Characterized by the presence of parallel red or purple streaks through the skin, stretch marks occur when the deeper skin layers tear, usually as a result of sudden weight gain. In certain instances, vitamin E oil may help prevent stretch marks, but make sure you talk to your doctor before using it to verify that it's an appropriate preventative therapy for your specific health condition. When stretch marks occur, the outer layer of skin remains intact, but the torn dermis creates unattractive indentations as a result of collagen fibers that become stretched out of shape. The National Institutes of Health notes that common stretch mark locations include the abdomen, hips, thighs, buttocks and breasts. Considered a cosmetic issue, stretch marks don't present serious health problems. According to the Mayo Clinic, stretch marks generally lighten in appearance over time, but they never completely disappear, even with the use of treatments such as laser therapy and microdermabrasion.
Also called tocopherol, vitamin E may aid in preventing stretch marks. According to Dr. James Balch, coauthor of "Prescription for Natural Cures," vitamin E oil combats stretch marks by promoting skin elasticity. When your skin is more elastic, it's able to stretch more, which minimizes the tissue tearing that leads to unsightly stretch marks. Unfortunately, once you develop stretch marks, the tissue damage has already occurred, so vitamin E oil most likely won't play a major role in improving the appearance of your stretched skin. Generally, people use vitamin E oil either as a topical ointment or as an oral supplement for the prevention of stretch marks. As an oral supplement, Vitamin E oil is available in various sizes, including 200 and 400 IU soft gel capsules. Topical vitamin E oil may be purchased in cream form. Look for both forms of the vitamin E oil at pharmacies, health-care stores and supermarkets. Talk to your primary care doctor to determine the correct amount of vitamin E oil that you should be taking orally, especially if you're pregnant or suffer from chronic health problems.
Apply vitamin E oil to your stretched skin twice daily, in the morning and evening, as recommended by Dr Balch. Consider boosting the healing properties of the topical vitamin E oil by mixing it with other ingredients before massaging it onto your tightly stretched skin. According to Narine Nikogosian, author of the book "Return to Beauty," cocoa butter provides a prime hydrating ingredient that works well when combined with vitamin E oil for topical application. Other possible ingredients to use include gotu oil, rose hip oil and sweet almond oil. Don't rely solely on topical application of vitamin E oil to prevent stretch marks. Practice additional preventative strategies, such as exercising regularly and eating a well-balanced diet to control weight gain. If you're pregnant, try to gain weight slowly throughout the duration of your pregnancy to minimize your chances of experiencing the sudden weight gain that generally leads to stretch marks. In the event that you do get stretch marks, don't despair.
Even without treatment, they should gradually become less apparent as time passes. How to Exfoliate Stretch Marks How to Fade Stretch Marks Naturally How to Get Rid of Stretch Marks on Dark Skin How to Get Rid of Stretch Marks with Lemons How to Get Rid of Stretch Marks on the Inner Thighs Vitamin Cures for Stretch Marks How to Reduce Old Stretch Marks Are There Foods That Remove Stretch Marks? Can You Get Rid of Stretch Marks Using Vicks? How to Get Rid of Old White Stretch Marks How to Keep Stretch Marks From Itching How to Remove Stretch Marks Fast Vitamin C & Stretch Marks Stretch Marks Before & After Weight Loss Can Aloe Vera Gel Help Stretch Marks? Can You Decrease Belly Fat and Stretch Marks? Rosehip Oil & Stretch MarksEdit ArticleHow to Get Rid of Stretch Marks Six Parts:Verified Topical OptionsUnverified Topical OptionsSupplemental OptionsLaser Treatment OptionsSurgical OptionsKnowing What Doesn't WorkCommunity Q&A
Stretch marks can occur during sudden changes in body size, such as during pregnancy, puberty, or rapid weight-gain. Ninety percent of pregnant women will get stretch marks around their abdomen, hips and thighs, and unfortunately, they seem to be genetic — if your mom had stretch marks, odds are that you will too.There are some things you can do to prevent stretch marks, as well as reducing the appearance of both new and old ones. Check out some of these options, listed from easiest to most difficult to execute.A study comparing herbal moisturizers found that people who lotioned-up daily showed significant improvement in skin appearance and elasticity [2]. Think of it this way: if your skin has a lot of stretching to do, it's less likely to tear and create stretch marks if it's hydrated. Use lotion on new stretch marks, or on areas where you're worried about getting them in the future. Though using lotion on old stretch marks may still improve their appearance, it's probably not as effective as using them on fresh ones.
