Stretch marks, also known as striae, occur when your skin experiences rapid shape changes due to weight gain or growth. They don’t affect your health in any way, but many people don’t like the way they look on their body.
Both women and men are prone to stretch marks, and puberty and pregnancy are two of the most common reasons stretch marks appear. At first, stretch marks tend to have a purple or red appearance that will take on a different texture to the skin that surrounds it. Over time, the color fades. Getting rid of stretch marks naturally completely isn’t likely, but there are a number of things you can do to fight the appearance of stretch marks.
Sugar
Rubbing a sugar scrub into your skin for 8-10 minutes, several times a week will exfoliate the area, which will reduce the visibility of stretch marks on your skin. Using sugar as a method of Naturopathic Microdermabrasion is slightly controversial, but many people swear by it. Microdermabrasion is one of the few clinically proven methods to fight the appearance of stretch marks. Many dermatologists perform this method, but you can make your own sugar scrub at home.
Creams
When it comes to fighting the appearance of stretch marks, products can make them less noticeable, which will make you feel more comfortable and confident with your appearance. Creams, gels and lotions, such as Shea butter and cocoa butter can be used to soften the look of stretch marks when massaged into the area on a daily basis. Oils can also be highly effective at treating stretch marks. For the best results, it is encouraged to use creams, lotions and oils as soon as the stretch marks appear.
Vitamins
If you want to make your stretch marks less visible, then you should look into using vitamins to do so. Vitamin A is a retinoid. Products that contain retinoids are said to make the skin look more youthful and appear smoother, so using creams containing vitamin A is highly recommended. Applying oils that contain vitamin E may also reduce the appearance of stretch marks. Vitamin E is a very powerful antioxidant that is said to reduce cell damage, which could be used to treat stretch marks.
Plants
Using plant extracts to reduce the visibility of stretch marks is possible. Not much research has been carried out to support it, but other research has proven that the plant extracts are good for your skin. For example, aloe vera is a very popular suggestion when it comes to curing stretch marks, as it is a natural skin softener and healing agent. This makes it the perfect home remedy suggestion to try and get rid of your stretch marks, but there is little clinical evidence to support this claim.
Stretch marks are completely natural and are nothing to feel ashamed of. However, when you look good, you feel good, which are both extremely important. People love confidence and by fighting the appearance of stretch marks, you will become a happier and more confident person in return.