Home Remedies for Stretch Marks

What it Is

A stretch mark is simply a type of skin scar that is not on top of external skin but instead develops on the dermis which is the middle layer of the skin. These scars appear when there is a rapid growth in the body. As the body expands, underlying tissues also stretch and may begin to tear once they have reached their elastic limit. It is also at this point when collagen production is interrupted. Aside from rapid growth, certain hormonal activities are also believed to be disruptive to collagen formation. Without enough collagen, the strength of skin connective tissues will diminish.

Who Gets It

Anyone, even men can develop stretch marks. The condition however may be more obvious in some teens. The natural growth and expansion of teen bodies can promote the development of stretch marks. Teens usually have the scars on their thighs, hips and buttocks.

Aside from teens pregnant women are also most at risk of stretch mark development because of the rapid fetal growth and the changes in hormonal activity. Aside from the hips and thighs, a lot of pregnant women develop stretch marks on the abdomen and breasts.

Solutions

Some people tend to think that stretch marks are simply a cosmetic problem. It is however a fact that stretch marks can cause great psychological distress in people. Without a good stretch mark solution, affected individuals may have little choice but to cover up at the beach and shun revealing fashionable clothes.

Aside from covering up though, those with the problem also have the option of undergoing expensive and invasive surgical procedures. Among the procedures currently used for stretch mark removal are tummy tuck, laser surgery and dermabrasion.

A tummy tuck procedure however is a major surgical procedure that poses numerous risks and will still leave you with a visible scar across the lower abdomen. Laser surgery may have fewer risks and side effects but will only be effective on fresh dermis scars. Dermabrasion is simply a stripping off of skin and may not provide extensive positive results. Even with the most recent technology and procedures, there is no guarantee that you will be able to get rid of your scar problem. Instead of spending a lot and possibly risking your life and health with surgical procedures, you may do better to explore natural ways of removing stretch marks.

It is very common that almost every woman in a specific time of their lives will develop stretch marks. Others, simply have a generic predisposition to stretch marks and get them everywhere and others, neverdevelop stretch marks at all.

They look like reddish lines across the body, and with time they will turn white. In pregnancy it is common to have them, due that the skin it's stretching very rapidly to accommodate the baby and the milk stored in the breasts.

Once the stretch mark develop they will stay with you forever; but with time they will be less noticeable. The only way to avoid stretch marks is preventing them.

A women's confidence and self esteem can be be lowered with the onset of stretch marks. They can be common in pregnant women and women who put on weight. Women are not the only ones who suffer from this condition, men can also suffer from them as well. This is usually the case especially with men who take on rapid weight gain or body builders. The usual regions for them to appear are arms, breasts, legs, chest stomach and chest. They are formed by the skin becoming over stretched and this in turn makes the connecting fibres break which makes lines on the skin. They start off being either red or pink and then over time fade and as they get older they may appear a lighter shade than that of your actual skin.

So, if you want to learn how to remove stretch marks, here are some of the many methods available on the market today..

Treatment Using Oils and Creams

The dermis which is the middle layer of the skin is the region where they form. The use of creams or oils may work for some people and not for others or it may not clear the affected area completely. However, it has been stated that prescription creams appear when the marks have moved on from being red and faded. The use of Vitamin E or Baby oil after taking a hot bath has been known to reduce the appearance of the scaring of the skin.

Laser Surgery

The use of laser surgery to remove the affected is fairly mixed. There is a procedure called microdermabrasion or as it is commonly known Microderm this is where the outer layer of the skin is removed with the use of abrasion. This method can be more costly than other treatments but does have a higher rate of success. If you are to use this treatment only go to qualified practitioner.

Make Up

A temporary method for removing stretch marks can be with the use of make up. Just apply the make up over the affected area to hide them and this will need to be done daily or however much is required.

