How to Hide Body Blemishes at the Beach

After covering up every inch of your body to keep warm in the winter, it's scary enough to bare all that skin at the beach without additional fret over blemishes. Whether they're post-baby stretch marks, a few (or a lot of) pimples or reminders of bad burns and tomboy stunts gone wrong, your imperfections are front and center when you're bikini-clad at the beach.

There are plenty of surf-and-sand situations that'll make you hyper-self-conscious — a date, a company beach picnic or meeting future in-laws for the first time. You dread watching others focus in on your flaws, so what can you do to cover them up?

One of the best ways to conceal blemishes is to hide them with beach-appropriate attire — and you won't even have to explain why you covered yourself head to toe. With more people being UV-conscious these days, no one will question those light, breezy layers over your swimsuit. In fact, many pieces look like fashion statements.

If blemishes like cellulite, scars, razor burn from shaving and stretch marks plague the lower half of your body, a sarong or a pareo scarf tied loosely at the hip or waist can make you look cool in the heat. If a sarong's not your thing, pull on a light pair of Capri pants with your bikini top or a one-piece bathing suit. If you want to brave the surf, consider boy-short bottoms or bikini bottoms that include a skirt. They'll conceal any upper thigh issues like cellulite or skin irritation from shaving or waxing your bikini area.

You can use the same sarong — tied in different ways — to make a dress and conceal your stomach and chest as well as your thighs. One of the most popular options is the halter dress. Here's how it's done: Wrap the sarong or scarf around your back, then pull the top corners to the front. Crisscross those ends in front of you, somewhat tightly, above the bust. Then pull the loose ends up behind your neck and knot them. Voila; you created a dress!

If you consider your arms, chest and back problem areas, opt for a beach cover-up. Many beach cover-ups appear sheer over your bathing suit, so you'll still look beachy while hiding blemishes like body acne and birthmarks. Choose a style that covers your problem areas but reveals your assets. Cover-ups come in short-sleeve, long-sleeve, and sleeveless styles and can range from micromini to ankle-length. And if a sheer fabric doesn't seem right, choose a form-fitting spandex, airy linen, cool cotton or durable polyester.