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Stretch Marks

Stretch marks: Why Do They Appear And How To Get Rid Of Them?

Dr. Deepti Prasad
Medically Reviewed By:

Dr. Deepthi Prasad, MBBS.

Written by Our Editorial Team

 

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Stretch marks are a common skin condition and can drastically affect your self-confidence. Growth spurt in adolescence, pregnancy, sudden weight gain or weight loss are the primary reasons for the appearance of stretch marks. Find out what stretch marks are and how to conquer them from our experts.

What Are Stretch Marks?

Also known as striae, stretch mark is a common skin condition caused by stretching or shrinking of the skin, causing the collagen and elastin fibers in the dermis to break down and create scars. They can appear anywhere on the body but are most commonly found on the abdomen, arms, breasts, hips, buttocks, and thighs. The texture of the skin where the stretch marks appear is uneven; you may feel ridges or indentations on the skin. Various factors, including rapid weight gain or loss, pregnancy, hormonal changes during puberty and certain medications, can cause stretch marks. The stretch marks during pregnancy are seen in about 50-90% women. They are not harmful to one's health but can obviously be a cause of concern.

The stretch marks developed during pregnancy fade away gradually with time. However, most stretch marks are permanent. But you can make the stretch marks appear less prominent and noticeable with proper skincare treatments.

Also Read : Let’s Debunk Stretch Mark Myths!

Symptoms Of Stretch Marks

Stretch Marks On The Buttocks

Various factors affect the appearance of stretch marks on your skin.

  • Your skin tone
  • The elasticity of your skin
  • Affected body parts

Stretch marks appear on the skin in red, purple, brown or pink lines, depending on your skin tone. (streaks) It may be of various lengths and thicknesses. The skin around the stretch marks might start itching. The area with stretch marks might appear raised at first, which gradually goes down. You may notice thin lines or streaks in your body which gradually begin to appear white over time.

How To Remove Stretch Marks?

People opt for expensive chemical-laden creams and lotions for stretch mark removal, which may prove futile. It’s important to look for the right ingredients in the products you buy. At times, a number of natural remedies that cost you nothing also work extremely well to minimize the appearance of stretch marks. The stretch marks on your buttock, abdomen, and thighs can be lightened with the use of natural ingredients, topical treatments and in-office treatments. As per experts, you cannot permanently eliminate stretch marks, but you can make them less visible. Let’s look at some ways of doing that in detail!

Also Read : How To Prevent Stretch Marks?

A. Natural Ingredients

Here are the top five natural ingredients that can help remove scars and stretch marks from the skin.

Skin Care product

1. Argan Oil

Argan oil is the answer to all your beauty concerns. If you want a clear complexion, then argan oil is a must-have skincare product in your regular skincare routine. It is a storehouse of essential nutrients that hydrates, nourishes, revives and revitalizes your skin. Being a rich source of vitamins A and E and essential fatty acids, argan oil improves the skin's elasticity by keeping the skin cells hydrated and has a soothing effect on the itchy, inflamed skin.

2. Cocoa Butter

Cocoa butter is well-known for its intense hydrating property, as it quickly penetrates deep into the layers of the skin, restoring the hydration level of the skin. You will find this ingredient in most moisturizing skincare products. Its regular application helps to lighten the scars and stretch marks.

3. Potato Juice

Potato juice is known for its skin-lightening properties as it bleaches the skin naturally, reducing dark circles, blemishes, scars and stretch marks.

4. Olive Oil

Olive oil is a rich source of powerful antioxidants such as Vitamin E, which fights free radicals responsible for damaging skin cells. With regular application of Olive Oil, you can bid goodbye to stretch marks.

5. Turmeric

Turmeric is another natural ingredient, known for its skin-brightening properties. Curcumin, an active ingredient in turmeric, plays a vital role in fading away stretch marks. Including turmeric in your regular skincare routine helps to maintain clear, problem-free skin.

Also Read : Blemish Busting Ingredients : How To Get Rid Of Blemishes And Get Glowing Skin

B. Topical Treatments

Stretch Mark Removal

For treating the stretch marks on the buttocks, thighs, arms, and abdomen, experts recommend topical treatments. The topical creams or lotions contain active ingredients for keeping your skin well-hydrated and nourished, thereby lightening the appearance of scars and helping with stretch mark removal. Look for hyaluronic acid, tretinoin, silicon gel, trofolastin and alphastria in your topical cream. ThriveCo Stretch Marks Expert with the powerful combination of RoseHip Oil, Striover and Squalane efficiently reduces the appearance of old as well as new stretch marks.

Buy ThriveCo Stretch Marks Expert 

 

C. In-Office Treatments

Skincare Treatment

These treatments are carried out by professionals with the aim to effectively get rid of stretch marks.

  • Laser therapy: This treatment repairs and regenerates skin cells to soften and flatten the appearance of stretch marks. However, they’re mostly effective on immature stretch marks.
  • Platelet-rich plasma (PRP): Studies show that PRP injections boost collagen production, effectively fading stretch marks away.
  • Microneedling: It involves rupturing the topmost layer of the skin with tiny needles, stimulating collagen production. If not done properly, it can cause infections, hyperpigmentation, bruising etc.
  • Microdermabrasion: Microdermabrasion is a cosmetic procedure that uses a handheld device to exfoliate the top layer of the skin inorder to tighten collagen and elastin fibre to significantly reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

Stretch marks are difficult to treat and can understandably knock your self esteem. They might fade away with time; however, proper skincare treatments speed up the fading of stretch marks.

 

About Doctor :

Dr. Deepthi Prasad

Dr. Deepthi Prasad specializes in Dermatology, Cosmetology, and Aesthetic Dermatology and has been practicing for over 15 years. After completing MBBS from Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences Andhra Pradesh in 2009, she earned a MD in Dermatology, Venereology & Leprosy from Osmania Medical College in Hyderabad in 2014.

 

 

Disclaimer: All the content published on www.thriveco.in is solely for information purposes. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consider seeking the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider. The information, suggestion, or remedies mentioned on this site are provided without warranty of any kind, whether express or implied.

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