How to Get Rid of Stretch Marks – Some Solutions

Nearly 80% of women who have gone through the rigors of pregnancy have a permanent reminder - stretch marks. These marks appear as red or dark horizontal threads along the skin. Stretch marks occur when skin suddenly expands and stretches beyond its limit. Tiny tears appear in the supporting layers of skin. Pregnancy stretch marks are usual on the abdomen, breasts, thighs or buttocks.

The chances of getting pregnancy stretch marks depend on several factors. The first factor to consider is heredity. If your mother had stretch marks during her pregnancy, you have increased chances of getting it. Another factor is ethnicity. Women with greater melanin in their skins are less prone to getting stretch marks. The amount of water you drink during pregnancy also affects the appearance of stretch marks. Keeping your skin hydrated lessens the chances of getting these marks on your skin.


The primary fear about getting stretch marks is that they are difficult to rid. In fact, until a few years ago, there was no permanent solution to remove stretch marks.



Prevention is Better than Cure

The first thing to remember in treating stretch marks is to be careful during pregnancy. Drink plenty of water and keep your body well hydrated. This will increase the elasticity of your skin and prevent stretch marks from appearing. Apply generous amounts of rich moisturizing cream on your abdomen, thighs and breasts. This saturates your skin with moisture.

Cocoa butter cream is a hot favorite among pregnant women for prevention of stretch marks. There are several anti-stretch mark creams available in the market whose regular use may act as a deterrent. Eat proper nutritious food so that you do not gain more weight than is required. Rapid and uncontrollable weight gain is a primary reason for stretch marks. A balanced diet also ensures that you get adequate amounts of Vitamin A, E and C, which help to maintain suppleness of the skin. Follow a regular exercise routine that will help in maintaining your weight.

Temporary and Permanent Solutions

Among the temporary solutions is the application of specially formulated stretch mark creams. These creams contain cocoa butter, wheat germ oil and lanolin. They help to heal stretch marks by rebuilding the structure of your skin. The use of concealing or camouflaging cosmetics on the affected area will reduce the visibility of the scars of stretch marks.

One of the permanent solutions that have come up in recent times is laser therapy. This is a simple procedure and requires little or no recovery time. This is however, an expensive option. Blue light therapy is another option. This treatment uses gel and light to treat stretch marks. You can also consider plastic surgery for the permanent removal of your stretch marks.

A new treatment is the use of chemical compounds called retinoids - specifically, retinaldehyde, tretinoin or isotretinoin. Under proper medical supervision, they have shown to yield favorable results in treating stretch marks. Check out our recommended resources below for attractive deals and offers on these and many other treatments for stretch marks.

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