How Did These Stretch Marks Get Here And How Do I Make Them Go Away?

Stretch marks are nothing more than a type of scar. It forms when your skin stretches or even shrinks quickly. This sudden change causes collagen and elastin to break. When the skin heals, these marks appear.

It doesn’t always happen and scientists believe hormones might play a role. They also think genetics may put you at higher risk. Certain things can make you more prone to having stretch marks too.

Why You Might Get Stretch Marks

The things that might cause you to get stretch marks are:

• Pregnancy
• Rapid weight loss
• Gaining weight too quickly
• Growth spurts (usually during puberty)
• Rapid muscle growth during weight training

As they first appear, you may notice they are slightly colored - sometimes pink, purple, or even reddish-brown - which will depend on your skin color and tone. They may even be slightly raised and feel itchy. But time heals all wounds and it does so for stretch marks too, to a point. The color fades and the marks become recessed.

How You Can Get Rid Of Them

Want to get rid of your stretch marks? They’re permanent, but you can treat them to make them stand out less. Pregnant women should just hold off until after having the baby because things are still pulling and stretching, plus some ingredients that work for fading stretch marks, like retinol, aren’t safe for your baby.

The best thing you can do if you’re pregnant is to always use creams, lotions and gels on your stretching skin. This will minimize the chances of you getting stretch marks.

Start Today To Treat Early Stretch Marks

Pregnant or not, if you see stretch marks that have just formed, tackle them now. Lotions, creams, and oils have very little effect on old stretch marks.

Take Time To Massage

Don’t just smear the product on and be done. Make sure you massage it into your skin to help improve the product’s effectiveness.

Don’t Miss A Day

Every day, make sure you apply your lotions, creams, or oils. It takes several weeks to see results so keep at it.

You can try homemade remedies too, but research has not found any of them to make a difference. Tanning will make them worse, however, using a self-tanner can help smooth it over, at least temporarily, which is good if you want to conceal them when you go somewhere.

You can seek out prescriptions from your doctor too. Hyaluronic acid and tretinoin (a type of retinoid) are the most effective, though they do best when you apply them as soon after getting stretch marks as possible. Dermatological procedures like laser therapy, microdermabrasion, and chemical peels can also help.

With stretch marks, your best plan of action is to be proactive. If you plan to lose or gain weight, keep skin hydrated inside and out. And if you do notice stretch marks, take care of them as soon as they appear so you’re less likely to be left with permanent scars.

Looking for 100% chemical-free, all-natural nourishing face and body oils? Check out Earth & Elm Nourishing Face Oil and Earth & Elm Nourishing Body Oil. Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral health and skincare. If you are looking for more health resources make sure to check out the Trusted Health Resources list. 

About The Author:

Jennifer Raskin is a freelance writer, wife and mom that loves cold weather despite her location in Florida, cooking, reading, watching ‘80s movies, weight-lifting, and wine tasting.

Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.