If your skin is stretched farther than it's used to in a short period of time -- during pregnancy or a childhood growth spurt, for example -- the elastic fibers in your skin can tear. Those damaged areas make long, thin scars called stretch marks. They can show up as pink, red, or purple streaks.
Stretch marks usually fade over time but may not disappear completely. Many creams and lotions claim to prevent, reduce or remove stretch marks. But there's very little evidence these work. There are some treatments that may help make stretch marks look better, but they will not get rid of them.
When stretch marks first appear, they tend to be red, purple, pink, reddish-brown, or dark brown, depending on your skin color. Early stretch marks may feel slightly raised and can be itchy. In time, the color fades and the narrow bands sink beneath your skin.
They can also occur in body builders, as a consequence of rapid weight gain, and in some medical conditions where the skin is exposed to excess amounts of a hormone called cortisol. Early stretch marks are usually red or purple. Over time, stretch marks lose their colour and become white or silvery in appearance.
Stretch marks can also range in color from silvery pale to angry reddish-purple. They're totally normal, but may not be part of the look you're going for. Here's your guide to preventing and reducing the appearance of stretch marks while losing weight.
In general, stretch marks take between six and 12 months to fade. With treatment, they often fade faster.
Will Bio-Oil help stretch marks? Bio-Oil helps to improve the appearance of existing stretch marks formed during pregnancy, teenage growth spurts or periods of rapid weight gain. Although it is more effective on newer stretch marks, older stretch marks will also show some improvement with regular use of Bio-Oil.
Derived from vitamin A, retinoids — such as tretinoin (Retin-A, Renova, Avita) — that you apply to your skin may improve the appearance of stretch marks less than a few months old. Tretinoin, when it works, helps to rebuild a protein in the skin called collagen, making the stretch marks look more like your normal skin.
Generally speaking, stretch marks first appear on skin in the form of raised lines with a red, pink, or purplish color. Stretch marks usually lose their color in six to twelve months, changing from red to white.
Weight gain is more likely to cause stretch marks, especially on your stomach. They do however usually become more visible when you shed the pounds again.
Stretch marks can become visible when you are losing weight and are quite common as the skin stretches due to weight gain or rapid growth. While they may look unattractive, fortunately, they do not indicate any serious medical problems.
Those reddish or white streaks appear when skin experiences rapid growth, due to puberty, pregnancy, or weight gain. Though stretch marks and their intensity are largely dependent on hormonal shifts, if you have stretch marks now, there is a chance you may continue to see more pop up.
Aside from the obvious causes like pregnancy and rapid weight change, a few other reasons why stretch marks might appear include: Genetics or a hereditary condition. Having overly dry skin. Having previous damage or injury to the skin.
Stretch marks are permanent in nature, and although Bio-Oil Skincare Oil is formulated to help improve their appearance, it can never remove them. Bio-Oil Skincare Oil should be massaged in a circular motion into the stretch marks, twice daily, for a minimum of 3 months.
Bio-Oil Skin Care Oil
Kim Kardashian and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (aka Duchess Kate) are both fans of Bio-Oil for keeping skin soft and stretch mark-free during pregnancy. According to the Bio-Oil website, this product has won 349 skincare awards and has become the No.
Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water, which may help keep your skin soft and less prone to stretch marks. Avoid caffeine during pregnancy, which can increase your risk of developing stretch marks. Maintain a healthy pregnancy diet with adequate nutrients.
Vaseline petroleum jelly can help reduce the appearance of stretch marks by keeping your skin hydrated and improving its elasticity. However, it will not eliminate them completely as they form deep within the dermis layer.
Red stretch marks are common and benign. They typically occur when the skin stretches due to the rapid increase in size of underlying structures. Red stretch marks are not harmful. However, some people may wish to treat them or reduce their appearance with topical creams and other therapies.
When to see a doctor. See your health care provider if you're concerned about the appearance of your skin or if the stretch marks cover large areas of your body.
In the beginning, stretch marks will appear on the skin as red or purple lesions. These are known as striae rubra. Over time, these red marks will typically fade to white or silver (striae alba). Eventually, some stretch marks may disappear completely.