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How to Get Rid of Stretch Marks

June 23rd, 2006 by admin
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1. What are Stretch Marks?

Stretch marksStrech marks are scars left behind when skin is overstretched, and fibers in the middle layer (dermis) have broken. They most often occur during pregnancy, bodybuilding, extreme weight gain, occasionally puberty and are usually found on the abdomen, breasts, buttocks, legs, and upper arms. Fresh stretch marks appear initially as red lines and then slowly fade to a pale white color over the course of several months. While it is possible to reduce and even eliminate the appearance of stretch marks, it is much easier to prevent them.

2. How to Prevent Stretch Marks

Since stretch marks occur when skin is stretched to the limit of its elasticity – it follows that the best prevention is either to reduce the cause of stretching or to increase elasticity (or both).

Increase your Skin's Elasticity

    Lotion
  • Skin Creams and Lotions – Lotions containing cocoa butter are rumored to not only help reduce stretch marks, but to help prevent them entirely. Any cream or oil that is made specifically for the prevention or treatment of stretch marks will help keep your skin healthy and elastic. If you are pregnant or breast feeding consult your doctor first as lotions can contain ingredients that may be passed to your unborn baby or into breast milk.
  • Vitamin A, E & C – Supplementing these vitamins may help increase the strength and elasticity of the collagen within your skin and reducing your chance of forming stretch marks.
  • Stay hydrated. Ever try to squeeze a dry sponge?

3. Stretch Mark Removal

If you’re more concerned with getting rid of stretch marks than preventing them, read on. There are many methods to choose from, ranging from home remedies for stretch marks, to medical and cosmetic procedures. You will notice that every single one of these remedies also helps promote the overall health of your skin – the healthier your skin is, the better it can heal itself. Always consult your doctor before undergoing any treatment, especially if you are pregnant or nursing.

Home Remedies to Remove Stretch Marks

  • Time – Stretch marks, like all types of scarring fade over time.
  • Retin-A (Tretinoin) – 0.1% Tretinoin creams have been shown to significantly reduce the appearance of stretch marks in a study published in the May 1996 Archives of Dermatology. See your doctor for a prescription. These creams work best when used on fresh stretch marks. WARNING: Do not use tretinoin treatments if you are pregnant of breast feeding as the active ingredient may be passed to the unborn child or the breast milk.
    • Vick's Vapor Rub
  • Exfoliate daily – use a loofah or scrunchy to remove daily.
  • Vic’s Vapor Rub – Many people have reported success using Vic’s Vapor rub by applying it to a washcloth or paper towel and rubbing it forcefully into the scarred skin on a nightly basis for a few weeks.
  • Increase Circulation – by taking hot baths and massaging the areas regularly.
  • Tanning – Go sunbathing! Tanning can diminish and even eliminate minor stretch marks. Be sure to use sun screen. (For information on Tanning, learn the guide to Tanning)
    • Vitamin E Gel
  • Vitamin E Gel – Break open vitamin E capsules and rub the oil into the skin over the stretch marks daily for 2 weeks.
  • Unstretch the skin – After the skin returns to its normal, unstretched size, stretch marks often become nearly invisible.
  • Stretch Mark Creams and Lotions – Using stretch mark creams and stretch mark lotions that heal and beautify your skin can reduce the appearance of stretch marks. The following ingredients are widely accepted as beneficial for this purpose:
  • Know of any more? Please use the form at the bottom of the page to share them with other visitors here.

Medical Procedures for Stretch Marks

    Surgery
  • Microdermabrasion – Microdermabrasion is a cosmetic procedure popular in spas and salons where the top-most layer of skin is removed by chemical or mechanical means.
  • Endermologie – Endermologie machines massage and work the skin in order to increase circulation and expel toxins.
  • Laser Therapy – There are several different types of stretch mark laser treatments available that can help reduce the appearance of stretch marks and heal you skin. See your dermatologist for the latest information on these methods.
  • Cosmetic Surgery – Strech marks typically appear below the belly button and the only way to remove abdominal stretch marks is with a tummy tuck. During a tummy tuck some of the skin below the belly button is removed. For stretch marks that appear on other areas of the body cosmetic plastic surgery can help depending on the areas affected.
    • * If you like reading this article you'll surely read how to get rid of butt stretch marks, how to get rid of stomach stretch marks and how to get rid of stretch marks from pregnancy.
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  1. eddie Says:
    June 30th, 2009 at 6:38 pm

    there is a product available in the uk called bio oil and it is very good at both reducing and preventing stretchmarks it is around 10pounds per bottle and has to be applied twice daily!! this is probably the best oil on the market for stretchmarks!!

