Stretch Marks- Causes, Home Remedies & Treatments

Stretch marks may occur during various phases of life; may be due to increased cortisol secretion (a hormone produced by the adrenal glands) or it could be associated with increased body mass.

It's a no-brainer that nobody likes stretch marks but to get rid of them we need to understand what exactly stretch marks are.

Stretch marks appear when the skin is pulled by rapid growth or stretching.

Although our skin is usually elastic but when it is overstretched, the normal production of collagen (the major protein that makes up the connective tissue in your skin) is disrupted and as a result, scars called stretch marks to appear.

The following are the most common reasons behind stretch marks:

●     Many women experience stretch marks during pregnancy as the skin stretches in numerous ways to make room for the developing baby. This continual tugging and stretching can cause stretch marks.

●     Stretch marks sometimes appear when you rapidly gain or lose weight. Teenagers may also notice stretch marks after a sudden growth spurt.

●     Corticosteroid creams, lotions, and pills can cause stretch marks by decreasing the skin’s ability to stretch.

●     Weight lifting, muscle gain, heredity, stress and underlying health conditions like Cushing syndrome (high levels of the hormone cortisol.) and Marfan syndrome (A connective tissue that provides supports the skeletal structure and other organs of your body) are some of the other common reasons for stretch marks.

Below are the 5 most common ways used to get rid of stretch marks

Let me tell you that there is no one-single magic potion that you can use to treat already existing stretch marks. With the help of anti-stretch mark creams, one can only minimize the appearance with time, patience, and a few other helpful products.

●     Amongst the famous anti-stretch mark creams, Retinoid cream may be one of the most promising and cost-effective DIY treatments.

●     Cosmetic surgery is an expensive yet most effective option, which can permanently remove white stretch marks from your body. But remember that surgeries can leave scars of its own.

●     The excimer laser treatment stimulates skin color (melanin) production so much that the stretch marks match the surrounding skin more closely.

●     Microdermabrasion solution is a solid hand-held device that blows crystals onto the skin, which then gently removes its topmost layers. The growth of new and more elastic skin makes the stretch marks less noticeable.

●     Microneedling is yet another treatment which targets the dermis area(the middle layer) of your skin where stretch marks form. In this procedure, tiny needles are poked into the skin which triggers collagen production. Increased collagen and elastin promote skin regeneration that can improve your skin’s appearance and reduce stretch marks. To effectively treat stretch marks, you’ll need to participate in more than one treatment over a course of months. Microneedling has been shown to be an effective treatment for reducing stretch marks, specifically for patients with darker skin.

What are some of the home remedies to get rid of stretch marks?

●     Applying self-tanning lotion to your stretch marks is a temporary way which can minimize the difference in color between your normal skin and your stretch marks.

●     If you face stretch marks during and after pregnancy, cocoa butter can make the stretch marks disappear completely. The best time to use cocoa butter is at night; so massage it well into the skin and over a period of time, you would find the stretch marks reducing and fading away.

●        Argan oil enriched with vitamin E is another home boon remedy which can increase the elasticity of the skin. Rubbing it on the stretch marks might heal the broken tissues gradually making the marks fade.

●     The cooling properties of cucumber juice and the natural acidic properties of lemon juice can help heal and reduce scars and provide a soothing effect leaving your skin fresh. Mix lime juice and cucumber juice in equal parts, and apply the mixture on the affected areas till it gets soaked up by the skin. Let it be on your skin for approx. 10 minutes after which you can rinse it off using warm water.

●        A well-blended form mixture of apricots and apricot oil makes up for as a great exfoliating scrub. Take 2-3 apricots, cut them and take out the seeds, crush the fruit into a paste and apply this mask on the stretch mark affected areas and leave it on for 15 minutes. Using warm water, wash it off and then repeat the process every day for a month to see results. Pure apricot oil has skin rejuvenating properties and therefore helps in reducing stretch marks. Massage onto the skin with some lemon juice for effective results.

●        Apart from the aforementioned home remedies, black tea, aloe vera gel, castor oil and sugar are other important ingredients which you can try and use to reduce the stretch marks.

Which are some of the best Anti-Stretch mark treatments

For women, facing stretch marks during pregnancy is common but having visible stretch marks on your shoulders, thighs, and tummy can be embarrassing for many.

The real reason behind stretch marks is that they can appear when you grow quickly at any time for any reason. That means you can face stretch marks on your body due to rapid weight gain or weight loss, bodybuilding, hereditary reasons and even when your height increases as you age.

There are several home remedies and stretch marks creams that have been used by many since ages, but many-a-times they tend to re-appear with time.

If you’re looking up for a permanent solution to your stretch marks, below are some of the modern-age safe treatments we have listed for you:

1. Microdermabrasion and skin tightening:
   Microdermabrasion is an exfoliation procedure where stretch marks are targeted individually and directly with a Microdermabrasion system using a diamond or crystal tip. This dramatically increases RF conductivity and begin the process of skin regeneration.

Once the targeted skin is exfoliated, the next step includes a dermal heating of the stretch mark area where the affected tissues are repaired at a therapeutic temperature which in turn repairs and regenerates the skin’s natural production of collagen. In addition to this, it leads to remodeling of collagen alpha helix resulting in improved skin elasticity & appearance.
Check out the best Anti-Stretch Mark Treatment.

2. Platelet-rich plasma with ultrasound:

The platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is one of the most popular ways to revive skin and increase collagen production. PRP therapy uses platelet-rich plasma taken from the person's own blood immediately before the procedure.
A study in the Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy indicates that PRP therapy coupled with an ultrasound device may be a good treatment for reducing stretch marks.

3. Derma roller therapy:

This is a straightforward treatment where a handheld device is moved up and down on the skin for about 20 to 30 minutes.  these tiny needles contained in the roller to penetrate the dermis and the epidermis causing tiny wounds. These wounds do not draw blood and but heal normally. It is during this healing process that the production of elastin and collagen are stimulated making the skin strong and flexible. To make the entire process smooth, a topical anesthetic is applied before administering the procedure.

4. Plastic surgery:
   This procedure suits best for people who have sagging skin due to weight loss or pregnancy.
   These procedures are not specifically designed to remove stretch marks. However, loss of the stretch marks due to the removal of the excess skin from the body marks can be an added benefit.
   If your skin is not loose then this procedure may not be the right option for you. It is recommended to always discuss the possible risks and benefits of any surgical procedure with a surgeon before undergoing it.