If you're worried about the chemicals in over-the-counter moisturizers, make your own out of equal parts wheat germ oil, olive oil and aloe vera. The same study showed that this combination created the best DIY moisturizer [3].A study from the University of Michigan suggests that people who use Retin-A (or a retinoic acid cream) on new stretch marks saw huge improvements[4]. Retin-A is thought to boost collagen production, helping skin stretch out and avoid tears. Note that you should not use any products containing retinoic acid if you are pregnant or nursing. It can potentially cause birth defects in humans [5]. Retin-A won't be as effective on old stretch marks. You'll probably need a prescription to get products such as Retin-A, Renova, Tazorac, and Differin (which all contain retinoic acid). Limit sun exposure of skin that you're treating with Retin-A. It could be more susceptible to burning.Glycolic acid used on stretch marks can increase collagen production, as making your skin more elastic overall[6].
As an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA), it's in the same family of compounds often used in chemical skin peels. Glycolic acid is safe to put on your skin during pregnancy. Take extra care to keep skin that you're treating with glycolic acid out of the sun. Glycolic acid can be bought in over-the-counter. For a more intense treatment, you can get a stronger dose from a licensed dermatologist. Combine glycolic acid and Retin-A. When used together, glycolic acid and Retin-A can dramatically improve the appearance of stretch marks [7]. If you choose to do this, you might want to "prep" your skin with Retin-A before using a glycolic acid [8]. Do not use Retin-A if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It can cause severe birth defects. If you need to see a doctor for a Retin-A prescription anyway, ask how he or she would suggest incorporating glycolic acid. Try Vitamin E oil. Vitamin E oil is often said to be the miracle cure for stretch marks, though one study shows that it's most effective on women who have already been pregnant before, and has not been effective in general use [10].
Still, it can't hurt in moderate doses. Try mixing your Vitamin E oil with a carrier lotion, such as a regular unscented moisturizer, for better coverage.Though there hasn't yet been a peer-reviewed study on how essential oils can heal stretch marks, they are currently used as a home remedy. You can apply them directly onto the skin, or use a carrier (such as coconut oil or an unscented moisturizer) to make application easier. Here are some oils commonly promoted for stretch marks: Increase your Vitamin C intake. One dermatologist suggests that 500 mg of Vitamin C, taken as an oral supplement, can help reduce the appearance of stretch marks[11]. For even better results, try using a topical glycolic acid along with Vitamin C. For fresh stretch marks, use a pulsed dye laser (aka vascular laser). A pulsed dye laser set at 585-nm was shown to reduce stretch marks in post-partum Korean women [12]. This sort of treatment can take down the initial redness, and is best used on early marks (that have not yet turned silver).
Be prepared to hand over a chunk of money for vascular laser treatments. Three to six sessions are required, priced around $450 each. Vascular laser treatments won't be effective for women with darker skin. Much like laser hair removal, the process works best when there's a large contrast between the target (in this case, the red stretch marks) and the pigment of the skin. For older stretch marks, try a fractional laser treatment (aka laser resurfacing). For stretch marks that are no longer discolored but are still indented, you can use resurfacing with a "fractional" laser that focuses on small areas. The laser is aimed at the edges of stretch marks, smoothing over the surface of the skin [13]. You could need up to three fractional laser treatments; each treatment could cost around $1000. Hyperpigmentation and scarring are potential side effects of fractional laser treatments. Get an abdominoplasty (aka tummy tuck). The only certain way to get rid of stretch marks is to — you guessed it — cut them out.
If you've tried everything else and can't stand the tiger stripes, a tummy tuck might be the ticket. Be prepared for the cost. In the United States, an abdominoplasty can run between $4000 and $20,000. Be aware of the risks. As with any major surgery, there are life-threatening complications that can arise from a tummy tuck. Plan on a long recovery. You can expect to take 2 to 4 weeks off work, and spend 3 to 6 months before you're fully healed. Consider a "mommy makeover," or a combination deal. Cocoa butter has not been proven to reduce stretch marks. In a double-blind study, cocoa butter was not shown to have any discernible effect on stretch marks [14]. Be wary of marketing schemes that claim otherwise. Peptide-containing products also haven't been proven to work. "Repair" creams or serums that claim to contain peptides or proteins have not been proven to restore skin damaged by stretch marks [15]. Drink enough water(2 litres daily), as the skin loses its elasticity when you are dehydrated.
Being at a healthy weight also helps. Use Vaseline, or petroleum jelly. You probably shouldn't spend tens of thousands of dollars on a tummy tuck, because even after it, weight gain might cause new stretch marks to appear. Make sure you're eating a nutrient based diet. You want to make sure that your skin is getting the proper nutrition so that it can repair and stay healthy. For older stretch marks, use an SPF 60 or higher directly on the stretch marks...the tanning with a HGH SPF seems to make it less visible and if you work out..that's a huge help. Bio-oil is also very good for fading stretch marks. Without surgical procedures, it is virtually impossible to fully remove stretch marks, as they are actually tears/scars in the dermis (middle layer) of skin and the stretch marks are the results of the healing. Stretch mark removal is usually not covered by insurance because it's a cosmetic procedure. Try to lose some weight, so that the stretch marks seem reduced.