Everyone wants that perfect flawless skin. Scars and stretch marks are something we do not want, but we cannot get away from. It is a part of growing up; as kids we play and get wounded. As an adult; a mark of motherhood and losing weight.
Stretch marks, or striae, are indented streaks that appear on the abdomen, breasts, hips, buttocks, or other places on the body. They are very common in pregnant women, mostly during the last trimester. Though they do not cause pain, they can bring shame or embarrassment.
Stretch marks may appear as bands of parallel lines on your skin. These lines will differ in color and texture from your normal skin. They range from purple to bright pink to light gray. If you touch these marks with your fingers, you will feel a slight ridge or indentation on your skin. Sometimes, stretch marks feel itchy or sore.
A stretch mark develops when our skin stretches or shrinks quickly. The abrupt change causes the collagen and elastin to rupture. As the skin heals, narrow bands or stretch marks may appear. These happen during growth spurts at puberty, the last trimester of pregnancy, rapid weight loss or gain, and weight training causing rapid muscle growth.
Common medical treatments for stretch marks
Stretch marks often fade with time. If you do not want to wait, here are some treatments that can improve their appearance. Keep in mind, treatment is not instant and takes time.
- Pulsed dye laser therapy
This encourages the growth of collagen and elastin. Best to use this method on new stretch marks. If used on dark colored skin, it may cause discoloration.
- Fractional photothermolysis
It is similar to the pulsed dye laser therapy. However, it is for small areas of your skin, causing less skin damage.
- Microdermabrasion
The skin is polished with tiny crystals to reveal new skin that is under the stretch mark. Microdermabrasion can be used to improve the appearance of older stretch marks.
Hiding stretch marks
It is costly to undergo the procedures above. So, if you can’t afford to treat ‘em, hide ‘em. Moisturizing your skin may help to relieve the itchiness of stretch marks. You can use self-tanning lotions to your stretch marks so that it would blend into your skin.
Preventing stretch marks
Besides a healthy diet, there are creams that are used to prevent or improve the appearance of the stretch mark. A very effective product is Thermalabs’ Pomegranate Shea Butter.
Pomegranate is a fruit that was used for thousands of years for skin treatment and regeneration. In short, it is like the fountain of youth fruit. It has been used for improving scars and stretch marks. For stretch mark removal, it is a hefty process on the fruit.
Thermalabs’ Pomegranate Shea Butter is best applied during pregnancy or losing weight. It is made from natural ingredients, so you can be sure it is safe on your skin. Other creams have a pungent odor. This cream has the sweet smell of almond and avocado. Click here and grab yours now.
