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Pregnancy, body building and extreme weight gain are the most common causes of stretch marks. These are scars resulting from overstretched skin and usually found around the abdomen, upper arms, breasts, buttocks and legs.
Stretch marks appear primarily as red lines which over time become lighter and turn into pale white ones.
Preventing stretch marks
You can prevent stretch marks by increasing your skin’s elasticity:
Cocoa butter or body lotion
Cocoa butter helps in both reducing and preventing stretch marks. Any body lotion which contains cocoa butter or is specifically to treat or prevent stretch marks will increase your skin’s elasticity level.
Vitamin Supplements
Vitamin A, C & E helps in increasing the elasticity of the collagen within skin, thus reducing the chances of stretch marks from forming.
Drink plenty of water
Drinking plenty of water keeps your skin hydrated and elastic.
How to get rid of stretch marks
There are many methods to get rid of stretch marks, ranging from natural ways to cosmetic procedures.
Home remedies
Stretch marks creams & lotions
These creams and lotions will reduce the appearance of stretch marks over time with proper use. Some widely known solutions which work well for this purpose are cocoa butter, jojoba oil, shea butter, rose hip oil, vitamin E oil, castor oil and vitamin C.
Retin-A
These creams are proven to work on stretch marks (this works best on new stretch marks).
Vitamin E capsule
Break a vitamin E capsule and massage the oil from it over the stretch marks. Do this daily for 2 weeks.
Exfoliate daily
Use a loofah daily to remove dead skin and expedite growing of new skin.
Sunbathing
Tanning can lessen stretch marks.
Medical procedures
Laser therapy
There are a few types of laser treatments available to treat stretch marks. A dermatologist will be able to help you choose the right treatment.
Microdermabrasion
This is a cosmetic procedure where the top-most layer of skin is removed using a machine or chemicals. Microdermabrasion is usually available in beauty saloons and skin centres.
Tummy tuck
This is a cosmetic surgery performed to remove abdominal stretch marks. During this procedure some of the skin below the belly button is removed.
Plastic surgery
Cosmetic plastic surgery is also available to get rid of severe stretch marks.
