How to Get Rid of Stretch Marks
Skin Treatments that Remove Stretch Marks
You work hard on your appearance, because you know how important it is to look your best. Recent studies have shown that good-looking people earn more and have more social opportunities. Besides, you believe in yourself and want to present yourself to the world in the possible way.
You try hard to exercise and eat right, but you have one problem that you struggle to solve: stretch marks. Try these home remedies for treating stretch marks and you may even be able to make them disappear.
Who gets stretch marks?
While both men and women get stretch marks, women are more likely to suffer from stretch marks. It's true that women's bodies are more prone to developing stretch marks for a variety of reasons.
Think about the dramatic changes that girls and women go through over the different seasons of life. Hormonal surges and weight gain or weight loss during adolescence and puberty, and during pregnancy and midlife, can cause stretch marks to occur as the skin stretches to accommodate those changes.
The good news? There are some topical creams and treatments for stretch marks that can make them fade faster.
Certain areas of a woman's body are more likely to develop stretch marks, like belly, breasts, thighs and buttocks. It makes sense that those areas of the body get the most stretch marks, because those are the parts of our bodies that stretch, grow and change over the course of hormonal changes.
Women's skin really is different from men's because women have a higher fat content under the skin's surface than men have. Even if you alter your diet, your skin will still have a higher fat content, because it's a natural and hormonally-based part of being female.
What is a Stretch Mark, Really?
A stretch mark is a scar under the skin's surface that happens when the collagen and elastic become injured by having to stretch faster than the skin can accommodate. As collagen production slows after age 20, it gets more difficult to get rid of stretch marks fast.
What many people don't realize is that stretch marks can occur during many different times, and that includes during periods of rapid weight loss -- and not just from weight gain. The same holds true if a woman is postpartum and losing weight after having her baby.
Any dramatic change in body shape or size can be a risk factor for stretch marks. Stretch marks can even be caused by something as simple as a rapid growth spurt, like that which occurs in puberty.
Men Suffer from Stretch Marks as Well
While women often remark on their stretch marks, the reality is that men commonly get stretch marks, as well. Like women, men will often get stretch marks because of any rapid weight gain or loss. It’s difficult to prevent stretch marks, because they come with so many life events and physical changes we all go through!
If you've recently started serious weight training or a fitness regimen, you may be surprised to discover you've just grown a fresh crop of brightly colored, hard-to-miss stretch marks.
Stretch marks can look different depending on several factors. A new stretch mark will look like a bright striation on your skin, and usually have a strong color to it. Depending on your skin tone, stretch marks will often look like a bright red, pink, a lighter brown, or even a bluish-purple color that fades over time to be almost invisible.
No matter what color your stretch marks appear, take comfort in knowing that there is a chance that they will fade over time and could eventually be completely imperceptible. But who wants to wait that long to see results?
Stretch Mark Creams, Lotions and Serums
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, there are only certain specific things you can do that realistically help to fade stretch marks and work toward actual stretch mark removal. Many folk remedies like cocoa butter, coconut oil, almond oil, aloe vera and olive oil work effectively at one thing: plumping up the top layer of skin.
However, even temporary results are still results, and you may find these stretch mark remedies helpful in combination with healthy habits and weight loss:
1. Moisturize generously to get temporary improvement.
By plumping up skin, you often hear both men and women exclaim that they've seen incredible results in improving the appearance of their stretch marks. The improvement is temporary at best, and it's caused by the optical illusion that happens from your upper layer of skin being moisturized and hydrated for a few hours.
Want to try it? There's no harm in trying it to see if you can get a bit of improvement in appearance. Right after you shower and your skin's still moist, apply your favorite lotion and use a generous amount. Rub your cocoa butter, oil or aloe vera onto your moistened, freshly exfoliated skin for best results.
2. Drink plenty of water.
Drinking a sufficient amount of water each day is something you hear from every Hollywood starlet -- and it's for a good reason. Drinking plenty of fluids really does effectively make your skin tone look more even and smooths out the lines and stretch marks. When your body is properly hydrated, it helps to plump up your skin cells.
The result? Your skin really does look smoother. Like using moisturizers, this result is only short-term. Since your body expels water every day, you have to maintain your healthy water regimen daily to really see the results you desire.
How much water do you need to drink? Doctors recommend that you drink about one-half to one ounce of water for every pound of weight. A 150-pound woman should drink about 75 to 100 ounces of fresh water every day. If you want to have a good general guide, aim to drink eight 8-oz glasses of water daily. That's about the equivalent of 2 liters or roughly a half gallon of water.
3. Get a tan to help reduce the appearance of a stretch mark.
This one is a little controversial: Some people swear that getting a tan helps to make stretch marks less noticeable. Dermatologists will, of course, warn us that there's no such thing as a safe tan, but they recommend you consider getting a spray tan.
You can choose either a spray or real tan, at your own discretion, and determine whether you see an improvement. Many people do find that getting a tan can make a real difference and is a truly effective treatment in fading stretch marks.
The American Academy of Dermatology lists only 2 ingredients that are scientifically proven to make stretch marks fade or even disappear.
- Tretinoin
- Hyaluronic Acid
You should consider using products that have these ingredients in them, so that you can be confident that your lotion is actually making a difference. Instead of just masking your stretch marks, you may want to try ML Delicate Beauty.
Stretch Mark Treatments Backed by Science
Our rejuvenating lotions are made in America and based on scientific research. They contain the active ingredients that the American Academy of Dermatology advises are proven to solve your stretch mark problem. For optimal results, first exfoliate your skin and then apply our products.
ML Delicate Beauty's skin care products will do more than simply moisturize your skin. They work on fading your stretch marks and evening your skin tone while they soothe and replenish you.
Try ML Delicate Beauty today, and feel so much better in your own skin.