Stretch marks are a form of scarring that appear after the skin quickly stretches or shrinks, often due to pregnancy, weight gain, weight loss, or bodybuilding. They are tiny tears in the skin that usually appear on the tummy, breasts, hips, and thighs. While stretch marks are likely to fade, they may never disappear altogether, and how long they stick around and how drastic they look will depend on a combination of factors.
There are several treatment options available for stretch marks, including laser skin resurfacing, dermabrasion, microneedling, and retinol creams. Some home remedies may also help treat or prevent stretch marks, including gently massaging the skin with a moisturizer that contains skin-strengthening ingredients like essential fatty acids. However, there is little proof that any of these products really work.
In terms of ingredients or materials, some products that may help prevent stretch marks include centella and hyaluronic acid. Other ingredients that are commonly used in stretch mark creams, lotions, and gels include olive oil, cocoa butter, glycolic acid, and aloe vera. However, researchers have found that many remedies said to prevent stretch marks don’t actually work, and in studies, neither almond oil, cocoa butter, olive oil, nor vitamin E prevented stretch marks.