  2. mat Says:
    June 29th, 2009 at 11:55 pm

    hey im 14 and i have stretch marks on my inner thigh and on my butt. i dont know what to do. i not exactly that skinny and im not exactly overweight. im more in the middle. my boyfriend doesnt mind that i have stretch marks, he says im still beautiful to him, but i want to get rid of them quick because it really hurts my self-esteem! i dont know what to do. im going to the pool alot and i dont want everyone to see them!! does the vapor rub thing really work???

    please someone help!!!

  3. Sambhav Says:
    June 29th, 2009 at 9:41 pm

    I am 22,weigh 68 kg,5′4 i have deep stretch marks over my sholders and arms,i have never worn sleevelesss because of them i want to get rid off them without spending much and using of some home remedies,pls reply back with tips that would work effectively to fade these marks off my skin.

  4. True Says:
    June 27th, 2009 at 5:33 pm

    Hi, im a 19 yrs old female n I had stretch from I was about 13 or 14. As the yrs passed they’ve gotten worse. I have them on my shoulders, arms, thighs, and behind my legs. I hate my body bc of them. I’m a pretty good looking person, but these stretch marks make my body look horrible…can anyone please help.

  5. lacie Says:
    June 26th, 2009 at 3:53 pm

    i am 14 and have terrible stretch marks on my thighs and stomach and i can wear shorts any help

  6. natasha Says:
    June 23rd, 2009 at 10:50 am

    hey im a 2 year old girl and i have strech marks i have had them since i was 1 and the keep apering there not going any where /im not over weight i am avrege for my age .i have them on my legs bum.and my back and behing my knees.i carnt wear a skit coz i am scared all the girls will laugh at me as they are all realy skinny and small i am very tal for my age i am 5.6 and i dont know what to do so if u have any advise just tell me and i will be very grate ful ,thabks natasha xox

  7. Anom Says:
    June 23rd, 2009 at 10:03 am

    hi everyone, im 13 and i have stretch marks on my lower back, and i dont know why they just came! im not overweight, im 5′8ft and 9.7 stone. so thats not over weight, right? but im going away in 4 weeks and i desperatley NEED to get rid of them they are totally killing my confidence! i would like to kno a quick and easy way to get rid of them, not by going to a clinic (im too concious)and i dont want to pay too much (i would say my limit is about £30) and i need something that is available in ENGLAND please! thankyou xx

  8. wieda Says:
    June 23rd, 2009 at 5:50 am

    hye..i’m 20..i used to have stretch marks on my tights..but i exfoliate with lemon and put some virgin olive oil on itand found out that the stretch marks dissapear..it must be because the lemon have bleaching properties that bleaches off the strech marks and the olive oil smoothes the skin..try it,might work for u too..

  9. Alli Says:
    June 22nd, 2009 at 10:13 pm

    I’m almost 16 years old, and I’m a girl. I’m 5′9″ and weigh about 135. Within the past 6 months, I have gotten a small patch of stretch marks my upper-inner-left thigh. :( They’re pissing me off! Some lines are red, some are lighter than my skin. Super ugly, yeah? I don’t like wearing short shorts.. How do i hideeee? D:

  10. Girl from the North Says:
    June 21st, 2009 at 9:48 pm

    Hi, I am a 15 year old female. I weigh around 116 pounds and I am 5′ 4″. My doctor told me that I am underweight, and for my height I should weigh around 133. Which I dont want too. In the midst of a couple weeks, I developed huge, red stretch marks on my inner thighs, reaching down to my knees. Red stretch marks on my hip bones, and bum. I had non for my 15th birthday, but in just a couple of weeks, BAMM, there they were. I feel perfectly fine in my body, except for the stretch marks. I can not wear shorts, or swim suits, unless I load my legs, and rear with tons of makeup (preferably water proof). If anyone has any tips at all, I would appreciate it if you would share them. I have also tried many products. Cocoa butter, Vitamin E, and Bronzing. Nothing works. Just intensifies the marks. I saw on another sight that Emu Oil, and Shea Butter really work. Does anyone know? Thanks again, anyone who can help. I do appreciate it.

    –Girl from the North(:

  11. me Says:
    June 21st, 2009 at 9:53 am

    im 14 and not over weight, but when i hit puberty i noticed the dreaded stretch marks on my hips, and later on my butt. i have heard that creams do not work and the only way to get rid of them is surgery, is this true?

