Stretch Marks can be cured if the treatment is taken up with proper attention and care.

Have you noticed thin, scar-like lines on your mother’s tummy? These are probably stretch marks. I suppose we may, as they are extremely common during pregnancy, affecting nearly 50-90% of pregnant women. They occur in certain other conditions as well, such as in people who have gained excessive weight, in bodybuilders, in certain diseases, or due to the use of steroids. These scars, or stretch marks, are medically called striae distensae.

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Types of Stretch Marks-

There are two types of stretch marks, those that appear red, are flat, stretched, and appear at right angles to the tension in the skin; these are called striae rubrae. These are temporary. The other type appears pale, faded, and wrinkled, and is known as striae albae; these are permanent stretch marks.

What do you mean by Stretch Marks | Stretch Marks and its Meaning

Stretch marks, or scars that happen when your skin rapidly stretches or shrinks, typically show up as bands of lines running across your skin.

Stretch marks are very common — estimates suggest up to 90 percent of people have them. They commonly appear during or after pregnancy, or after other sudden or rapid changes in your weight. When you touch them with your fingers, you might feel a slight ridge or indentation on your skin. They could also feel itchy or sore.

•What causes stretch marks?

>There are a variety of causes of stretch marks and that will usually dictate how a dermatologist recommends treatment. Preventing stretch marks and treating them when they’re early is ideal before they get a chance to deepen.

>Stretch marks often occur:

1)During pregnancy.
2)After rapid weight gain.
3)During puberty.
4)If you have a family history of stretch marks.
5)If you have an underlying health condition, such as Cushing’s syndrome or Marfan syndrome.
6)After long or inappropriate use of corticosteroid medication.

10 Home Remedies to Cure Stretch Marks

1)Aloe vera:

Cut a fresh Aloe Vera leaf and slit it along the length through the sides. Use a spoon to carefully scoop out the Aloe Vera gel and deposit it into a small. Stir and beat the mixture to form a uniform consistency. Spread the gel over the areas of stretch marks. Gently massage it into your skin. Let it be absorbed for 20-30 minutes. You can also use some oil from Vitamin A and E capsules in the aloe gel. Wash with Lukewarm water and pat dry with a clean towel.

2. Coconut oil:

Coconut oil is used for the removal and lightening of stretch marks by many people. Coconut oil is used to gently massage the area in which stretch marks are noticed. Coconut oil hydrates the skin deeply and makes it more elastic, allowing it to stretch easily, without scaring.

3. Centella:

It is commonly used in Korean beauty products. It is an herb, and its scientific name is Centella Asiatica. The exact mechanism of its action is unclear, but it is said to stimulate the cells that produce collagen (a protein providing elasticity to the skin). It stops the action of the hormone glucocorticoid which destroys collagen in skin.

4. Hyaluronic acid:

It is hypothesized that hyaluronic acid protects the cells producing collagen i.e., fibroblasts from getting destroyed under tension and pressure, i.e. the condition in which stretch marks appear. Though the exact mechanism is not yet known, it is widely used for the treatment of stretch marks. Hyaluronic acid can be applied to the skin directly. It is also present in various creams, lotions, and other skincare products as well. There is a need for further research to prove its beneficial effects.

6. Olive oil:

Olive oil is rich in vitamin E and moisturizes the skin. A few studies have found that application of olive oil regularly during pregnancy reduced the occurrence of stretch marks, while other oils in the study showed no such effect. Therefore, the role of olive oil in the reduction of stretch marks remains unclear, demanding more research in this area.

7. Black tea:

You can boil a couple of tablespoons of black tea in water and dissolve a little salt in it. You can use this solution to apply the stretch marks after it cools down. The preparation is to be applied until the stretch marks completely disappear. This remedy is another one with little scientific evidence but is used by many.

8. Potatoes juice:

Potatoes are used to lighten dark circles under the eye and are well-known for lightening stretch marks. Potato skin and juice are touted to be useful even to reduce scars due to burns. The exact mechanism and mode of action are little known, but it has been found useful by many people.

9. Egg whites:

The egg yolk is separated from the egg whites and the whites can then be applied directly onto the stretch marks. However, more studies need to be conducted to understand the exact mechanism of action of this complete food.


10) Sweet Almond and Coconut Oils

Nut oils, such as sweet almond and coconut oils, are nourishing moisturizers that penetrate the skin and provide an occlusive skin barrier. As mentioned above, sweet almond oil together with aloe vera has been shown to affect the itching of stretch marks. Therefore, applying them individually or together may especially benefit fresh stretch marks.
That’s why many effective stretch mark treatments contain these ingredients

11)lemon juice

Lemon juice naturally contains Vitamin C, an antioxidant and skin brightener which helps improve skin tone. Applied alone or mixed with cucumber juice, makes a refreshing and soothing skin mask.

Conclusion:

Stretch marks aren’t harmful to your overall health, it’s a cosmetic issue. You can choose to treat it, and there are a handful of options from lasers to microneedling, or you can 100 percent ignore them. They commonly occur during pregnancy, weight gain, or due to a medical condition that might cause the skin to lose its elasticity. The red stretch marks are temporary while the white ones are permanent. The red ones evolve into white stretch marks over time. There is very little evidence about the usage of products (natural or artificial) for application on the skin to reverse these stretch marks. However, there are a few home remedies that can be used to lighten these scar-like lines on our bodies