Stretch marks are a visible reminder that you have lost weight. It is ubiquitous in males and females. Stretch marks are simply the drawbacks of shedding extra pounds.

It is harmless and often becomes less noticeable. However, some underlying health conditions cause decreased elasticity in the skin tissue, leading to stretch marks. Therefore, weight loss is not the only factor behind these marks. 

Stretch marks do not often disappear completely, and you can’t always prevent them from occurring. But there are ways to make stretch marks less noticeable. Consequently, stretch marks are a consequence of the physical changes that occur throughout a person’s lifetime. Therefore, almost everyone has at least a few of these marks.

* An Introduction to Stretch marks

Stretch marks, medically termed striae, narrow streaks or lines that can appear on your skin. You’ll find stretch marks in different body areas, including arms, hips, thighs, chest, stomach, breast, and butt.

They appear as discolored stripes, such as white, red, blue, narrow pink, or purplish. Weight loss, weight gain, pregnancy, breast development, growth spurts, and muscle growth are some common scenarios causing the appearance of stretch marks. In addition, a study shows that your genetics and protein in the body determine how likely you are to get stretch marks. 

The appearance of stretch marks varies from person to person. However, it usually stands out in contrast to your normal skin due to its texture.

For instance, stretch marks can be shiny, dark, and lifted at first. Then, it might evolve into thinner and paler silvery skin indentations like scars. In addition, women tend to get stretch marks more frequently than men, especially on the breasts, while men see them most often on the lower back.

* Causes of Stretch Marks

The majority of stretch marks are not from weight loss, but rather from when you first put extra weight on. When you gain weight, the skin undergoes stretching and tearing.

As a result, collagen and connective tissues in the skin become damaged and result in the appearance of stretch marks. Although the skin is flexible, if it gets overstretched in a short range of time, the outcome is often internal tears that form scars understood as stretch marks. It is primarily a case of pubertal growth, pregnancy, and weight gain.

A study shows that stretch marks occur due to structural changes in collagen fibers and the reduction of elastin and fibrillar fibers. It results in a loss of vascularity and elasticity, making the skin more vulnerable to stretch marks.

Your skin is prone to stretch marks when you are pregnant because the hormones soften the fibers of your skin. And as the baby grows, your skin stretches in the tummy region.

Furthermore, you also develop them on your breast and thighs as they get bigger. The first sign of stretch marks during pregnancy is some itching. In addition, the use of steroids and medical conditions like Cushing syndrome and Eds syndrome cause stretch marks.

* Stretch Marks After Weight Loss

The stretch marks from weight loss typically appear in the region where you lost fat. For example, your thighs, arms, shoulders, and buttocks are the common sites for weight loss-induced stretch marks.

To be more precise, excess leftover skin after rapid weight loss is often the primary cause of stretch marks. However, your skin stretches when you gain weight, but those marks are usually not visible at this stage. You start seeing those hidden stretch marks only after you shed some pounds. 

Pregnant women undergo dramatic body transformations to return to their pre-pregnancy weight in a short time. Unfortunately, the residual lax skin often remains after intense fluctuations in weight.

As a result, it increases the risk of inevitable scarring or stretch marks. While 90% of women experience stretch marks after post-pregnancy weight loss, the remaining 10% seem to dodge such a common occurrence due to hereditary factors.

* How to Prevent Stretch Marks From Losing Weight?

While there is no ultimate way to prevent these marks altogether, there are some steps to reduce the appearance of stretch marks if they do form.

For example, cosmetic and dermatology experts say that slowly losing weight can lower your chances of developing stretch marks. How much weight you lose in a week also determines the occurrence of these marks.

Try to lose only around one percent of your body weight per week. Going above that limit might put you at risk for stretch marks. It helps you retain muscle during weight loss and reduces the likelihood of getting stretch marks. Most importantly, maintain your skin hydrated to provide it with the elasticity to re-contract.

* Other Ways to Reduce Stretch Marks Risk

Stay Hydrated

Unlike dry skin, which increases your risk of stretch marks, soft skin does not incline towards it. Drinking sufficient water can help maintain your skin smooth and well-hydrated throughout the day. Try to restrict your intake of caffeinated drinks such as coffee, as they might boost your likelihood of developing stretch marks.

Eat a Nutritious Diet

Consuming a balanced diet that comprises a variety of vitamins, nutrients, and minerals is one of the best things you can do for your skin and holistic health. Therefore, ensure that your diet contains foods rich in zinc, vitamin C, protein, vitamin D, and vitamin E, as they can boost your skin health and collagen production. 

Get Enough vitamin D

Research indicates that lower serum levels of vitamin D lead to a higher occurrence of stretch marks. Vitamin D deficiency leads to an increase in estrogen receptors.

