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What Causes Stretch Marks?
Pregnancy
When it comes to pregnancy, stretch marks are almost inevitable! While going through pregnancy, your body grows at an extreme rate, it's only natural for stretch marks to appear in the areas that grow the most: the belly and the breasts.
Pregnancy can also leave you with stretch marks on the legs and stretch marks on the thighs. These usually get particularly itchy during the second trimester! As if pregnancy wasn’t uncomfortable enough, right?
Sudden Weight Changes
Your #fitnessgoals may leave you with stretch marks! Weight loss (or weight gain) causes your skin to stretch quickly to accommodate your growing body without giving it time to heal and adjust. Rapid weight change can leave you with stretch marks on your bum or stretch marks on your back.
Growth Spurt
Teenagers who go through sudden growth spurts may notice stretch marks appearing on their armpits and inner thighs. Curse you, puberty!
Adrenal Gland Disorders
Conditions like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Marfan's syndrome, and Cushing's syndrome cause an increased amount of cortisone in your body. More cortisone equals less skin elasticity; less skin elasticity equals more stretch marks.
Dealing With It - How To Prevent Stretch Marks?
Control Your Weight
Remember, rapid changes in your body is a one-way ticket to getting stretch marks. Yes, even losing weight quickly can cause them! Controlling these changes from happening too fast might be your best option in preventing them. A healthy diet and exercise helps in managing weight and most importantly, avoid crash diets!
Stay Hydrated
You never would have guessed that something as simple as a glass of water can prevent the formation of stretch marks! Drinking enough water can help your skin stay soft and hydrated. Softer skin provides more elasticity, and stretch marks are more likely to form on dry skin.
So don't forget to drink your 8 glasses of water every day!
Nutrients
Eating nutrient-rich food may help prevent stretch marks. Food that's rich in vitamin E, vitamin D, Zinc, and protein is important in promoting healthy skin. Vitamin C is very important in the development of collagen – a protein that plays a big role in keeping your skin strong and elastic. Adding more collagen can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and stretch marks.
How To Get Rid Of Stretch Marks
So you've already got some stretch marks Here’s some bad news: there is no tried and true treatment that will cure your stretch marks. But don't worry! There are still ways to minimise their overall appearance, making them almost unnoticeable!
Retinol Body Cream
Not a cure, but it’s just as good!
While there is no FDA-approved prescription medication for stretch marks, we will have to settle for retinol! Retinol boosts your collagen production and promotes the creation of new skin over time!
Bio-Oil
All-natural and non-greasy!
Bio-Oil is a combination of different plant extracts and vitamins. These are mixed with their breakthrough ingredient, PurCellin Oil. If you're looking for an all-natural and non-greasy way of dealing with stretch marks, then Bio-Oil is perfect for you!
Laser
Zap it all away!
Don't worry, this doesn’t hurt as much as it sounds! Laser treatment often requires you to be numbed first so when the laser pulses into your skin, your cells are tricked into thinking they're injured. A chain reaction causes your body's natural healing process to jump in, which then triggers the cells to release chemicals needed for the production of collagen!
Is it safe? Well, there is only one laser that is FDA-approved for treating stretch marks – the ICON 1540 Fractional Laser. Patients who have gone a few sessions under its beams have seen a 50 to 70% improvement in their stretch mark appearance!
Microneedling
No pain, no gain!
If you can’t handle the thought of being zapped by a laser, then you should consider getting a dermaroller. This form of treatment creates small and painless punctures in your skin, and just like the laser, it stimulates your body's healing process.
It’s a safe method of stretch mark removal – but you have to be patient. Results of dermarolling won't be seen until at least four months!
In The End, It’s All About Loving Who You Are
If you think that the world shuns those with stretch marks, think again. Celebrities with stretch marks are fighting to end the negative stigma around it and aren’t afraid to show-off what their stretch marks are like! Lady Gaga, Rhianna, and Ashley Graham are just some of the celebs out there who are proud of their marks. So if they can do it, you can too!
While stretch marks may be semi-permanent, they don’t make you any less beautiful. They are signs of growth: how you survived through puberty, how you lost weight, or how you brought a baby into the world. These are battle scars that you should celebrate!
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