Do you have annoying stretch marks on your skin and want to get rid of them? Stretch marks are indented streaks that develop and appear on the skin when the skin stretches, and it often shows up on the stomach, buttocks, thighs, and breasts.
Stretch marks are not harmful at all to the health, but they don’t look good on the skin. This article will explain the causes of stretch marks, prevention tips, and how to get rid of stretch marks.
Stretch marks come in different colors and textures, and they can fade off on their own with time, but if you cannot stand the look of it on your skin, there are ways to make it disappear quickly.
How to Get Rid of Stretch Marks
It’s quite difficult to get rid of stretch marks naturally because it rarely fades off on its own, but some remedies and treatments can help in minimizing the appearance and help it fade quickly. Medical treatments are also available to help treat stretch marks.
Medical Treatments to Get Rid of Stretch Marks
You can seek the help of a dermatologist to treat stretch marks through the use of lasers and other treatments to fade out stretch marks. Below are treatments that can be done;
1. Pulsed Dye Laser Therapy
This helps to improve the appearance of both old and new stretch marks. Pulsed dye laser therapy helps focus on the production of collagen and elastin to help with the texture of the skin. This is a painless procedure.
The laser’s energy helps to calm the blood vessels under the skin, and just one treatment is enough to clean new stretch marks on the skin, while older ones need about two to four treatments to fade off.
2. Fractional C02 Laser Therapy
This is an effective treatment for stretch marks. It helps to stimulate the epiderm which also helps to improve and rejuvenate collagen, and this significantly helps to improve the appearance of stretch marks.
This procedure is done with a carbon dioxide laser. It easily penetrates deep skin layers to treat affected areas. The body responds by producing skin tissues on the affected area, which therefore makes it disappear.
3. Excimer Laser Therapy
This treatment decreases the appearance of stretch marks by stimulating the skin cells to produce the skin’s pigment called melanin. This helps to darken white stretch marks. However, this is the easiest way to treat stretch marks for dark skin.
4. Microdermabrasion
This procedure reduces the hyperpigmentation of the skin, and it also helps the skin to recover from stretch marks. The procedure uses exfoliating crystals to rejuvenate the outer layer of the skin.
It does not require the use of anesthesia to numb the body, and there is no downtime after treatment. Microdermabrasion stimulates collagen production and therefore helps to treat and fade out stretch marks.
5. Radio Frequency
This treatment helps to tighten the skin, and it also helps to rid the body of scars, including stretch marks. It stimulates the body to heal naturally.
The procedure triggers the skin to produce collagen in the targeted area, and this results in the improvement of the appearance of stretch marks.
6. Ultrasound Therapy
This process lessens the appearance of stretch marks on the skin. It also helps rejuvenate the complexion, and improve skin elasticity, by tightening and lifting the skin tissues.
Ultrasound therapy treatment also targets the tissues, leading to the contraction and restoration of the collagen.
7. Microneedling
This method involves the use of tiny needles to press into the skin. It creates injuries that will trigger the body to produce new collagen and elastin. This procedure helps the body to naturally repair itself.
MicroNeedling is said to be painless, however, treated areas may appear stolen for a few days after treatment.
8. Laser Resurfacing Therapy
This process helps to produce collagen and elastin fiber in the skin. The therapy works to restructure the overlying skin by removing the outer layer of the skin in the area being treated.
Laser resurfacing therapy is the most effective way to remove stretch marks on the skin.
It helps create new tissues and helps quicken the skin’s natural healing process. In addition, it aids smoother and better-looking skin, and there is no downtime after treatment.
9. Collagen Boosters
This procedure focuses on increasing the concentration and production of collagen in the skin. Collagen is a protein in the body that controls the elasticity of the skin tissues.
SEE: Does Stretch Mark Go Away? Causes And Solutions
2. Topical Treatments for Stretch Marks
1. Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid aids and stimulates collagen production in the body. Collagen is a protein in the body that keeps the body in shape and helps the skin to develop more elasticity, it’s also a good way to get rid of stretch marks.
2. Retinoid Creams
Creams that contain retinoid helps to increase the skin’s collagen production. Retinoid is a compound related to vitamin A, and it is used to reduce the appearance of stretch marks because it helps fade in your stretch marks.
However, the side effect of this cream is that it makes the skin red, irritated and scaly.
3. Glycolic Acid
This is a chemical peel that is used for exfoliating the skin. This acid is an alpha hydroxy acid that can be derived from sugary fruits like sugar cane.
3. Home Remedies to Get Rid of Stretch Marks
There are many oils, creams, and skincare products that claim to help reduce the appearance of stretch marks, but most are just mere speculations. However, there are home remedies you can try to help you reduce the appearance of stretch marks. Some of these remedies are:
1. Bitter Almond Oil
This helps to reduce the appearance of stretch marks on the skin caused by pregnancy. Simply apply the oil on affected areas to help reduce the visibility of stretch marks. Bitter Almond Oil also reduces the development of stretch marks on the skin.
2. Moisturizing the Skin With Coconut Oil
Coconut Oil helps heal skin damages. This oil contains healing properties that make the healing process fast. Applying coconut oil to your stretch marks daily will also help reduce the visibility of the stretch marks.
