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You’ve been through puberty, pregnancy, or weight change, and you’re now stuck with one of the most annoying questions - how to get rid of the stretch marks? Before we proceed, let’s get one thing out in the open- stretch marks are harmless and they’re part of roughly 80% of American bodies. Safe to say - everyone has them, more or less, so you shouldn't feel embarrassed or self-conscious. But, if you still feel uncomfortable, here is where you can find out how to exactly tackle the “get rid of stretch marks fast and for good” problem.
Stretch marks are actually scars that appear when the skin stretches or shrinks really fast. They form long, narrow stripes, or lines, which in the beginning can be red, purple, pink, reddish-brown, or dark brown depending on your skin color.
Not everyone will develop stretch marks when the skin is abruptly stretched - it all depends on the collagen and elastin ruptures that happen during those changes and the healing process. Fluctuating hormone levels seem to play a role in this too. The bad news is, just like other types of scars stretch marks are permanent, but tend to fade away with time, and become less noticeable.
Knowing the reasons is also knowing how to control the stretch marks appearance and progression. In other words, by knowing the causes you can learn what you can do to prevent stretch marks from appearing or at least make sure they don’t become too aggressive and visible.
Puberty is the period of intense physical changes, where the child’s body gets into its adult form. For this to happen, hormonal signals start to initiate the growth, function, and transformation of the brain, bones, muscle, blood, skin, hair, breasts, and sex organs.
In the first half of puberty, changes in height and weight accelerate rapidly and problems like stretch marks and hormonal acne usually happen. With stretch marks, the skin is overstretched since it can’t keep up with the fast internal transformation. The elastin and collagen fibers (the proteins that make the skin elastic) break and during the healing process depressions in the skin, in the form of fine lines may appear.
Boys and girls are both affected. How the skin is going to react to the changes, and how much it will be capable of handling those changes without breaking, it depends on genetic factors. If your mom and dad had stretch marks, you are more prone to develop stretch marks in puberty or if your weight changes. The most common places where stretch marks appear, as a result of puberty, is on the breasts, hips, and belly. It is estimated that up to 70 percent of girls get some sort of stretch marks during their teens.
Although you can’t control how fast is your body going to change during puberty, you can still take action to make sure you aren’t making the situation worse. Eat healthily and avoid greasy food and refined sugar. Stay hydrated, drink a lot of water, and moisturize the skin regularly. Be physically active - being sedentary in this period is the worst thing you can do. If you already started to notice some lines appearing on your skin, read below how to get rid of stretch marks.
Number one reason for stretch marks is pregnancy. Most statistics show that nearly 90% of women are developing stretch marks during pregnancy. And, I’m guessing you are not part of that lucky 10 % since you are here reading this. There is evidence that suggests that women whose mother and/or older sisters developed stretch marks during pregnancy are more likely to face this problem themselves. This associates genetic factors with how much the skin is prone to stretch marks.
However, the reality is that stretch marks during and after pregnancy are normal, just as swollen ankles and mood swings. The baby development, especially in the sixth and seventh month, grows really fast and the tummy stretches, breaking the collagen bonds, and revealing the underlying layers of skin. If the woman rapidly gains a lot of weight in the hips and thighs, then stretch marks may appear on these areas, as well as the breasts. Now that you know how common this condition is, and how little control you have over it, the burning question left to answer is - how to get rid of stretch marks after pregnancy?
The pieces of advice most dermatologists agree upon are massaging the belly with oils, drinking a lot of water to stay hydrated, keeping the skin moisturized, and staying active - light exercise like yoga or walking can do wonder, and even make you feel better. Read in the paragraph below more specific treatments and natural skin-care packs that will help you get rid of the stretch marks after pregnancy.
Okay, so puberty and pregnancy both can be the causes of rapid weight gain and loss. But, most of the times, these changes happen naturally as we progress through life. Stress, trauma, social changes like leaving home and finding financial independence, relationships, marriage, taking care of children - all have their toll on our weight management.
And yes, stretch marks and loose skin is also a thing, meaning losing weight or coming back to your typical weight after weight gain, can also lead to stretch marks. In this case, the stretch marks are due to contraction and expansion of skin when someone frequently gains or losses weight.
The scars appear not because you are becoming bigger or heavier, but because that is occurring abruptly. This is why the best prevention measure against stretch marks caused by weight changes is to gain control over our lifestyle habits. Instead of eating while nervous, try taking a walk, or other forms of physical activity. And, please do yourself a favor - don’t do extreme weight loss diets. You will probably starve yourself, lose a lot of weight really quickly, go back to your normal life and regain the weight in even less time. If you were wondering - that is the recipe for stretch marks, as well as additional health problems. Stay hydrated, and don’t let your skin to dry out - moisturize regularly.
