Remove Stretch Marks after Pregnancy or Weight Loss
Effective Removal Options
Stretch marks can appear on the skin of any individual. However, they are more prevalent among women after childbirth or among those who have gained or lost weight all of a sudden. This happens when the middle layer of skin or the dermis tears or ruptures due to overstretching.
Due to this, skin in that region loses its elasticity, thereby resulting in the appearance of scars or stripe like marks in the affected places. These marks do not fade away with time and treatment is essential to remove stretch marks from the body.
Removal of Marks and Scars
There are different treatment options currently available through which stretch marks can be removed such as laser therapy, microdermabrasion, surgery, massage, and applying a topical stretch marks cream and lotions.
Among these, massage therapy and use of topical creams are the most recommended economical, effective, and safe procedures to remove stretch marks during pregnancy and weight loss.
Termed as Striae gravidarum, stretch marks during pregnancy usually appear on areas where there are high fat deposits such as thighs, underarms, shoulders, buttocks, hips, and abdomen. In case of pregnant women, gentle massage three times a day using lavender oil, olive oil, or Aloe Vera gel can be of extreme help to remove stretch marks. Drink plenty of water and always keep your skin hydrated.
Regular use of some good quality moisturizers such as cocoa butter can prevent the appearance of stretch marks. Apart from massage, several stretch marks creams are now available, that contain ingredients to remove stretch marks. Any good stretch marks removal cream has Vitamin C, Vitamin A, collagen, elastin, and Aloe Vera, which are known to have skin repair properties.
Emu oil is another key ingredient, which is an important source for vitamin E and omega fatty acids that help in skin rejuvenation, restoration of skin elasticity and keeping the skin healthy and soft. In addition to these, other major ingredients in a stretch marks cream include antiseptics, anti-inflammatory agents, skin softeners, tocopherol, and moisturizing agents.
Pregnant women must remember to exercise regularly, consume a nutritious diet, prevent weight gain, avoid stress, and maintain normal sleeping patterns. In this manner, one can conveniently avert the damages caused due to hormonal changes that happen during pregnancy.
Care During Pregnancy
Pregnant and breast feeding women should consult a dermatologist once before using any kind of stretch marks treatment because some ingredients used in topical creams might be harmful for the baby. Similarly, persons losing weight might be allergic to certain compounds. For such individuals, either a tummy tuck or a laser therapy is a better means of removing stretch marks from the body.
Laser treatment is a painless way to remove stretch marks from the body, where monochromatic laser beams are transmitted through the skin surface into the dermis, thereby stimulating cell growth and formation of new tissue. However, the method is very expensive and should be performed only by certified cosmetic surgeons. |
