Stretch marks are unsightly scarring of the lower layers of the skin, which often appear in times of rapid or radical weight loss or gain. One perfect example is during pregnancy; statistics tell us that up to 90% of women will sustain stretch marks during pregnancy, with the vast majority appearing during the last trimester. Getting rid of stretch marks is not easy, but if you take a sensible full body approach and accept that going to take time and you would chance of being able to vastly reduce the visual impact of your stretch marks.
There are many topical stretch mark creams and lotions available without prescription, and some of the most popular contain ingredients such as Revitol, (which is a derivative of vitamin A), along with vitamins D and E. Vitamin A is extremely important in maintaining healthy hair, skin and eye function; in a decent balanced diet you will get enough vitamin A, although if you are vegetarian you need to carefully seek out your sources, as most vitamin A is found in meats such as liver. For vitamin D, dairy products are an excellent source, along with sunshine – try to get out into the sun for a walk for a few minutes every day. This may not be easy in the UK, where the sun rarely seems to shine, but the good news is that you can still get your fix of vitamin D when it’s cloudy.
Oily fish and shellfish are also extremely good for the skin as they contain omega-3 oils and zinc. Even if you already have stretch marks, eating a healthy diet will speed up the skin repair and also the skin’s appearance. Body brushing and regular exfoliating stimulate the skin to produce healthy new cells, and moisturising regularly is an absolute must, with lotions containing cocoa butter proving to be helpful and leaving the skin feeling smooth and sleek. Cocoa butter also smells wonderful!
The most radical option for stretch mark removal is surgery, with procedures such as tummy tucks being popular among those lucky enough to be able to afford them. It may take several weeks after surgery for any improvement to be visible, until postoperative swelling and bruising disappears, and even then there are no firm guarantees of success. Laser surgery is also popular, is less invasive and shows results quicker.
In my opinion, the best way to deal with removing stretch marks is the holistic approach; eat healthily, sleep well, minimise stress, avoid alcohol and do regular exercise, including Pilates. Combine that with a structured body care routine and regular application of one of the topical remedies, and in time the stretch marks should fade away and your whole body will be toned, tightened and a pleasure to look at.
