Stretch marks appear on the skin as long, narrow streaks, stripes, or lines | Home remedies to remove stretch marks after delivery

How to remove stretch marks after delivery?

Stretch marks which are also called striae only happen when your skin changes its shape quite rapidly due to body growth or sudden weight gain. They usually are not a sign that indicates something is wrong with your health condition.

Anyone can get these annoying stretch marks, regardless of their gender. Puberty and pregnancy are the two most common points of time in your life when anyone gets them.

At first, these stretch marks will appear on their own as a thin fine red or even purple line of quite a different texture than the skin that surrounds it. Most of these stretch marks will fade on their own over a period of time. They may become less visible after they fade away. These faded stretch marks look quite lighter in colour than the skin that surrounds it and also a little glowy, like a scar.

When it comes to the treatment these stretch mark cure procedures can be expensive, and it is also always not that effective. Stretch marks are regarded in terms of their appearance as quite annoying as they look different on your skin. Some of the most famous stretch marks treatment are-

Use Of Chemical peels

Chemical peels are the most common cosmetic procedures to exfoliate your skin quite deeply. They can be performed by an experienced doctor, dermatologist, and even a plastic surgeon.

Laser therapy

Another common way to treat these stretch marks is by the use of laser therapy. Laser therapies are safe and effective medical treatments that use some specific wavelengths of light to lessen those scarring:

Pain
Scarring
Swelling

Microneedling

Microneedling is an effective skincare method that is scientifically believed to help in reducing wrinkles and stretch marks. It uses some fine needles to puncture your skin. As with time these tiny injuries heal, which in turn rejuvenates your skin. It is usually done over a period of time in some specific session like four to six sessions approximately.

Radiofrequency

Radiofrequency is actually a common noninvasive procedure that uses certain radiofrequency waves to heat quite deeper into your skin layers in an effort to:

activate your natural wound-healing procedure
stimulate the collagen production
tighten your skin well and permanently.

How to remove stretch marks after delivery home remedies

There are certain prescribed and tested ways that you can do in the comfort of your home which will help you in getting away from such stretch marks.

1) Massage With Oil

Massaging the skin of your belly, hips, and bust is the best way to treat these stubborn stretch marks after the period of your pregnancy. A gentle massage increases your blood flow effectively and breaks up the scar tissues that are causing these stretch marks. Many dermatologists recommend using a healing oil, like coconut oil to reduce that friction when you do the massage and give your skin the nourishment of vitamins and minerals to repair itself to the optimum level.

2) Need To Stay Hydrated To Fade Away The Pregnancy Stretch Marks

We are probably not the first to make you aware of how important it is to drink plenty of water during the day. The amount of water you drink provides your skin with the necessary hydration for it to remain healthy all the way around.

When your skin cells have an optimum supply of water, they are able to function effectively and repair themselves quite more efficiently than ever before. This means that your skin is quite able to recover from stretch marks visible during the pregnancy. Drinking at least 8 to 10 cups of water daily to keep your skin cells hydrated and healthy.

3) Keep Your Skin Moisturized

Moisture is one of the key components of a healthy daily skincare routine. It helps to keep your skin shiny, smooth, and glowy, helps in maintaining your skin’s protective layer intact and healthy, and preserves your skin's natural elasticity. As an added bonus, it also helps to heal your stretch marks very well.

4) Exercise To Improve Skin & Muscle Tone

Regular exercise can be a healthy and effective method for repairing these pregnancy stretch marks. Even doing a light exercise, such as yoga or walking, can strengthen the muscles of your thighs, hips, and belly as these are the areas where stretch marks usually appear. Strengthening these muscles will definitely help you to tighten the loose, stretched skin and promote their faster healing.

How long does it take for stretch marks to fade?

Stretch marks usually take anywhere between 6 to 12 months after the period of pregnancy to fade away. These marks are permanent in nature that can become less noticeable with the prescribed treatment.

Remember that what actually works for others may not easily work for you as well. Everyone’s skin will react differently to these offered treatments. Some may say that their stretch marks fade on their own and even earlier than others, whereas others may have no benefit at all from using the treatments as well.

Suppose you are pregnant or even a breastfeeding mother do ask your doctor before using any of the available products for these stretch marks. For example, products containing retinol can prove quite harmful to your baby.

Symptoms & Signs of Stretch Marks

The skin can appear thin and pink before stretch marks show. It could also be itchy or inflamed. Depending on skin tone, the marks appear as wrinkled, elevated streaks that might be red, purple, pink, reddish-brown, or dark brown. Over time, the streaks diminish and flatten, and they tend to turn a silvery colour. Stretch marks may fade over time, but this might take months or even years.

