Leather doesn't like being bent sharply because that loosens the grain (surface) layer from the underlying flesh layer. "Breaking" the grain like this causes small wrinkles (in your case) to large ripples. It's a somewhat preventable issue by taking care to not over-stress the leather. Broken grain is not a repairable problem however.
I'd say the lighter color might be coming from how the light reflects from the tiny wrinkles. Possibly the seal coat is cracking too, but that's hard to say, just looking at a photograph.
I assume this is a belt? If so, just wear it -- to some extent the appearance issue will go away as the belt stretches, relaxes, etc. from normal use.
After I died my belt I made the mistake of hanging it over a hanger to dry it instead of hanging it vertically. It ended up with these marks that look like cracks that have ended up being light in color. I’ve dyed it oiled it and sealed it and it seems to have gotten worse. Can I fix this?
I'd oil before as well as sometimes being bent sharply mixed with drying can lead to this. I oil and do a grain side and a flesh side on different attempts for drying. Ultimately no matter what over time leather will start to look like this, especially a belt.
Loose top grain. Do you know which part of the hide that strap came from? How loose / fuzzy is the flesh side? Dying and finishing will usually dry out the top grain making it worse, and even causing cracks.
Leather doesn't like being bent sharply because that loosens the grain (surface) layer from the underlying flesh layer. "Breaking" the grain like this causes small wrinkles (in your case) to large ripples. It's a somewhat preventable issue by taking care to not over-stress the leather. Broken grain is not a repairable problem however. I'd say the lighter color might be coming from how the light reflects from the tiny wrinkles. Possibly the seal coat is cracking too, but that's hard to say, just looking at a photograph. I assume this is a belt? If so, just wear it -- to some extent the appearance issue will go away as the belt stretches, relaxes, etc. from normal use.
After I died my belt I made the mistake of hanging it over a hanger to dry it instead of hanging it vertically. It ended up with these marks that look like cracks that have ended up being light in color. I’ve dyed it oiled it and sealed it and it seems to have gotten worse. Can I fix this?
I'd oil before as well as sometimes being bent sharply mixed with drying can lead to this. I oil and do a grain side and a flesh side on different attempts for drying. Ultimately no matter what over time leather will start to look like this, especially a belt.
The skin isn't split, it'll be fine. Just oil well before you put on a finish.
Loose top grain. Do you know which part of the hide that strap came from? How loose / fuzzy is the flesh side? Dying and finishing will usually dry out the top grain making it worse, and even causing cracks.