Cosmetic treatments include laser surgery, microdermabrasion, and chemical peels. If you are dealing with newly formed, reddish stretch marks treatment is usually more successful since the healing process is not finished. Seeking treatment just as the stretch marks appear is really important. However, the outcomes of the interventions can vary greatly from person to person and your success with the interventions can be affected by your age and your skin tone. If you want to be on the safe side, read below about the natural ways you can get rid of stretch marks fast.
Another really common reason for developing stretch marks is muscle growth while weight training. While lifting weight can help you strengthen the bones and muscles, and give you a great physique, it can also produce a similar effect on the skin as pregnancy and puberty.
Regular weightlifting can result in a lot of muscle gain quickly, not leaving time for the skin to adjust. Most affected areas with stretch marks caused by weightlifting are the shoulders, arms, and chest. Some weightlifters use steroids to enhance performance, which is another factor that contributes to stretch marks. Steroids affect the skin negatively in a number of ways, but most importantly in this context is that they can dry out the skin, make it rough and scaly.
Dry skin is more prone to stretch marks since it’s a lot easier to break. So, if you still want to continue to lift weights, there are some things you could do to prevent stretch marks from appearing. The first advice is to avoid steroids - they are bad for your overall health as well. Don’t go for maximal weights - aim for moderate resistance that you can lift for at least 10- to 12-reps. Stay hydrated - drink a lot of water. Do cardio - it will help you maintain your weight.
The good news is - stretch marks fade away over time and become less noticeable, but unfortunately, the bad news is that just like any other scar, stretch marks are permanent damage. Still, don’t despair! There are many treatments available, as well as natural remedies that can minimize their appearance, and make them almost invisible.
Have in mind that, medical treatments and prescription medicines are not a guarantee that you will get rid of the stretch marks completely, and they can be really expensive. Here you can find some home remedies, for different body parts, that are safe and cheap. With patience and persistence, you can find the best solution for your skin, that will be as effective as the medical treatments themselves.
The skin’s thickness and tenderness are not the same on every part of your body. This is why we classified the best natural home remedies to get rid of stretch marks fast, by targeting the specific body parts.
Stretch marks on legs, thighs, and buttocks most often appear on girls during puberty, on women who gain more weight during pregnancy, or women who frequently and rapidly change weight. Men can also develop stretch marks on legs and thighs, although women are much more affected. This is because a woman’s body is designed to store fat in the hip area. So, what can you do about them?
And here are some remedies that will help you get rid of the stretch marks fast.
Green tea for stretch marks? Well, apparently scientists claim by it. They believe green tea could be the magical, long-awaited cure for stretch marks. How do they explain this? Well, a compound found in green tea has the power to actually penetrate the skin and work on a much deeper level. This is why many anti-scarring and wound healing creams are now developing formulas to include green tea in their products. But, before spending a lot of money on those creams, try a natural way. Green tea is packed with antioxidants that not only help your skin but have powerful anti-inflammatory properties that will keep your overall health in check.
One way to benefit from green tea is to drink it on a daily basis. One or two cups a day should be sufficient if you never drank before. To boost the effects, let the used tea-bags to cool down and then apply them on the affected areas. Rub gently for a couple of minutes and then let the tea to completely absorb. After an hour or two, rinse off with warm water.
Drinking coffee has some benefits, but also a lot of side-effects when it comes to the skin. It’s a strong ingredient with many powerful nutrients. So, to avoid the side-effects instead of drinking it, apply it topically with other potent ingredients, and let them help you fight off the stretch marks.
For example, you can try the super-combo of coffee, cinnamon, and sugar. Mix together 2 tbsp of cinnamon, half a cup of ground coffee, half a cup of sugar, and half a cup of organic coconut oil. Stir well until you get a smooth paste. Apply on the affected areas and gently rub it in with a circular motion. Do this for 10 minutes and then wash off with warm water.
Raw potatoes are very beneficial for the skin because of its content of vegetable starch and vitamin C. The combination of starch and vitamin C is believed to help with removing stains on the skin that may appear as a result of lifestyle habits, age, or sun exposure, such as stretch marks or scars. They are also good in preventing dry skin and dehydration, which can aid skin that’s prone to stretch marks.
The most efficient way to use potatoes is also the simplest. Just slice one potato and gently rub on the affected areas for ten to fifteen minutes. Be persistent and repeat the procedure for at least a couple of times per week.
Unfortunately, the rapid growth of the tummy is not something one can control, or should for that matter. Our advice is to start moisturizing the skin right from the beginning of the pregnancy. Keep it hydrated and regularly nourish it with oils. This will make it more elastic, which can contribute to fewer stretch marks. If you are already dealing with stretch marks here are some remedies to reduce its appearance.