Causes of Stretch Marks

Stretch marks are caused by excessive skin expansion or atrophy. The following are some of the most common reasons for skin stretching:

Pregnancy rates range from 50 to 90 percent. Stretch Marks occur in pregnant women during or after birth, according to a reliable source.
Puberty is characterized by rapid growth in young people. Stretch marks may result as a result of this.
Rapid weight gain might result in stretch marks if you acquire a lot of weight in a short period of time.
Stretch marks can be caused by a variety of medical diseases, including Marfan syndrome and Cushing's syndrome. Cushing's syndrome causes the body to produce too much of a hormone, which causes rapid weight gain and skin fragility. Marfan syndrome causes skin tissue to lose its elasticity, and Cushing's syndrome causes the body to produce too much of a hormone, which causes rapid weight gain and skin fragility.
Long-term usage of corticosteroid creams and lotions might cause a decrease in collagen levels in the skin. Collagen helps to tighten and support the skin, and a lack of it can lead to stretch marks.
There are three layers to the skin. When connective tissue is stretched beyond its flexibility, stretch marks appear in the dermis or middle layer. This is usually caused by the skin's rapid expansion or contraction. The connective fibres in the dermis gradually stretch to support sluggish development as the body expands. Rapid growth, on the other hand, results in unexpected stretching. The dermis tears, as a result, allow the underlying layers of skin to show through. This contributes to the appearance of stretch marks by causing them to form. Stretch marks fade to a silvery, white, or glossy appearance over time, as the pale fat beneath the skin replaces the typical blood vessels.
When there are high levels of circulating cortisone or cortisone is applied to the skin, they are more prone to develop and grow more severe. Cortisone is made from cortisol, a stress hormone generated by the adrenal glands. Elastic fibres in the skin are weakened as a result of this.

Risk Factors of Stretch Marks

There have been a number of risk factors linked to the formation of stretch marks, but the data is mixed. Stretch Mark causes must be confirmed by more research.

The following things may increase your chances of getting stretch marks:

history of the family
long-term illnesses
BMI (body mass index) prior to pregnancy in mothers who are pregnant, the child's birth weight

These findings can be explained by the fact that obese mothers with larger kids stretch their skin more, as well as age-related changes in skin collagen and connective tissue, which impact the likelihood of ripping.

Diagnosis

A skin inspection and a study of a person's medical history are all it takes to identify stretch marks. Typically, the doctor will ask questions based on signs and symptoms, as well as any current drugs or medical conditions.

Stretch marks aren't dangerous and don't cause any health issues. They may, in rare situations, suggest an underlying medical problem that necessitates treatment or monitoring.

Treatment

Stretch mark treatment can be pricey, and it isn't always effective. It's doubtful that your insurer will cover treatment unless there's an underlying issue. Stretch marks are regarded as an aesthetic issue.

Creams, gels, lotions, and cosmetic surgery have all been recommended as stretch mark remedies, despite the fact that there is little medical evidence to back up their usefulness.

Treatment options are extremely restricted right now. They are a Reliable Source because of their capacity to provide long-term results for all skin types.

Stretch marks disappear and become undetectable over time. Stretch marks that occur during pregnancy normally fade away approximately 6 to 12 months following delivery for women.

Stretch marks on more exposed places of the body can be concealed using makeup while they are more visible.

Take Away

Stretch marks are unsightly, but they are a common and usually transient issue. They pose no long-term health hazards, and therapy is usually aimed at helping individuals with stretch marks feel better about themselves.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do stretch marks go away naturally?

Like any other scar, these stretch marks are permanent in nature, but going through any available treatment may make them less visible. Treatment can also help you in alleviating skin itchiness. Do check with the doctor before taking any treatment for these stretch marks.

2. Can coconut oil heal stretch marks?

Stretch marks usually can not be removed properly by using coconut oil or any other essential oil. But the fact is that coconut oil may help you in improving the overall appearance of your skin, which helps to reduce the look of these stretch marks to some extent as it heals the scarring.

3. What oils are good for stretch marks?

If you wish to speed up the process of healing the stretch marks, there are available highly effective essential oils for fading away these stretch marks like tea tree oil, Lavender essential oil, Bitter Orange essential oil, Bitter Almond essential oil, or even Neroli essential oil and coconut oil, etc.

References

Efficacy of a Needling Device for the Treatment of Acne Scars