Stretch marks can spoil the texture and look of your skin. Excessive and sudden weight gain or weight loss causes stretch marks. Find ways to manage diet, exercise, and weight to surpass the chances of getting stretch marks by examining the article below.
Stretch marks are ugly and often associated with weight gain or sudden weight loss in obese people. The medical term for stretch marks is “striae gravidarum.” The term “striae” is generally used to define narrow grooves and channels that are close and parallel to each other.
Home Remedies to Reduce Stretch Marks
Some common ways or home remedies for reducing stretch marks are listed here below:
- Massage of the areas with marks with aroma oil and scrubbing them with apricot can naturally remove these marks
- Regular exercise along with intake of foods rich in skin nutrients can very quickly remove the stretch marks naturally
- Quarter cup of aloe vera gel, half cup of olive oil, vitamin A, and Vitamin E liquids can be blended well to form a solution. Applying it on the marks is one of the effective ways to get rid of them
- Few drops of chamomile, seven drops of lavender oil, and one ounce of carrier oil can be mixed to form a natural liquid. Daily usage of this home remedy over the stretch marks can naturally reduce them in a short duration of time
- Use olive oil or vitamin E to massage your body and affected parts
- Apply an ounce of carrier oil mixed with lavender and chamomile on the stretch marks
- Apply cocoa butter on the stretch marks
- Prepare a mixture with ½ cup of virgin oil, 1/4 cup of aloe vera gel, six capsules of vitamin E, and four capsules of vitamin A. Store in a refrigerator apply every day over your stretch marks.
- Apply apricot scrub on the affected area
- Apply cocoa butter on the stretch marks in the morning and the evening daily
- Apply aroma oil on the stretch marks and massage well
- Intake of green leafy vegetables and juices in your diet
Other Medications and Ways to treat Stretch Marks
- Trofolastin cream contains collagen hydrolysates, Vitamin E and Gotu Kola Extract. Application of this cream daily has been found to remove the marks
- Verum is another cream with ingredients like panthenol, vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, elastin, and menthol, which has proven benefits against stretch marks as per studies
- Creams with Retinoids are prescribed by doctors to get rid of the marks. They work by increasing the rate of growth of new cells in the dermis layer of the skin
- However, there are very few credible and large scale studies on the benefits of creams as a treatment for the marks caused by excessive stretching of the skin
- Fractional Laser Resurfacing: The technique involves causing controlled wounds in the areas with marks. In this way, new skin cells are allowed to grow in the affected areas. It takes months for the new skin to emerge and for the wounds to heal naturally. It is a costly treatment to be carried out only under medical supervision. The side effects are temporary
- Tummy Tuck Surgery: It is a cosmetic surgery where the presence of more fat in the abdominal area is removed. The technique costs from $4,000 – $20,000 in the United States. No assurances are given by the surgeons about the effectiveness of this treatment
- Dermabrasion: It is the most popular method of treatment for stretch marks. Mechanical aids like sandpaper are used to remove the upper surface of the skin in this technique. The new skin re-grows, healing the wound. Temporary bruising, dryness, and sun sensitivity are some of the temporary side effects of this method
What are stretch marks?
With time and age, the skin begins to lose its luster and shine. This is contributed by the deteriorating functions of the layers of skin. The skin is divided into three layers – epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous layers.
The dermis is responsible for the thinning of the skin as it is this layer that provides important nutrients to the epidermis. Owing to the continuous and reckless breakdown of collagen and elastin fibers, the skin begins to thin and sag with age. Therefore, the blood vessels lying below the skin become more visible in the form of stretch marks.
Causes of Stretch Marks
The causes associated with rising stretch marks in the hidden and visible parts of the body are listed here below:
- Pregnancy
- Growing girls and boys
- Sudden weight gain or weight loss
- Athletes training their muscles to become big and strong
- Depression that can lead to obesity and finally stretch marks
- Weak pelvic floor ligaments
- Persons with lesser collagen production
- Physical and environmental change
Stretch Mark Symptoms
Stretch marks thin red lines caused by the skin’s overstretching during pregnancy or sudden weight gain or weight loss. Gradually these lines start becoming purple and finally turn silver or white. Stretch marks can occur in anyone and usually appears in areas like the abdomen, lower back hips, upper arms, and breasts.
Treatment Options for Stretch Marks
Stretch marks can be cured or done away with the help of the following treatment options:
- Over the counter medicated creams, lotions and moisturizers
- Prescribed Tretinoin or Retin-A creams
- Surgical methods like dermabrasion, laser surgery and chemical peel to fade the stretch marks
How to Prevent Stretch Marks?
Stretch marks can be prevented in the following ways:
- Drink plenty of water
- Balance your diet with nutritious food, beverages, fruits and vegetables
- Exercise regularly to maintain the right body weight
- Cocoa butter creams
- Eat food rich in vitamins
- Don’t scratch your skin where you have stretch marks
- Apply stretch mark ointment daily to be prevented from stretch marks
Stretch marks can be tough to live with as the unwanted lines lend an ugly and displeasing appearance to your skin and body. To find suitable options to keep happy and away from those stubborn stretch marks.
Scars Removal
A scar is a mark on the skin left after an injury or cut. Some wounds can be healed quickly, while some scars take time to get heal and challenging to cure.
Home remedies to remove Scars
Below are some of the top remedies to remove scars –
- Apply lemon juice on your skin. It acts as a natural bleach
- Applying honey two to three times a day can help in lightening the scar marks
- Apply cucumber juice on your face daily for 15 minutes. Wash your face with warm water
- Take sandalwood paste and mix it well with rose water. Apply it overnight. Wash your face with cold water
- Dip a cotton ball into an essential oil of lavender. Apply it two times in a day
Scar Marks Prevention
Some of the ways are mentioned below through which the scars could be prevented –
- Add protein in your diet to keep your skin healthy
- Cover the damage part of the skin with a cloth or bandage
- Avoid eating food containing too much of sugar,starch or fatty acid
- Avoid drinking alcohol
