Stretch marks appear on almost every person’s body in one form or another. However, they tend to appear when you have either lost or gained a lot of weight. They are irregular markings on your skin that look like bands, stripes, or lines. Unfortunately, most people are not fond of their stretch marks. Here’s what to do about it.
Stretch Marks Appear For A Reason
In most cases, women in particular – stretch marks – tend to be a relatively major concern. Personally, I think that they are natural and there’s nothing wrong with them. However, their appearance can make some people feel self-conscious and embarrassed about their bodies, especially if you want to wear a swimming costume, shorts, or a dress.
These Are The Main Causes
Most often, stretch marks start to show after losing or gaining large amounts of weight or regaining or losing weight. Pregnancy is also a common cause of the development of these markings because your skin stretches to accommodate a growing belly. However, stretch marks often appear if you lose or gain weight too quickly. That’s why people who experienced sudden growth spurts during puberty usually have stretch marks.
In addition, health experts say that there are certain medical conditions that can trigger the development of stretch marks. These are conditions that require the long-term use of cortisone compounds like diabetes, obesity, and ehlers-danlos syndrome.
Can You Get Rid Of Stretch Marks?
Reaching your goal weight has its pros and cons. Many people find themselves feeling happy about losing or gaining the necessary weight, but feel unhappy with the markings that are left behind. Finding marks that never used to be on your thighs and stomachs can be quite troublesome for your egos
Luckily, most stretch marks start to fade over time and become less noticeable. They may not vanish entirely, but you will hardly notice them after a few months. Many people have said that natural oils like Arnica and Bio-Oil are fantastic for reducing the appearance of stretch marks.
There Is A Treatment
In certain cases, the stretch marks do not fade. This is quite a frustrating realization. However, despite available products on the market, there isn’t really a set ‘cure’ to repair stretch marks. The best way forward is prevention.
If anything, to prevent these markings from occurring you must try your best to avoid rapid weight gain. This is because if you lose that weight your skin will battle to reset to its original state.
However, if weight gain is not your issue, and you still struggle with stretch marks then there are certain therapies you can try. We would recommend seeing a dermatologist or plastic surgeon who will be able to provide the best options for you to consider. Microdermabrasion, chemical peels, and laser surgery might all help reduce the appearance of stretch marks.
The problem here is that the results vary from person to person. Moreover, it all depends on your age and skin tone, so you are still not guaranteed a stretch mark-free body. These treatments also have their own potential risks. Since these are cosmetic procedures, they are not generally covered by insurance.
Know The Facts
Let’s not even mention the cost. If you are considering one of these treatments then it would be best to ensure you fully understand the costs involved, the required procedures, the number of treatments, and the risks.
All in all, stretch marks can be described as the downside to losing or gaining weight suddenly. But, you need to remember that these marks are natural and everybody can get them. There isn’t really anything wrong with them, and they do not cause you any medical harm.
Besides, if you are overweight and need to lose weight then those health benefits outweigh the markings on your body by far! However, if they are a concern of yours then chat to your doctor first about the benefits of slow and steady weight loss.
This way you can establish safe ways to treat and manage your stretch marks as you lose weight.