Endermologie Treatment

This is a treatment that was developed by French Plastic Surgeons. This treatment uses rollers and suction simultaneously to give a deep massage over the affected parts of the skin where the marks are present. This treatment will improve the skin, however, it may not completely remove the ugly skin.

Home-made Remedies

One option on how to remove stretch marks is the use of an oatmeal scrub to reduce the appearance on the affected area. Another remedy that is used is egg whites. Apply the egg whites to the required area and let it dry and wash off. This is to be repeated three times a day. This method is supposed to apply protein to the skin.

Home Remedies for Stretch Marks #1: It is very important to exercise in order to get rid of stretch marks; toning your muscles helps your skin to firm thus preventing stretch marks.

Home Remedies for Stretch Marks #2: Make sure in your diet you are getting plenty of protein and foods rich in Vitamin C and Vitamin E, they promote good tissue growth.

Home Remedies for Stretch Marks #3: Massaging your body with olive oil or Vitamin E may help.

Home Remedies for Stretch Marks #4: You can also try this homemade recipe: Mix one ounce of carrier oil ( try avocado, sweet almond, jojoba, they are the best ) with seven drops of lavender and five drops of chamomile.

Home Remedies for Stretch Marks #5: Apply cocoa butter and/ or elastin cream though out the body as directed on label. These are very good for stretch marks.

Home Remedies for Stretch Marks #6: Here is another good recipe:

1/2 cup virgin olive oil.

1/4 cup aloe vera gel.

liquid from 6 capsules of Vitamin E.

liquid from 4 capsules of Vitamin A.

Mix all the ingredients together in a blender. After that pour the mixture into a jar and store it in the fridge. Apply the oil externally all over the places where the stretch marks commonly appear ( abdomen, hips, thighs and breasts ). If you do this consistently every day, you may prevent stretch marks.

Egg Whites on Stretch Marks-Natural Treatment

Egg white and egg white powders are greatly effective in treating stretch marks. As they are rich in protein, they provide protein to the skin. Oils such as almond oil and castor oil are also equally good at reducing stretch marks. Use vitamin E creams or buy Vitamin E caplets, break them and apply this regularly on your skin. Olive oil is also extremely effective in treating stretch marks.

Women who have used these home remedies for stretch marks swear by their effectiveness. The trick is to know how to use the oils and cream to get the maximum effect. You should apply the oil shortly after taking a shower. Let it absorb into the skin naturally and apply it again after your next shower. This should be done daily. If your skin tends to be on the dry side, apply the cream twice a day. If you feel that the cream sticks to your clothes, cover the area with gauze and stick it with medical tape.

Palmers Stretch Mark Cream

The Palmers stretch mark cream is an herbal-based cream, and is known to effectively and safely reduce stretch marks on the abdomen, breasts, buttocks, and thighs. It restores the skin’s natural texture and helps reduce the visibility of stretch marks. Palmer’s massage cream contains cocoa butter, vitamin E, collagen, and elastin helps prevent stretch marks. It is a high lubrication cream that restores the skin’s natural elasticity and moisture. The stretched skin loses elasticity due to dryness, which this cream helps restore through its non-greasy formula.

Retinol A for Stretch Marks

Retin–A, containing tretinoin, is a topical cream like many others that is used extensively in the treatment of stretch marks. It helps in reducing the new stretch marks. Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), made from plant extracts, are used for treating stretch marks. Found in the form of creams, AHAs help improve the appearance of stretch marks while keeping the skin soft and supple.

Tummy Honey Cream

The tummy honey butter brand creams and lotions can be used during or after pregnancy, as they help prevent the formation of stretch marks. They also effectively reduce the visibility of existing stretch marks. Marks on the breasts that appear due to the sudden growth in their size are also treated with help of this cream. The tummy honey cream in conjunction with Endo special, a booster, is effective to a large degree in removing stretch marks on the breasts.

A number of stretch marks removal creams and lotions are available, but they at the most can only help reduce the visibility of the stretch marks.