Nobody likes stretch marks, but is it possible to get rid of them completely?
Technically, there is no clinical evidence to prove that any currently available remedy can remove stretch marks completely and permanently.
The good news is there are several products and treatments available that can significantly improve the appearance and texture of these unsightly scars.
It helps to understand that stretch marks are scars, or more precisely, scar tissue. Visible scar tissue develops after skin has been stretched to its limit, causing fibers within the skin to break. These fibers usually stretch and break due to unusually rapid weight gain. This can occur during pregnancy, bodybuilding, puberty, or uncontrolled binge eating.
Stretch marks also develop over time and gravity plays its part in the production of them. Skin begins to sag with age and this process creates scar tissue.
To date, there is no technology that is proven to repair this damage completely. As noted, there are remedies that can help diminish stretch marks. These include plastic surgery, laser treatments, skin peels, natural remedies, exfoliating products, and lotions, stretch mark creams, and moisturizers.
Plastic surgery, while the most expensive and often the most painful, may be the best method of removing and reducing stretch marks. During a breast or buttock lift, or a tummy tuck, a portion of the damaged skin can be cut away. This is the only proven way to remove scar tissue, but usually not all of the damaged skin can be removed. Plastic surgery also tightens up the remaining skin, lessening the pronounced appearance of stretch marks.
For those who would rather not go under the knife, or cannot afford to do so, there are laser treatments and skin peels. These too can be fairly pricey, and some clients report moderate to intense pain, while others only report minor discomfort. While these techniques have not been proven to actually repair or remove damaged tissue, they are said to create a marked improvement in the affected skin's appearance.
Other remedies include exfoliation and the application of lotions or creams. These products can help improve the appearance and texture of stretch marks to some degree, but again, cannot repair or remove the damage. Certain products in this category may only provide significant results if the stretch marks are minor and new. These products are not recommended for scar tissue that is over one year old, so be sure to check the label before purchasing stretch mark preparations.
There are also natural items that are frequently used to exfoliate and moisturize skin, which can be made from everyday products you already have at home. Salt, baking soda, and oatmeal are often recommended for use in gentle exfoliation, and vitamin E caplets are broken open and rubbed onto the skin.
Eating an appropriate diet made up of nutritious foods and exercising to bring skin back to its naturally firm and taut consistency is of course the healthiest way to improve unflattering stretch marks.
Of course, the very best way to deal with stretch marks is to prevent them in the first place by drinking plenty of water, keeping skin thoroughly moisturized, exercising and avoiding rapid weight gain if possible.
» left by alexia from el monte, california (3 years 145 days ago.)
thank you this article had defenetly expanded my knowledge about what to do with my ugly stretch marks.... I hate em. I'll probably do the "peel". The creams don't work! Respond to this comment
» left by Rachelle from Spokane WA, USA (2 years 110 days ago.)
I am only 13 and i am 4'9 and i weigh 82 lbs and im female. As you can tell i dont weigh that much and i have hardly any fat but i have quite a few stretch marks on my hips. If i exercise will they go away? Are there even any exercises for you hips?? Is there any cover-up you can just rub on for a temporary period of time so no one can see it? Respond to this comment
» left by lluiza from worcester (2 years 87 days ago.)
i have really bad strech marks on my legs and hips and they are kind of red really bad i cant show my legs any more and i have tried using coco butter cream but it dont work im so sad i dont know what else to do how can i like use the salt,baking soda,and oat meal do i like mix them all together. Respond to this comment
» left by Anonymous (1 year 119 days ago.)
well i juss wanted to umm u no how sum strech marks are deep is there a cover up for that and the light ones do they have like a water proof cover up for when u go swimming? Respond to this comment
» left by Anonymous (1 year 52 days ago.)
so if you exercise will this tighten the skin that sags with the stretch marks that makes them look so bad? Respond to this comment
» left by Anonymous (1 year 41 days ago.)
there is a make-up called 'leg and body cover creme' it is waterproof and can be used on stretch marks and veins Respond to this comment
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