It is responsible for the higher incidence of stretch marks amongst women with lower levels of vitamin D. Therefore, getting recommended vitamin D helps reduce the chances of stretch mark formation.

You can eat vitamin D-rich foods like mushrooms, cheese, eggs, fish, soy products, and broccoli. In addition, sunlight is a natural source to gain the much-needed vitamin D required for your body.

Maintain Healthy Weight

Maintaining a healthy weight is one of the best realistic ways to deter stretch marks. When your skin is overstretched or compelled to overgrow, collagen creation is disrupted, resulting in stretch marks. Therefore, retaining a steady and decent weight through good nutrition and workout is your best bet to prevent stretch marks.

Treatments for Stretch Marks

Make an appointment with your dermatologist to communicate your options if you still have those marks despite your best actions to reduce them.

Your doctor can prescribe the best and most personalized treatment options. However, some treatments can cause unfavorable side effects, particularly during pregnancy. Therefore, it is crucial to evaluate the pros and cons of any medicine you choose. 

Here are the common approaches for treating stretch marks:

Topical Treatments

A study shows that retinoid cream 0.1% is an effective topical therapeutic agent for improving the clinical appearance of stretch marks. Retinoid is a retinoid medication that boosts cellular turnover and collagen production. It shows maximum effects during the early stages of stretch marks. But no topical treatments can eradicate stretch marks, though they may help reduce their manifestation. In addition, retinoid or retinoid acid can cause side effects like peeling, redness, discoloration, and sun sensitivity. So be sure to confirm the use of retinoid with a healthcare provider.

Other generally used therapies are olive oil, coconut oil, bio-oil, and cocoa butter, which moisturize your skin and reduce dryness-induced stretch marks. But there is little information indicating the effectiveness of these topical applications. So while this is not a sure bet, there is no damage in practice.

Besides retinoid, hyaluronic acid is another effective topical treatment for stretch marks, as it increases collagen production. Other topical agents used are trope elastin, silicone, glycolic acid, ascorbic acid.

Laser Therapy and Other Procedures

Laser therapy is another standard procedure for stretch marks. However, it works best when utilized during the preliminary phase of stretch mark arrangement when they are raw and still red. Laser therapy targets the vasculature, reduces redness, and minimally prevents stretch mark progression.

Fractionated, Intense Pulsed Light, and exciter Ayers, are for older stretch marks. These laser therapies strive to boost collagen creation. An additional drastic strategy to stretch mark reduction is plastic surgery such as abdominoplasty. Eliminating excess residual skin after weight loss will lessen the stretch marks on your body. However, these methods come with risks and are highly invasive. 

Microneedling Therapy

Microneedling therapy is a minimally invasive method that stimulates stretch marks healing by increasing collagen and elastin synthesis. As a result, it shows improvements in the appearance and texture of stretch marks. For long-term results, you might need an average of three sessions of micro-needling treatment at four-weekly intervals. 

Tips to Make Your Stretch Marks Less Visible

If you retain stretch marks, you are not alone. Stretch marks are prevalent for people of all ages. If stretch marks are a cosmetic concern for you, there are ways you can conceal them or reduce their appearance.

Use Self Tanners

Sunless self-tanners can enable you to fill in the color of your stretch marks and prepare them to appear nearer to the same color as the rest of your skin. However, regular tanning will not be effective as well because it can negatively influence the health of your skin. 

Use Makeup

If you need to cover up some of your stretch marks for short periods, using foundation makeup that fits your skin tone can help conceal your stretch marks.

Use Topical Cream or Ointment

Several topical creams help make stretch marks look way better in appearance. Be sure to research and find out what is best for your skin type. 

Wear Clothes with More Coverage

Wearing long sleeves or lengthier pants can conceal areas with stretch marks. However, these marks should never lower your self-esteem and choice of clothing. Wear what you are most comfortable with. 

Conclusion

Stretch marks are a cosmetic concern, since it is impossible to remove them altogether. It arises due to a rapid increase in body weight, pregnancy, growth spurts, and certain health conditions.

In addition, the remaining stretch marks after losing weight might make you feel self-conscious. However, treatments are available to improve the stretch mark appearance by tightening and plumping your skin.

For example, you can use a self-tanner or tinted body lotion to make stretch marks less noticeable. You can also use topical creams with soothing and moisturizing components that help with physical or chemical exfoliation. If

These options do not work for you, talk to your dermatologist to discuss more invasive options.

Though it’s relatively rare, these marks might indicate more serious underlying health conditions, such as Cushing syndrome. Therefore, talk to your doctor if you have stretch marks but haven’t gained weight or lost weight.