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Stretch marks are a skin problem characterized by a tearing of the middle layer of the skin, after which characteristic marks with a pale or sometimes dark reddish coloration form on the skin’s surface.
Most often this problem affects pregnant women
However, pregnancy does not have to be their only cause and they can sometimes even affect men.
Rapid weight gain
Rapid weight gain also means the skin expands quickly, which can cause it to tear. When losing weight again, stretch marks may or may not disappear.
Puberty
During puberty the body grows quickly and the skin sometimes cannot keep up with this growth. The result is again unsightly marks on the skin.
Inappropriate use of corticosteroids
Collagen protein is responsible for elastic and firm skin. A side effect of corticosteroids is lowering collagen levels in the body, which can cause increased formation of stretch marks.
Genetics
If you have someone in your family with this health problem, there is a high chance it will affect you over time. Stretch marks are often very stubborn and getting rid of them is not easy at all. In isolated cases they disappear on their own, but this does not happen very often. Therefore, if you want to restore the original appearance of your skin, you will need to give it a little help.
1/ Maintain your fluid intake (hydrate the skin from the inside)
Our skin is made up of 64% water. This means you should regularly maintain your fluid intake so that your body and skin are constantly sufficiently hydrated. Avoid sugary drinks and, if possible, also limit coffee consumption.
2/ Exercise regularly
Exercise is one of the best ways to reduce the occurrence of stretch marks. Exercise shapes your body and at the same time increases the skin’s flexibility.
3/ Give the affected area an oil massage (hydrate the skin from the outside)
While proper fluid intake ensures well-hydrated skin from the inside, applying natural oils will keep it supple from the outside. The best oils for this purpose are the following, which contain large amounts of vitamins and other substances essential for the skin:
- Cod liver oil
- Flaxseed oil
- Coconut oil
Using these oils, massage the affected area for a few minutes every day.
4/ Apply aloe vera gel
Aloe vera is a plant that in recent years has surprised many with its healing effects. It contains vital substances that are useful in treating several skin problems such as burns (from the sun and from fire), acne, wrinkles, and eczema. And besides these issues, aloe vera is also very effective on stretch marks.
Its application is very simple – tear off one fresh leaf from the living plant and rub the gel from it onto the affected areas of the skin.
5/ Remove old layers of skin
Removing old dead layers of skin provides space for the growth of new, healthy cells. There are several ways to do this. One of them is, for example, mixing 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar with a little water in a bowl to form a paste. Then apply it to the affected skin, gently massage for a while, and when finished rinse the skin with clean water.
There is no single miracle cure for stretch marks that will deal with them on its own. To remove them it will be necessary to combine several things. So forget about various expensive creams and cosmetic products that promise a lot but deliver little. Instead, try the natural methods listed in this article.
And in 6 weeks you will most likely be rid of the problem.