  12. Sean Says:
    June 20th, 2009 at 10:42 pm

    I am 19, a male, and when i was younger i had stretch marks below belly button in the crotch area, i was fat at that age, and they went away when i lost weight. i have unfortunately put on more weight and now i have stretch marks around my stomach, biceps, and love handle area. hopefully by losing weight again i will lose the stretch marks. i know how bad the teasing can be for you when you are a teenager. best thing to do is lose weight, if you are overweight. but as for the girls, i would suggest using the cocoa butter, and allow it time to work. stretch marks wont go away over night.

  13. mags Says:
    June 20th, 2009 at 12:17 am

    I have stretch marks on my upper-outer thighs that are not easily covered up with wearing a bathing suit..
    i don’t think i’m overweight, i mean i’m about 5′ 2” and weigh about 108.. okay, okay, i might weigh more than “the average”.. blah blah blah. i hate how people care so much about their weights, it pisses me off sometimes. why can’t everyone just be accepted how they are? we all can’t be ‘naturally skinny’!!

    anyways, the stretch marks on my thighs are most likely from puberty, since i just went through it (i’m 13). i’m just really hoping they aren’t from being overweight (still not sure if that’s accurate for me..) i’ll try the vicks vapor rub, since i have some handy.
    ughhh! they are so hard to cover up!! i know you guys feel my pain, haha, it’s nice to read some others are going through the same thing :).

  14. Ugh! Says:
    June 19th, 2009 at 10:27 am

    I’m uhm.. 14 years old and I have somewhat noticeable stretch marks on my breasts. No one I know has them, and it’s really embarrassing. My friends go through phases where they make fun of anyone or anything they see about them, and it’s really tough? i don’t know, i don’t want to be a victim of that. I’ve tried cocoa butter and stuff of that sort, but I just want the most effective, and quick thing to use. Summer is coming fast.. I don’t want to wear a bikini with stretch marks on me…

  15. kenzie Says:
    June 18th, 2009 at 10:03 pm

    i’m fourteen and i know i shouldn’t be worried about them, but i am. all my friends are sticks, and i have a little tiny pouch on my tummy, but it barely shows. BUT, i have a butt that would probably take up 2 seats on a subway (if i were to have ever ridden one. :p ) and quite large thighs, that are very muscular from sports, but on top of the muscle is fat, which makes it look like my legs are just completely flabby. :x and i just noticed TODAY that i have bluey purple stretch marks right below my butt on my upper thigh, and i have this camp in three days where we’re in a swimsuit the whole time. yayy me. i know they won’t be gone by then, but i’m gonna hit all the treatments that are listed prettty hard for the next few days and hope it helps a little. but is there a chance that i could make them worse by doing the treatments too much? because i would hate that. please answer soon! :D thanks.

  16. amy Says:
    June 17th, 2009 at 2:20 pm

    I have really noticable stretchmarks on my bum, im only 16 but but i use alo vera lotion and it seems to be working, i got it from holland and barratts :D p.s i hate being a woman lol

  17. Brianna Says:
    June 16th, 2009 at 7:20 pm

    I’m 15, almost 16, and I have stretch marks on my inner thighs, outter thighs, and behind my knees. I’ve tried a lot of the products that have been suggested but I would like to know what REALLY works.
    I am willing to try vics vapor rub if people give me positive feed back.
    please help me!
    its sooo embarrasing.
    write back with suggestions on how to get rid of my stretch marks!

  18. Jamal Says:
    June 16th, 2009 at 7:48 am

    Does vics vapour rub actually work whre can i purchase it from it looks like a cough medicine

  19. Rebecca Says:
    June 16th, 2009 at 5:45 am

    im 13 and i have these REALLY noticeable stretch marks on my inner thighs, and im starting to get ones on my but! the really annoying thing is that i have this allergy that means i cant eat certain foods and i cant use any skin care products with pafum (fragrance) in it. and im guessing that all of these products that have been recommended has that in it! anyone know what i can do?
    thanks :)

  20. Kat Says:
    June 13th, 2009 at 5:25 pm

    Look, I agree with Glenn. If you are under 18 dont worry about them. You are going to get stretch marks whoever you are. EVERYONE gets them. Its not just going to be you.
    I have stretch marks on my thighs, the back of my knees, my hips and my breasts. Even though *on my skin* They are purple and dark red…I dont worry about them. Most of the ones on my thighs have gone a lighter color but they are still visible.
    I am in theatre and im a dancer, I get stretch marks because my skin goes through constant turmoil every year.
    Im now a senior in high school, and not ONCE have I ever been teased about my stretch marks. And I live in one of the toughest places ever for a girl. I found that tanning over them makes them SEEM faded, but sometimes when your tan fades, they are there waiting. But using cocoa butter helps on arms and legs…other than that Im not sure. But im going to try the Vapo rub. X3
    Again, if you are young…dont worry about it. Just live your life and have FUN!!

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