Stretch marks are those redish-purple markings all over various parts of our bodies that cause us to be self concious. Getting rid of them is a hard task, but understanding them will help to wipe them away. It does take time and patience and based on our experience, there is no fast miracle product or technique to getting rid of them. Even lasers can be time consuming and costly.
Understanding Stretch Marks
To understand stretch marks, we need to explain what skin is made of and how it works. Normal skin is 80% collagen and 4% elastin fiber mesh network (dry weight). Elastin is the protein in the skin which gives it its flexibility and allows it to stretch. The elastin form a fishnet-like network in the skin which allows our skin to stretch and recoil back to its original position. These elastin fibers are damaged in stretch marks, causing the 'scar' of a stretch mark. What's so remarkable about stretch marks is how prominent they look, but under a microscope you see almost no difference from normal, healthy skin. If you touch a stretch mark, it feels empty, almost like there is no skin there. Visually and textually the skin is so very different, yet so little has actually changed in the skin.
Why Won't They Fade with Time?
Stretch marks are a huge problem. The problem with stretch marks is the elastic fibers in skin with stretch marks are damaged, and elastic fibers are the single hardest thing to repair in skin since collagen stops being produced in female bodies around the age of 13 years old. When you have a wound that's healing, our body replaces the collagen proteins and all the skin structures that are injured, but the elastic fiber is very difficult to repair. The trouble with stretch marks is that there's this defect in those fibers. So since our body cannot effectively repair those fibers, the stretch marks do not heal.
The Truth About Stretch Marks
There are treatments available, particularly with lasers, which can help improve stretch marks, however, it can be very costly and no treatment can yet make a stretch mark go all the way back to looking like totally normal skin. We can reduce red stretch marks, diminish white marks, improve the texture and make them look better, even in some cases so that you can't see them very easily, but stretch marks are still an area where we improve the problem but takes time to remove it. There are no 'perfect' treatments for stretch marks. A series of treatment sessions are usually needed to obtain the best results and removal.
So What's The Best Way For Removal?
For most, laser treatment is not an option since it's so expensive. However, there are alternatives to getting rid of over 95% of stretch marks. Microdermabrasion, chemical peels, topical solutions and creams as well as diet are a few ways to regain new skin, collagen and elastin. Stretch mark removal is always a hot topic. Many of our clients tell us they are using products containing cocoa butter, aloe vera, Vitamin E or "bio" oil. While these products do contain moisturizing properties, they do not help underneath the surface to produce collagen. Getting a "kickstart" in collagen reproduction can take some time, but it is achieveable. For topical solutions, use a product containing alpha-hydroxy acid or Retin-A. These products combined with topical steroid creams seem to be able to reduce inflammation in the skin and stave off the negative effects of the hormones in the skin causing the stretch marks. If you are looking to go natural, since steriod creams can come with some side effects, In our "Tighter and Whiter" section of divabuy.com, we carry a product called Lajiao Hot Stretch Mark/Cellulite Cream. The combination of sea algae and hot chili oil has been proven successful among many of our clients. Many notice a substancial different in the tone of stretch marks just after three days. Its formula is pulled deep into the skin and helps circulate the blood flow and allowing the chili oil and sea algae to aid in new elastin (elastic fibers) and collagen underneath the skin's surface. The derma roller (coming soon to divabuy.com) is a great device to help establish clearer skin all over the body. It has hundreds of micro needles that are usually painless and encourage collagen production every 40 days by vamping up "activators" of regeneration.
Diet doesn't necessarily have a lot to do with the removal of stretch marks, but it certainly can aid in the appearance of them. By eating a healthy, low-fat diet, your stretch marks will appear to look "healthier." Stock up on veggies and fruits and eat whole grain foods instead of multi-grain. Eating less meat or goin veg will also prove a healthier lifestyle since protein can be found in beans, tofu and meat alternatives. When your body is clean and healthy inside, it will appear to be on the outside as well.
If you have any questions about getting rid of stretch marks, please send us an email to: info@divabuy.com. We will give you our expert advise and help you look and feel the best. Remember, our bodies are our temple and taking care of it is our job for a long and happy life.
