Getting Rid Of Stretch Marks

Getting Rid Of Stretch Marks - Part One: What Are Stretch Marks?

Stretch marks are relatively small scars left behind when the skin is overstretched because of for instance pregnancy, extreme weight gain or bodybuilding. It is actually a result of fibers in the middle layer of your skin have breaking leaving you with read lines on the skin that usually turnes to pale white over time. Stretch Marks usually occours on, or between, breasts, the abdomen, your buttocks, sometimes legs and even upper arms can be "attacked". While it is absolutely possible getting rid of stretch marks or reduce stretch marks (and often even eliminate their appearance totally), it is much easier to prevent them in the first place. Many have had to fight with stretch marks for a long long time before they manage to get rid of them. That is not going to happen with you. Just follow these easy guidelines, either as prevention or damage control, and you will have your skin back in its original form, eventually. :)

Getting Rid Of Stretch Marks - Part Two: Prevent Them From Ever Happening!

If you are planning to do some extra work out, to get pregnant or you fear that you sometime in the future will get stretch marks; NOW is the time to prevent them from ever atticking your body!

The best way to prevent stretch marks is to make your skin more elastic and avoid stretching of the skin if possible.

Lotions & Creams: Lotions and creams, especially those with cocunut oil or aloe vera, are good for your skin. To always apply lotion or cream after showering is a smart thing to do for both men and women. This will not only prevent stretch marks but also make your skin look more vital, healthier and younger. Just make sure that in care you are pregnant or breast feeding, that you do not use creams or lotion that can harm your baby. Consult your doctor if needed.

Vitamin Supplements: A, E and C vitamins can help you increase the elasticity and strenght of the collagen in your skin and is a great way to reduce the formation of stretch marks.

Don't drink too much coffee or beer. Drink Water - Stay Hydraded!

Damage Control - Getting Rid Of Stretch Marks

Natural solutions and home remedies can be a good place to start. However, in a study done by six women from Delaware (I think, not too sure about the state, though), these kinds of remedies did not show much results. They may work for prevention but for removing stretch marks these women recommended other solutions. You can read more here> Getting Rid Of Stretch Marks.

Some natural and home remedies include;

Retin-A (Also known as Tretinoin): Tretinoin creams (0.1%) have proven to drastically reduce stretch marks in a study published in the May 1996 Archives of Dermatology. This is a prescripted cream and SHOULD NOT be used by pregnant - or breast feeding - women as the active ingredient, Tretinoin, can be passed on to the unborn child or through the breast milk. Always consult your doctor first when taking doctor prescripted drugs or creams. Retin-A also works best with FRESH stretch marks and is close to useless, in my experience, on old stretch marks (after the stretch marks have turned into pale white!).

Try to Exfoliate daily by using a scrubber, hard sponge or scrunchy.

Getting Rid Of Stretch Marks With Creams & Lotions: Use creams on a daily basis that include ingredients such as Cocoa butter/oil, Rose hip oil, Emu oil, Jojoba oil, Castor oil, Shea butter, Vitamin A, E & C, Squalene Oil, Aloe Vera and pro-vitamin B5 (DL-Penthenol). There are many creams out there that have some of each of these ingredients but the best one I've found this far, that includes many of the ingredients mentioned above, is the Stretch Mark Prevention Cream from Revitol. It worked like a charm on me after I had my second daughter!

You can also use tanning creams to make the stretch marks blend in with the skin. However, they will not dissapear with this method, just be not as visual. Do NOT sunbath, thoug, as it may increase the appearance of the stretch marks!