Stretch marks are a form of scarring that appear after the skin stretches or shrinks quickly. While there are many products and natural ingredients that claim to get rid of stretch marks, it is difficult to completely remove them. However, some treatments and home remedies can fade or hide stretch marks, and addressing them when they first appear yields the best results. Here are some of the most common treatments and remedies:
Treatments:
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Laser therapy: A skin doctor or plastic surgeon can use lasers or other treatments to help fade the marks. Pulsed dye laser therapy is a painless blast of light used on new, red stretch marks. The light’s energy calms blood vessels under your skin that could cause the marks. Microdermabrasion uses tiny crystals to rub off the top layer of your skin. One new study showed that this treatment helped fade new, reddish stretch marks when combined with skin peels. Cosmetic surgery, like a tummy tuck, may remove skin with stretch marks. But these operations could leave scars. Plus they’re often painful and costly. Chemical peel is an acidic solution that burns off the top layers of your skin to remove dead and damaged cells and boost new skin growth. This treatment may improve your stretch marks a little, but won’t completely get rid of them. Radiofrequency uses radio wave energy to create heat and trigger your body to make collagen. One small study found this treatment is safe and can improve stretch marks, but scientists need to do more research.
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Topical creams: Creams with tretinoin (Retin-A) contain retinoid, a compound related to Vitamin A. Retinoids increase collagen production. They’re often used to treat wrinkles. They may help fade newer stretch marks, but they can also make your skin dry, irritated, and sensitive to light. Other topical creams may contain active ingredients like glycolic acid, which can help stimulate collagen production and improve the texture of the skin.
Home remedies:
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Sugar scrub: Sugar is an excellent ingredient for homoeopathic microdermabrasion. Microdermabrasion is one of the most effective and dermatologist-approved methods to lighten stretch marks. Mix sugar with a carrier oil like olive oil or coconut oil to make a homemade sugar scrub and gently massage it into the skin.
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Aloe vera: Aloe vera has anti-inflammatory properties and can help soothe the skin. Apply aloe vera gel directly to the stretch marks and leave it on for 20-30 minutes before rinsing it off.
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Tea tree oil: Mix a few drops of tea tree oil with a carrier oil like olive oil or coconut oil and massage the oil gently all over the stretch marks. Leave it on all night and wash it off the next day.
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Vitamin A: Retinoids have been known to remove stretch marks ...
