When skin expands and contracts, it can break the elastin and collagen that hold the skin together. When the body’s natural elasticity is lost, stretch marks (striae distensae) develop in areas where the elastin and collagen have been broken down.
Stretch marks can develop from a variety of causes, such as pregnancy, rapid weight gain, and some medical conditions. The most common types of stretch marks are red or purple and appear as narrow, raised lines that may be itchy. They typically fade to a white or silvery color over time.
While they’re not painful, they can make you self-conscious about get rid of stretchmarks how you look and may lead to stress, anxiety and depression. Treatments can help fade or remove the mark, which can improve your appearance and confidence.
The best way to prevent stretch marks is to maintain a healthy weight and avoid sudden changes in your body’s structure. This helps protect the elastin and collagen from breaking down and may prevent or minimize the development of stretch marks.
Many people have found that using a tretinoin cream or other topical treatments such as laser therapy, microneedling, and microdermabrasion can reduce the appearance of stretch marks. However, these treatments are not effective in treating stretch marks that have already formed, so you should talk to your doctor about treatment options.
Another way to get rid of stretch marks is to exfoliate the affected area. Sugar and a natural moisturiser like aloe vera can be used to make an exfoliating scrub that helps regulate blood flow in the affected area and speed up healing processes.
You can also apply a nourishing oil like sweet almond oil or grapeseed oil, which is rich in vitamin E, to the marks. This will not only reduce the appearance of the marks but also increase elasticity and softness of your skin.
In some cases, a surgical procedure called flap surgery can be performed to remove the stretch mark from under the skin. This can be a good option in some situations where the mark is larger or has caused problems with movement and comfort.
While there aren’t any’miracle’ products that will remove stretch marks, you can try to prevent them from developing in the first place by maintaining a healthy weight, eating a nutritious diet and avoiding extremes in body temperature. You can also use topical ointments and lotions that contain natural ingredients such as cocoa butter, coconut oil or olive oil to help keep skin supple and elastic.
If you do get stretch marks, you can help them fade with regular applications of a good moisturizer and sunscreen. You can also consider applying a light layer of tretinoin cream, which will reduce the color and thickness of the mark.
Using a non-oily gel such as Lakme 9 to 5 Naturale Aloe Aqua Gel will make it easy for you to apply and is non-sticky so won’t cause any rubbing. If you want to use a scrub, mix a tablespoon of sugar with a few drops of essential oil or any other ingredient and apply the mixture on the affected area, exfoliating in a circular motion before rinsing thoroughly.