3. Argan Oil
Argan oil helps to improve skin elasticity with its anti-aging properties. It’s rich in vitamin E, rubbing the body with this oil might assist in healing broken tissues, which will also result in the stretch marks fading off.
4. Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is rich in antioxidants, which help rejuvenate damaged skin cells. This will also treat stretch marks by reducing the visibility of stretch marks with their bleaching properties.
5. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera has several properties that heal skin damages because it moisturizes the skin. It is a natural healing agent and is effective in fading off stretch marks.
6. Egg White
Egg white is rich in amino acids, making it a super nutrient source for the skin. It lightens the marks and also tightens the skin tissues, thereby reducing the visibility of stretch marks.
7. Sugar
Exfoliate your skin with a sugar scrub to fade stretch marks. Mix sugar with either almond or coconut oil, then add lemon juice and scrub the mixture on the affected area of your body. Leave it on the skin for about 10 minutes before washing it off.
8. Potato Juice
Potatoes contain starch and other skin-lightening agents. It will bleach the affected part of the body, and this will also reduce the visibility of the stretch marks on it.
9. Olive Oil
This oil contains moisturizing properties and is full of antioxidants. These properties are good for repairing skin damages, therefore applying olive oil on stretch marks will fade it off eventually.
10. Black Tea
Black tea contains minerals and vitamins that are vital for controlling skin pigmentation. To use this remedy, simply boil a cup of water, then insert a bag of black tea, add salt and apply the mixture to the stretch marks when it has cooled off.
11. Apricots
The seeds of apricot fruits are used for exfoliating the skin to remove dead and damaged skin cells. This also helps new skin to generate on the damaged layer, thereby causing stretch marks to fade off.
It also contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which work effectively to rejuvenate and heal damaged skin. It is easily absorbed by the skin to aid collagen production in the skin, and this helps to treat stretch marks.
SEE: Best Stretch Mark Creams That Work
Common Causes of Stretch Marks
Stretch marks naturally develop on the skin when there is a sudden quick growth in the body, and the skin loses its elasticity. Stretch marks can be caused by these other factors:
1. Sudden Weight Gain
This happens when there is a quick weight gain. The body has to stretch to accommodate the increased weight, and stretch marks could appear when the elasticity of the body can’t take the rapid growth.
The same thing can also happen when you suddenly lose weight. Losing or gaining bodyweight slowly may not cause stretch marks because the body will have time to adjust to the new development.
2. Pregnancy
Pregnancy can cause stretch marks because it releases surges of hormones, and this makes their skin fibers lose their strength. As the baby grows, the skin on the stomach stretches, and this may cause stretch marks to appear on the skin.
You may also develop stretch marks on your thighs and breasts because pregnancy makes them bigger. However, this usually happens in the later stages of pregnancy.
3. Marfan and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
These are multisystemic diseases or disorders that affect the tissues of the skin. Marfan syndrome often stops the production of collagen and elastin, which supports skin elasticity in the body.
This leads to the skin being prone to stretch marks, and it also develops tears in the skin tissues.
4. Corticosteroids
This is often referred to as steroids. Steroids are drugs that are closely similar to cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone that the adrenal glands produce. The use of these drugs can cause tears in the collagen and elastin fibers when the skin is stretched.
Getting big buttocks and breast implants can also cause the skin to lose its elasticity, thereby causing the appearance of stretch marks on the buttocks and breasts.
Tips to Prevent Stretch Marks
The following tips will help prevent your body from developing stretch marks:
- Stay hydrated by drinking up to 8 glasses of water if you are a woman, and 10 glasses for men.
- Fortify your diet and skincare products with vitamins C, E, and A because of their antioxidant properties.
- Eat foods rich in gelatin because it contains collagen that strengthens the elasticity of your skin.
- Omega-3 should also be present in your diet. Fishes like salmon, sardine, and mackerel are rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
- Eat food rich in zinc because they have anti-inflammatory properties.
- Be proactive and not reactive with any slight appearance or sagging of the skin.
FAQs on Stretch Marks
Can stretch marks be avoided during pregnancy?
Yes, it can. It will be difficult to achieve, but there are several ways to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy.
- Ensure that you include vitamin C, E, D and also zinc in your diet, as this will help greatly in preventing stretch marks.
- Drink enough water to keep your body hydrated.
- Keep control of your weight gains.
How to get rid of stretch marks on the breast?
You can easily get rid of the stretch marks by undergoing laser therapy or any other medical treatments mentioned in this article.
How long does it take to clear off stretch marks?
There is no time duration. This is because the healing process varies depending on the treatment.
It can take a long period to reduce the visibility of stretch marks on the skin.
Conclusion
Stretch marks, although not harmful to the health, are not suitable for the skin. It is best to prevent them from developing on the skin.
Take preventive measures to prevent stretch marks from appearing on your skin. Eat right, stay hydrated, and control your weight gain. This will help prevent the appearance of stretch marks on the skin.
If stretch marks eventually do appear on your skin, ensure to treat them immediately by using the recommended home remedies and tips to help get rid of them immediately.
Thanks for reading.
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