Every pregnant woman dreads them, but stretch marks are just a part of life, they occur naturally under a variety of circumstances, not just during pregnancy, but after rapid weight gain and loss, and even from weight training! Stretch marks are long, thin, rippled marks that are also known as stria, and manifest as streaks on your stomach, buttocks, breasts, thighs, and hips. These grooves and lines in your skin aren’t actually harmful to your health, but they are generally thought to be unattractive.
The truth is, nobody really likes having stretch marks, and just wish they would go away! Sometimes they fade over time, but sometimes they don’t! Stretch marks are physically harmless, but they can take a toll on a person’s mental health by making them feel embarrassed about their appearance, which can lead to serious issues like chronic depression and social anxiety. People often ask how to get rid of stretch marks, fortunately, there are some treatments available to help improve the appearance and texture of stretch marks, which we have listed below!
Microneedling – This is probably your best option for getting rid of your unsightly stretch marks. The treatment employs a hand-held device shaped like a pen that has tiny needles in it which push into your skin to create micro-injuries. The needles stimulate the growth of collagen, a naturally occurring substance in the body that promotes smooth, glowing skin. This technique doesn’t present the risk of skin discolouration that laser therapy can cause, so microneedling is the preferred treatment for people who have darker skin.
Retinoid Cream – If you have stretch marks that are less than a couple of months old, you may be able to improve their appearance with the use of a retinoid cream. The cream is derived from vitamin A and retinoids like tretinoin. The application of this cream to your skin has been demonstrated to improve the appearance of stretch marks in some cases. The substance tretinoin helps your body produce collagen, the protein that promotes healthy skin, which can make stretch marks look more like normal skin. Unfortunately, tretinoin can also irritate the skin of some people, so only use it under the supervision of a dermatologist. Do not use retinoid cream if you are pregnant or nursing because there are some possible side effects that may affect the infant.
Light Therapies – Light therapies can help stimulate the growth of collagen and promote elasticity to lessen the appearance of stretch marks. The light therapy process involves beaming infrared and visible red light onto the stretch marks, which can cause a reduction in the visible scarring by softening and flattening their appearance. The treatment also promotes an improved immune and healing response as well as increased blood circulation in the treatment area while also reducing inflammation. It’s recommended that a series of up to 20 sessions be implemented over the course of several weeks to produce an improvement in appearance. In most recipients the results are permanent, but sometimes follow-up maintenance treatments are necessary.
So, if you have unsightly stretch marks you want to get rid of, there are options available!
DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
Discover more from Life and Tech Shots Magazine
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
