Stretch Marks & How to Get Rid of Them

Stretch marks are a common condition that starts out as slightly raised reddish or sometimes purple lines on the skin. Stretch marks usually appear on the areas of the body where a greater amount of fat is stored, such as the abdomen, hips, breasts, upper arms, buttocks and thighs. However, stretch marks can appear anywhere on the body.

Over time, stretch marks usually fade to silvery white lines and become less noticeable but do not disappear completely and when left untreated become more difficult to get rid of.

What causes stretch marks?

Extensive stretching of the skin over a short period, such as occurs during pregnancy, is considered to be the most common cause of stretch marks. The skin is made up of three layers: the epidermis, the dermis (the middle layer) and the subcutaneous layer. It is in the dermis that stretch marks occur.

The dermis is mostly composed of collagen. It is collagen, together with elastin, that provides the skin with strength and elasticity. A low level of collagen makes skin thinner, more fragile and possibly more prone to developing stretch marks.

Although stretch marks are generally associated with obesity and pregnancy athletes such as body builders who achieve weight gain and rapid muscle growth can get stretch marks.

Teenagers who experience growth spurts during puberty may also develop stretch marks. Boys tend to get stretch marks on the shoulders, buttocks and thighs, and girls tend to get them on the breasts, hips and thighs.

People who follow on and off diets and gain or lose large amounts of weight over a short period of time can put the skin under stress and as a result may develop stretch marks.

Sometimes, stretch marks can be a symptom of a health condition known as Cushing's syndrome. This is a condition where the body produces an excess of the hormone known to affect collagen levels.

A nutritional deficiency in the vitamins (particularly A and C) and minerals needed to support collagen syntheses may also be a reason why some people develop stretch marks. Vitamin A is essential for the growth and repair of tissue and along with the mineral zinc produces collagen and elastin.

How to get rid of stretch marks

Whilst stretch marks can be very unsightly in the early stages they usually fade over time to silvery white lines, becoming almost translucent and much less noticeable. However, if you are not prepared to wait for them to fade naturally, which could take years, you could consider giving them a helping hand.

Vitamin E oil is high on the list of natural remedies to help prevent and get rid of existing stretch marks. Vitamin E is a powerful anti-oxidant and helps prevent free radical damage. Whilst there are no medical studies to prove that massaging with vitamin E oil will remove stretch marks, doing so may go a long way in helping to prevent them.

Recently, it was discovered that Retin-A is successful in improving the appearance of stretch marks. However, Retina is a prescription-only drug and can cause peeling, redness and other unwanted side effects.

Cocoa Butter is recommended by many naturopathic practitioners and herbalists for both the prevention and treatment of stretch marks. Cocoa Butter has been a popular choice of women for centuries to prevent stretch marks developing during pregnancy.

Other massage oils, which may help get rid of stretch marks are wheat germ, avocado, jojoba and rose hip oil. Rose hip oil (Rosa Mosqueta) used by South American women contains essential fatty acids believed to be beneficial in the treatment of stretch mark scars.

Whilst it may be true that nothing other than surgery can remove stretch marks completely, several products come highly recommended by both user and practitioner to help prevent and reduce the appearance of existing stretch marks.

There are many over the counter anti-stretch marks creams and lotions formulated to nourish the skin and help get rid of existing stretch marks.

Revitol Stretch Mark Prevention Cream is a natural treatment for stretch marks removal that does not contain harmful substances. The product has been thoroughly tested and is completely safe. Revitol Stretch Mark Cream can be used during and after pregnancy to eliminate the appearance of stretch marks.

Prevention is always better than a cure taking early preventative steps can go a long way to eliminating the need for more expensive removal techniques at a later stage, and if you really want to get rid of stretch marks it is important to establish a routine and persevere with your chosen treatment.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional.

Further reading to- Get Rid of Stretch Marks