Skin, which is the largest organ of the human body, tends to shrink and stretch under varying circumstances. But sometimes the tissues sitting under the skin get damaged due to excessive stretching and shrinking and create colored lines or streaks on the surface. According to studies, up to 90% of pregnant women get these marks during their term. Nevertheless, these marks can occur to anyone, irrespective of their age and skin type. In most cases, these result from sudden growth spurts in the body or excess weight loss or gain.
Stretch marks are, generally, red or purple colored, and turn white or silver gradually with time. These colors help you determine the maturity of your narrow grooves. White marks indicate your lines are old, while pinkish or red streaks mean they are new. You cannot remove these marks, but with the help of specific health treatments, you can reduce their visibility. In very few cases, these marks become naturally lighten.
Of the two types of stretch marks, white lines are difficult to remove because of the slower production of collagen (protein) fibers. Narrowing blood vessels make it further difficult to create collagen. You, however, can treat red colored marks efficiently as the existence of blood vessels under the skin enables them to respond well to treatment.
Types of treatment for stretch marks
Since no one treatment has proved to be superior in treating these marks, you have to choose your options after proper deliberation. You may consult a board-licensed plastic surgeon or dermatologist to understand the best bet for you. Some of the treatments are discussed below. Let’s take a look.
Laser therapy
This method is claimed to be effective in fading these marks on your body. In this therapy, intense pulsed light and dye lasers are used to blend the appearance of stretch marks with your normal skin tone. It improves collagen production too. Only experienced and certified plastic or skin surgeons can do this treatment. Hence, if you choose this procedure, make sure your healthcare practitioner is well trained in this field. And check if he has the best equipment. For instance, Zapp Laser Studio works with the most effective laser in the world, which can reduce any stretch mark significantly
You may need about 20 sessions of this treatment for 20 to 60 percent effect. Another thing is, this procedure is pretty expensive.
Plastic surgery
Under this surgery, excess skin is removed from your tummy, thighs and other regions, and then, remaining tissue and skin are tightened. It works well on people who are facing skin sagging due to excess weight loss or pregnancy.
Doctors typically recommend this treatment to people who maintain their weight, have no medical conditions, and don’t smoke. However, in this case too, one has to keep his or her expectations realistic.
Another thing that you need to note is that this procedure does not remove stretch marks. The marks only get reduced due to the elimination of extra skin from the body. That said, this procedure can be beneficial if you have a loose skin problem. Whether you undergo this treatment or not, make sure to ask your doctor about the health risks and benefits associated with it.
PRP with Ultrasound
PRP stands for Platelet-rich plasma. This therapy is also popular. It renews your skin and improves collagen production. In this therapy, doctors use the platelet-rich plasma from your blood only for treatment.
Retinoic acid
It’s a prescription drug that contains 0.1 percent tretinoin to treat your stretch marks. The drug passes through the outer layer of your skin and produces collagen to fade stretch marks. But this drug is useful on new stretch marks. It won’t give results if your thin bands have become white or silver. Another downside of this drug is, it may cause your skin to peel or turn red. Pregnant women cannot use this medicine.
Going by this, one thing is clear that most of these medical procedures are either expensive or ineffective in giving satisfying results. That’s why some people resort to home remedies, which at least don’t pose any serious health risks and are safe to follow. Some of these home cures are discussed here for your knowledge.
It is advisable to start using anti-stretch mark creams once a day from the first week of pregnancy and after week 10 increase to 2 times a day, to achieve toning and elasticity to the skin. It should be applied generously on sanitized skin with gentle massages until absorbed. It should be applied to all areas prone to stretch marks including the chest, lower back, hips, buttocks, thighs, and not just the abdomen. It will be necessary for you to evaluate the different current offers on the market so that you can determine which of the best anti-stretch marks creams for pregnancy is more suited to your needs.
Home Treatment
Lemon juice
Citrus fruit like lemon contains natural bleaching agents that help in eroding the visibility of stretch marks. You have to apply lemon juice every day on your marks for useful results. Some people directly like to rub a small portion of lemon on their pinkish marks.
Potato juice
Potatoes are starchy and blessed with skin lightning enzymes. These are typically recommended for dark eye circles, blemished skin, etc. You can apply potato juice daily on your marks to vanish them gradually.
Eggs
You need egg white in this case. Egg whites contain higher levels of amino acid and proteins. When you use egg white on your marks, it will not only reduce their visibility but also make your skin firmer.
Sugar-based scrub
You need to take olive oil, lemon juice, and sugar to prepare a scrub. Rub it on your stretch marks for 10 minutes and clean with moderately hot water.
Aloe Vera
Take out the gel part of this leaf and apply on your marks. Keep it for 2 to 3 hours and then, rinse it with water for a favorable result.
Apricots
You need to take 2 to 3 apricots to turn them into a paste. Put the mixture on your narrow grooves and allow it to rest for 20 minutes before washing it with lukewarm water.
Argan oil
Infused with Vitamin E, this oil can provide amazing elasticity to your skin. Regularly massage it on the marks to let them vanish.
Castor oil
A 15 to 20 minutes massage with castor oil can also be helpful for your stretch marks. Once you are done with massage, put a thin cloth over it and send some heat through a heating pad. You can expect results to show up in one month.
Black tea
Take boiled black tea and mix some salt to it. When the solution is cold, spread it on your marks every day. Rich in lots of minerals and vitamins, black tea can work well in removing your marks.
So, these are some remedies that you can try at your home. At the same time, you can also look for good quality over-the-counter stretch removal creams in the market. These are easy to use and can be equally or more useful on your stretch marks. If you want you can buy from Amazon.com.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.