Aloe Vera has powerful healing properties. This is why it’s regularly used in skincare products and always recommended in wound healing treatments. While its best to use aloe vera before stretch marks form, there is evidence that this little miracle-ingredient may indeed smoothen the skin.
You can use aloe vera by applying it directly on the skin. Leave it on for 15 minutes and then rinse the skin with lukewarm water. Another great option is the mixture of one-fourth of a cup of aloe vera gel, ten vitamin E oil capsules and five vitamin A oil capsules. Rub this mixture onto the skin until fully absorbed. Repeat this process daily.
Castor oil is famous and widely used in skincare products against skin conditions like wrinkles, discoloration, age spots, moles, fine line, pimples, but most importantly, for acne scars and stretch marks. Although research is lacking, castor oil is filled with vitamins and fatty acids which are the main culprits for its healing properties when it comes to scarring.
One method for using castor oil is by applying a thick layer on the affected area of the skin. Then, wrap yourself in plastic or a saran, and heat the area with a heating pad or a hot water bottle. You should let it stay for 20 minutes before washing off. For best results, repeat the procedure daily. Another useful method is to massage the skin with castor oil. With your finger or a cotton ball, apply the oil on the skin and massage in circular motion until the oil is well absorbed (at least 10 minutes). Later, wash off with warm water.
Whether it was puberty or pregnancy, stretch marks on the breasts can really shake a woman’s confidence. Try these remedies to reduce, or make them less visible.
Olive oil has been used as a cosmetic treatment for centuries. It’s a popular choice in many face and body lotions, shampoos, and hair masks. Olive oil contains four major antioxidants, among other nutrients, that work as a moisturizer, cleanser, and have protective properties. Some of these antioxidants are vitamin E and vitamin A, which are well known in the battle against acne scars and other lesions on the skin - stretch marks included. They work by preventing the negative effect free radicals have on collagen.
It safe for daily use, and best of all - it doesn't cause irritation, so you can apply it directly on the skin, or dilute it with water. It’s best to massage the skin for about 10 minutes with the oil, before rinsing off with lukewarm water.
Bear in mind, when you are buying olive oil - not every product on the market is the same, and many of them are not gonna be effective. Always look for organic, extra virgin olive oil.
Rosehip oil has a well-known reputation for reducing scars, minimizing wrinkles, and moisturizing the skin. It contains high levels of linoleic and linolenic fatty acids and Vitamin C, all of which have healing properties and are believed to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, scars, and stretch marks. The good thing about the rosehip oil is that you don’t have to dilute it. It’s safe to use on the breasts, so you can apply it directly and massage gently for a couple of minutes. Repeat the procedure daily.
Eggs are amazing ingredients, packed with many essential nutrients. For stretch marks, however, it’s best if you use only the egg whites. The egg whites contain amino acids and proteins which can help the skin repair itself faster.
To use this mask, first, you need to make sure your skin is clean. After that, whip the whites of two eggs with a fork. Apply a thick layer of the mixture with a makeup brush or applicator. Allow the egg whites to dry completely and then rinse the area with cold water. Let the egg whites to dry completely and then rinse off with cold water. Always use oil, like castor or olive, at the end to moisturize the skin.
Alfalfa leaves hold eight essential amino acids which are all beneficial for the skin. They’re also heavy in protein and vitamins E and K, which help feed and protect the skin. To make the remedy just mix some alfalfa powder with a few drops of chamomile oil to get a paste-like blend. Apply the mixture on the skin and massage gently for 10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water. For best results, repeat this procedure two-three times a day.
Old stretch marks are arguably the hardest and most annoying skin condition to treat. Because the healing process is already finished, most treatments and natural ingredients fall short to his tasks. Yet, here are some very powerful skin packs that might be effective at fading the visibility of old stretch marks.
Argan Oil is filled with Vitamin E, which has been proved to aid in reducing the appearance of stretch marks. It’s also packed with other fatty acids that can help diminish even extremely old stretch marks. 100% pure argan oil is safe to use for all skin types, which means you can apply it directly to your skin, on a daily basis, until you see improvement.
One study in 2015 and another specifically for stretch marks formed during pregnancy have found that both, consuming Argan oil and using it topically can make the skin more elastic. This implies that argan oil might be effective in preventing and reducing stretch marks.
For topical use just take a cotton pad or with your fingers apply the oil on the affected areas. Massage gently for 10-15 minutes and then leave in on for another hour to absorb well in the skin. Wash off with warm water.
The sugar, famous for its exfoliating properties, can do wonders against stretch marks. It contains glycolic acid that will help you to get a younger, smoother, glowing skin.
All you need to do is to mix one tbsp of sugar, a few drops of almond oil, and a few drops lemon juice. You can add more or less of the ingredients until you get a paste-like consistency. After that apply the paste on the skin and gently scrub the affected area for at least ten minutes. In the end, wash off with warm water.
