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Stretch marks (striae gravid arum) are caused when the skin changes shape too quickly (weight gain, weight loss, or pregnancy) by causing a tear in the middle layer of your skin – the dermis.  When the collagen and elastin fibers

in the dermis rupture, you end up with scars that look like stripes on the affected area.

 

Anyone can get stretch marks, men, women, children, teens, older people, obese people, body builders – regardless of race.  Usually found on the stomach, arms, thighs, breasts, legs, back, and chest. These marks cannot be cured completely, but they can be minimized.

These marks start out pinkish-red due to the breaking up of tiny blood vessels.  Gradually they become silvery-white.

Just about everything has been used to treat stretch marks – from herbal, natural, and organic products to cosmetic surgery.  What works on one will not always work for the other, so you  may have to try different treatments and then work with the treatment(s) that are working best for you.

Treating them as soon as you can is best for removal, but you can still remove stretch marks that you’ve had for years.

To help minimize stretch marks, there are a few things you can do:

Massage the area three to four times a day using a moisturizer that contains cocoa butter or shea butter as the prime ingredient.  This will keep the skin hydrated; most effective during the initial stage.

Self-tanners will minimize the appearance of stretch marks.  Before applying any self-tanners, it is best to exfoliate the skin.

Try using a topical treatment:
Vitamin C may increase the collagen production, but most likely would only work during the early stages of stretch marks.  Combine with glycolic acid, taking 500 mg vitamin c supplements three times a day.
Glycolic acid increases collagen production.  For higher doses you would need to see a dermatologist (very pricy as well) and it may take 3 to 6 office visits.
Wheat germ oil may help with stretch marks during the early stage.
Retinoids are fairly effective in increasing collagen and elastic production in the early stages but avoid if pregnant or nursing.
Topical tretinoin can lighten stretch marks and reduce their size if applied in the very early stage – while the marks are still pink-red.  Do not use if pregnant.  Will not work on older stretch marks.
Laser treatment is not only expensive, but may not be effective.  Can be used on red, purple or white stretch marks.  There are vascular lasers that treat the blood vessels behind the marks; fractionated lasers to minimize older stretch marks, pulse dye laser therapy which remodels the underlying layers of skin and triggers the production of collagen and elastin; fractional photothermolysis also targets the underlying skin; the excimer laser triggers melanin production so that the stretch marks take on the same color as the surrounding skin – good for older stretch marks.  Microdermabrasion works by blowing crystals onto the skin to “polish” the surface; then a vacuum tube remove the crystals and skin cells stimulating new skin growth.  Excellent for older stretch marks.

Before applying any treatment to your skin you need to do a skin patch test to see if your skin will tolerate the creams and lotions you are using.  Be sure to look for products that contain collagen and elastin for building your skin, tocopherol which is a form of vitamin E to eliminate redness, and natural substances such as roselip can repair damaged skin, prevent scar tissue and helps to fade the scars.

Commercial stretch mark creams should have active ingredients such as striadril complex, palmitoyl oligopeptide, hydrolyzed collagen, acetyl hexampeptide-2, silicon dioxide derivative (silicon), Indian pennywort, hydroxyporline, shea butter, borage oil, and glycerol.

If you are using herbal remedies for stretch marks, look for ingredients of  lady’s mantle, ivy, horsetail, hibiscus, green tea, ginseng, chickweed, centrella, calendula, and butcher’s broom.

Increase you intake of water; water keeps the skin hydrated and well-hydrated skin remains soft, supple and is less likely to develop stretch marks.  Hydrated skin is more elastic.  Avoid carbonated beverages, alcoholic beverages, and caffeinated beverages – these dehydrate the body.

After a hot bath, rub some baby oil on your stretch marks.  Olive oil can also be used.  Make a bath scrub to exfoliate your skin using body scrub, aloe vera gel and a bit of olive oil, cod liver oil, vitamin E oil, or cream.  This can also help to reduce cellulite.

For softer and smoother skin, apply vitamin A which absorbs quickly into the skin (cream, gel or lotion) and nourishes the surrounding tissue and cells as it accelerates the skin renewal and thickening process to give you a more elastic complexion.

Here’s a few “homemade” remedies that have worked:
Cocoa butter, lotions containing cocoa butter, rose hip oil, Emu or Jojoba oil, castor oil, shea butter, or vitamin A & E – applied 2 to 3 times each day.

Combine 1/2 cup virgin olive oil, ¼ cup aloe vera gel, the liquid from 6 vitamin E capsules (or some vitamin E oil), the liquid from 4 vitamin A capsules in a blender; pour into a jar with a cover and store in the refrigerator.  Apply every day to the affected areas.

Some have used egg whites and egg white powders and have gotten results.  They egg provide protein to the skin.  Apply a thin layer of egg white on the stretch marks; allow to dry; wash off with cold water.  Do this three times a day.

Oatmeal is an excellent exfoliator.  Use in place of a body scrub.  After exfoliating, apply plenty of moisturizer to keep the skin hydrated.

Emu oil can be found in health food stores; it reduces and removes stretch marks effectively because it can penetrate deep into the skin.  Good for old scars as well.

Vitamin E is amazing.  It heals tissues, it heals skin, it regulates your metabolism, is an antioxidant – eliminating free radicals that cause many health  issues skin problems.  Vitamin E is used on scars and smoothes your skin.  Take capsules or use oil – it’s your choice.
It would be wise to add vitamin E to your diet by eating foods rich in vitamin E – corn, canola, peanut butter, avocados, almonds, fortified cereals such as sunflower seeds, oat bran, peaches, safflower, tomato puree, wheat germ, and polyunsaturated oils and seed.  Also eat fresh fruits and vegetables, fruits, and fish.
 
Others have used Vick’s Vaporub, aloe vera, almond or olive oil on stretch marks.

There are day spas that will provide seaweed wraps, combinations of botanicals, etc. but many of these have not been proven effective.

Also – over time, if left alone, stretch marks will fade away.

For effective treatment for stretch marks - click here.

Related posts:

1. Methods And Procedures To Effectively Get Rid of Stretch Marks
2. Know How to Get Rid of Stretch Marks Fast With These Tricks
3. Derma Rollers Stretch Mark Results – Consider This Your Last Treatment
4. How to get rid of scars
5. Where Do Acne Scars Comes From And How To Avoid Them

Tags: dermis, massage, removing stretchmarks, stretch marks, vitamin A, vitamin E

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 10th, 2009 at 6:01 pm and is filed under Beauty. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.