Almost every woman has wished for a magic wand that can make stretch marks go away in a night? But only if it is possible to get rid of those parallel lines that make you doubt yourself. Let us tell you, having stretch marks is not something to be ashamed of, it is a part that we are growing.
Not to forget Kendrick Lamar’s Humble is all about embracing your skin. Again, this question pops into our head: why do I have stretch marks even though I am skinny? So, to clear all the about the same we are going to cast light on some prevalent questions related to stretch marks.
What are Stretch Marks?
Basically, they are permanent patterns that appear on the stomach, breasts, thighs, buttocks, and legs. Stria is another name for these long, thin, rippled marks.
These lines vary in colour and shape from natural skin, ranging from purple to light pink to medium grey. When you press your fingertips into stretch marks, you can notice a faint groove or line spacing on your skin. Stretch marks can be itchy or painful at times.
Why Do People Get Stretch Marks?
Stretch marks appear as the body expands rapidly for some cause. Your skin just cannot move fast enough to keep up. Collagen is a protein that increases the elasticity of your skin. If your skin lacks sufficient moisture, the marks can appear as it spreads. Some popular reasons are:
- Puberty-related growth spurts in childhood.
- An increase in hormones diminishes skin fibres.
- Due to breast implant operation or surgery.
- Bodybuilding can be a reason. Even for those with little weight, will bring them to the point that their muscles protrude.
- High levels of steroids, from either steroid drugs or from diseases such as Cushing’s syndrome.
- Marfan syndrome is a hereditary disorder that induces irregular shapes and the weakening of skin fibres.
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) is a category of disorders caused by genetic variations in collagen, a protein found in the body.
Is Getting Rid of Stretch Marks Possible?
It is unlikely that stretch marks will be removed entirely naturally. They are a form of scarring that seldom fades to the point of becoming invisible. If the strips do not disappear with time, there isn’t anything you can do to get rid of them on your own. Although there are several drugs on the market that promise to erase or heal stretch marks, there is no “cure” for them. There are treatments available that can remove stretch marks to some extent which we will discuss later in this blog. However, you can take precautions to prevent them.
Top Tips
1. Add vitamin C to your diet
Adding vitamin C to your diet helps to enhance the increase of collagen in your body which actually helps to keep your body elastic and strong. Not just this, it also helps to remove wrinkles appearing on our bodies. Vitamin C can be found in many fruits and vegetables.
2. Stay hydrated
Drinking plenty of water can aid in keeping your skin hydrated and soft. Stretch marks do not appear as much on soft skin as they do on dry skin. Caffeinated drinks, such as coffee, can potentially improve the chances of obtaining them. If you drink coffee, make sure to drink lots of water, orange juice, and other caffeine-free drinks to round out your fluid consumption.
3. Add foods in your diet with zinc
Zinc is an essential nutrient for good skin health. It helps to relieve swelling and aids in the healing of wounds.
4. Include vitamin D in your diet
Maintaining adequate vitamin D levels can lower your risk of saggy skin. The most convenient way to obtain vitamin D is by sun exposure.
Treatment for Stretch Marks
Stretch marks may be impossible to avoid, but there are many therapies that may help to reduce their visibility.
1. Glycolic Acid
Stretch mark therapies include glycolic acid creams and skin treatments. They tend to reduce the presence of existing strips, but they do not prevent new ones from emerging.
2. Laser therapy
Another option you can try is laser therapy. The therapy can help develop collagen levels in our bodies. But before jumping on any treatment, consult with your doctor.
3. Retinoid cream
Retinoid cream is a vitamin A-derived topical drug. Your skin’s image can improve after using retinoids, particularly if your stretch marks are relatively new. The cream helps to restore collagen in your skin, making the stains blend in with the majority of your skin.
Home remedies
Further, if you don’t have a budget for taking treatment then you can surely try home remedies to cure it. However, such remedies can help if stretch marks are very “recent”.
1. Aloe Vera
Pure aloe vera is a natural curing agent as well as a skin softener. This makes it an excellent home potential treatment. After showering, apply pure aloe vera from a plant to the skin.
2. Coconut oil
Because strips are scars caused by skin damage, coconut oil can aid in the healing process. Coconut oil has been tested for its soothing properties and has been shown in trials to shorten the time it takes for skin wounds to heal. Applying coconut oil may help reduce them.
3. Sugar
Some people state that sugar is a homeopathic microdermabrasion process. A dermatologist’s microdermabrasion is one of the few scientifically validated methods for fading stretch marks. So this home cure seems to be worth a shot. Exfoliate the skin by rubbing it with a sugar scrub.
Final thought
That’s all! Here we have covered all the reasons for “Why do I have Stretch marks if I am skinny”.
Know that stretch marks can happen anytime and it is natural, so don’t be ashamed of it. You can simply avoid it by taking the necessary steps mentioned in the blog.
Photo by Sora Shimazaki