yeah, definitely go to the dermatologist. You can also cover it up with a really good foundation.

Tanning beds used properly don't cause cancer.

Starting out at a very minimum time, (2-3 minutes) and increasing a minute every 2 to 3 visits (which are every 48-72 hours) until you gradually build a base tan isn't going to give you cancer any more than breathing will.

That being said, I had similar marks on my ribs. Got properly measured (I thought my bras fit fine, and didn't feel tight at all) and it took about a month. But they have completely faded. Good luck!!

Your dress is gorgeous btw

I would and talk to a doctor about that. They might have a better answer.

Futurelagrange: do you have any scientific proof of that? Everything I can find is very clear that the exposure you are describing increases cancer risk by a huge amount, but I am always interested in other studies.

I'm adding a now photo of how it looks up close in different lighting.

If you can't figure out how to get rid of them, I'm sure a good MUA could help.

That looks like bruising. The dermatologist should have a good answer for you and get properly fitted for a bra.

I googled and it is most likely your bra.

https://www.leaf.tv/articles/how-to-get-rid-of-dark-bra-strap-lines-on-the-shoulder-area/

@leah, what you are saying is that you can get cancer from the sun. I get tanlines from driving, or standing outside loading groceries in my car. I hate the heat. So I'm outside in the summer as little as possible. But I still get tan in the summer.

My initial post was worded poorly, I'll apologize. Tanning beds can cause skin cancer, but used properly, your chances are decreased to the same amount of risk as you would get simply going outside.

I just got to work, and have a few things I need to get done, buy will respond with where I'm actually getting my facts from as soon as I can.

Yes you can. - and you can get cancer from standing out side just doing your job- or going out purposefully to tan.

it doesn't matter WHY you're outside- exposure increases your risk. So your number one safe bet for REDUCING risk is to stay out of the sun. Following that- long sleeves AND sunblock.

I can't imagine purposefully putting yourself in a tanning bed. Regardless of the fact it could be in theory as low risk as just being outside.

#teampaleforlife

OP, I would switch to a strapless for a while--a good fitting one, not too tight under the boobs, or to a bra with light fabric straps. It could be the backpack + the bra straps both making the marks. Look into a cross-body shoulder bag instead and wear it on a different shoulder each day.

@Futurelagrange: Ah, I see you drink the tanning bed koolaid.

Tanning is your body's sign that damage is being done. If you're tanning, you're basking in harmful radiation. Would you bask in the glow of a spent plutonium rod? No. why? Cancer, and other health issues.

Common sense here. And basic nuclear physics.