Stretch marks can be caused by a number of factors, including pregnancy, rapid weight gain, weight loss and puberty. They are not harmful and will not cause any long-term health problems, but they can make some people feel self-conscious about their appearance. Stretch marks appear on the skin as parallel lines and often fade to a lighter color than the surrounding skin over time. You can’t make these marks disappear completely, but your skin care regimen can help reduce their appearance.
Avoid Crash Dieting and Rapid Weight Gain
Crash dieting and rapid weight gain can both contribute to the development of stretch marks. Following a healthy eating plan that allows you to lose weight slowly while maintaining proper nutrition will help prevent the development of stretch marks during this process. If you are pregnant or going through puberty, gaining weight at a slow rate can also minimize the development of stretch marks.
Keep Your Skin Moisturized
Dry skin is more susceptible to stretch marks than well-hydrated skin. It is important to apply moisturizer regularly if you are prone to getting stretch marks. Opt for moisturizers that contain vitamin E, vitamin C or glycolic acid; these ingredients may help improve the appearance of existing stretch marks.
Stretch marks, or striae distensae as they are known medically, are a normal part of life for many women and men. They are often caused by rapid weight gain or loss, pregnancy or even growth spurts that occur during puberty. While there is no way to make stretch marks disappear entirely, a good skin care regimen can help improve their appearance.
When stretch marks first appear, they are usually reddish or purple in color, but tend to fade to a lighter shade over time. Although the stretch marks themselves eventually fade and flatten out, the skin in these areas will never fully return to its original state.
Stretch marks most commonly affect areas where large amounts of fat are stored: the abdomen (especially near the navel), breasts, upper arms, underarms, back, thighs (both inner and outer), hips and buttocks.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to treating stretch marks; what works best will depend on the severity of your case and your skin’s natural tendencies.
Stretch marks (striae) are indented streaks that often appear on the abdomen, breasts, hips, buttocks and thighs. They can also develop on the upper arms and lower back.
Stretch marks occur when skin is stretched over a short period of time due to rapid growth or weight gain. This results in the breaking of collagen and elastin fibers (the protein fibers responsible for skin strength and elasticity).
Although they won’t disappear completely, there are ways to help make stretch marks less noticeable. These include:
Skin care products.
Cosmetic procedures.
Over-the-counter creams, lotions and gels may help fade stretch marks if used daily over a period of months. Cosmetically, microdermabrasion can be used to gently remove the outermost layer of skin and reduce the appearance of stretch marks. Laser treatments are used by dermatologists to help treat stretch marks by stimulating collagen production.
Stretch marks are a common skin condition that, depending on their location, can affect both men and women. They occur when the skin is stretched beyond its limit and the middle layer of skin (dermis) tears. After the tearing, collagen fibers are left in an irregular pattern causing stretch marks to appear. Stretch marks don’t fade on their own. But they will fade over time. There is no way to completely rid yourself of stretch marks, but you can make them less noticeable with topical treatments and other methods.
Depending on your skin tone, stretch marks usually appear as red or purple lines before eventually turning a lighter shade of silver or white. They often first appear when the body undergoes a growth spurt, such as during puberty or pregnancy, or if you gain a significant amount of weight in a short period of time. Although stretch marks may not be painful, many people find them unsightly and seek treatment to diminish their appearance.
The good news is there are several effective ways to treat stretch marks so that they are less visible on your skin:
1. Retinoid creams – These creams contain vitamin A acid that can help stimulate collagen production within the skin and minimize the appearance of stretch marks.
2. Skin needling –
Stretch marks are a common side effect of pregnancy. And while they might not be totally preventable, there’s a lot you can do to care for your skin during and after pregnancy so that stretch marks are less likely to develop.
What Are Stretch Marks?
Stretch marks are actually tears in the dermis, or the middle layer of the skin. They may appear as lines — usually reddish at first, then fading to silvery white — on the abdomen, breasts and upper arms. They are more likely to develop in areas where fat is stored.
When this happens, it is because the skin’s elastic tissue has been stretched beyond its capacity, causing it to break down. The tears do not fully heal, which leaves behind those thin streaks of discolored skin.
Stretch marks are a form of scarring on the skin with an off-color hue. Over time they may diminish, but will not disappear completely.
1.The best thing you can do at home is prevent stretch marks from occurring in the first place by staying hydrated and moisturizing your skin regularly. Drink lots of water and apply moisturizer at least twice a day to keep your skin healthy and supple.
2.Try using cocoa butter or shea butter on your stomach, thighs, hips, breasts and lower back; these are the areas most likely to get stretch marks during pregnancy as your skin stretches to accommodate a growing belly.
3.Apply vitamin E oil to help prevent stretch marks. Vitamin E increases the amount of collagen in your skin which helps with elasticity, making it more difficult for stretch marks to occur.
4.Massage almond oil into your skin to make it soft and supple, reducing the chances of developing stretch marks. Almond oil is safe to use while breastfeeding so it’s great for new moms who want to reduce their stretch marks after giving birth.
5.Massage coconut oil into your skin twice a day — once in the morning and once before bed — to improve blood circulation and help prevent stretch marks
Stretch marks are long, narrow streaks, stripes or lines that develop on the skin and which differ in hue from the surrounding skin. They may be depressed, or they may appear as slightly raised streaks.
Stretch marks are actually a form of scarring that occurs when there is rapid stretching of the skin, either due to growth (in adolescents) or due to weight gain (in adults). Stretch marks can occur on both men and women but are more common in women than in men. The most common areas for stretch marks to occur in women are the abdomen, hips and breasts; in men the areas where stretch marks occur most commonly are the shoulders, back and upper arms.