HOW TO GET RID OF STRETCH MARKS
Stretch marks are one of the main concerns of everyone when it comes to skin appearance. Both men and women can develop stretch marks. But women are more likely to have stretch marks due to pregnancy. Stretch marks usually appear as bands of lines on your skin. They are long, narrow streaks, stripes or line that develops on the skin when your skin stretches or changes due to rapid growth, weight gain or weight loss.
There are mainly two types of stretch marks:
These stretch marks are also known as striae rubra. They appear fresh and reddish or purple in initial stages. The red stretch marks are the earliest physical indication that your skin is overstretching. These stretch marks can also become itchy sometimes. During this stage, the elastic fibers also decrease. They are formed when the dermal layer of the skins is stretched making the blood vessels visible. Red stretch marks are easier to get rid of as they are new and fresh.
These stretch marks are also known as striae alba. They are the stubborn stretch marks that appear white or silverish in colour. These are formed when a tiny tear of skin occur as the blood vessels reduce in size, making the fat under the skin visible. White stretch marks are mature ones and it takes longer time to treat them. As these stretch marks are in the mature stage, they might look scar like, irregularly shaped, faded and wrinkly textured. They might become more prominent as your skins elasticity decreases in the aging process.
Pregnancy is one the cause that develops stretch marks in women. During pregnancy stretch marks occur as the fibers in the skin become soft and stretch for developing room for the baby. Therefore stretch marks mainly appear on the tummy, breasts and thighs due to continuous tugging and stretching.
Puberty is the period in which youngsters experience rapid changes in their body resulting in sudden growth spurt causing weight gain or weight loss. These sudden stretching and contracting of the skin might develop stretch marks on hips, thighs and breasts.
3. Increase and decrease in weight
A sudden increase in your weight within a short duration can also affect your skin and cause stretch marks. Same way, a sudden decrease in weight when you are on a diet can also develop stretch marks in your body. Therefore it is always better to reduce your weight gradually without putting much strain on your skin.
Certain health conditions like Cushing’s syndrome, Marfan’s syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos and adrenal gland disorder can also cause stretch marks. In Cushing’s syndrome the body produces more amount of cortisol hormone that causes stretch marks. And in Marfan’s syndrome, a faulty gene weakens the skin’s connective tissues, reduceing its elasticity. Thus the ones having these medical conditions tend to develop stretch marks.
If your parents have stretch marks, you might also develop stretch marks.
When you use corticosteroid creams and lotions for prolonged period; there seems to be a decrease in the levels of collagen in skin that gives strength for your skin. This can also weaken the skin and cause stretch marks.
HOW TO GET RID OF STRETCH MARKS
Stretch marks are very common and are not harmful or cause any medical problems. But still if you are concerned about your skin and its appearance, there are certain home remedies and medicals treatments that will help you to get rid of them.
Vitamin A are also referred to as retinoid which make skin appear youthful and smoother. Applying a topical extract of vitamin A or taking vitamin A orally can help you to keep your skin healthy. Also a diet rich vitamin A including foods like carrots, sweet potatoes help in increasing vitamin A levels in your body.
Applying aloe vera gel or extract over your stretch marks can help you get rid of it. Aloe vera has healing properties and helps in regenerating skin.
Argan oil is rich vitamin E that increases elasticity of the skin. Applying it on stretch marks might help to heal the broken tissues, making them fade way gradually.
4. Cucumber and lemon juice
Lemon juice has natural bleaching properties and its acidity will help to heal and reduce the visibility of the marks. Also cucumber provides soothing effect to your skin. Mix equal amounts of lemon juice and cucumber and apply it on the affected area for 10 min and wash it off with warm water afterwards to see good results.
Make a mixture of one cup of sugar with ¼ cup of softening agents like coconut oil or almond oil and some lemon juice. This mixture is one of the natural scrubs which can be used to rub the affected area for 8-10 min to see good results.
Other medical treatments for stretch marks are:
Some of the medical treatments used to cure stretch marks are mainly laser therapy, needling and microdermabrasion. These treatments are quite expensive and does not ensure complete cure always.
Needling is the treatment where tiny needles are poked into your skin to trigger collagen production. Increased collagen elastin helps in skin regeneration. Microdermabrasion involves exfoliating the skin which reduces the appearance of the skin. And in laser therapy, lasers penetrate the skin, triggering skin regeneration. For medical treatments, you can always buy drugs and other health care products from online medicine store in India.
Stretch marks are not harmful medical conditions. Hence you can always choose the home remedies to gradually reduce it without any side effects. But if you are highly concerned about your skin appearance, medical treatments are always a fastest way to get them cured. Along with these remedies, one of the most important element that our skin need is proper amount of water. Keep yourself hydrated, drink almost 8-10 glasses of water daily to avoid stretch marks and reduce aging of your skin.
