Stretch marks are completely normal. No matter if you are a male or female, we all get them and that is simply a natural part of growing into our body. Despite this, however, there are many who do not like them.
People would hide their stretch marks with clothes or edit them out in pictures, feeling as though these natural marks are something to be ashamed of. Many even turn to weight loss as a solution, but does this really work?
Why Do We Get Stretch Marks?
Stretch marks occur when the skin becomes stretched beyond its elasticity. This causes it to split and form lines on the surface of your skin. They can also appear on other parts of your body such as breasts, hips, buttocks, thighs, arms, legs, etc.
Stretch marks are caused by a number of factors including:
- Rapid weight gain during pregnancy
- Pregnancy after menopause
- Excessive exercise
- Extreme dieting
- Inflammation
- Hormonal changes
- Medications
- Aging
- Genetic predisposition
- Skin conditions
Do Stretch Marks Go Away When You Lose Weight?
The reason why people often try to lose weight is because they feel as though they look better without any stretch marks. However, this is not always true.
In fact, some women have actually found that they get more stretch marks while losing weight (this is very common). Ironically, your stretch marks are more likely to fade if you are to gain weight.
So, why is this? There are two reasons our stretch marks show more when we lose weight. The first reason is that the excess fat stored under the skin becomes more visible due to the decrease in overall body size. This makes the skin stretch and show the marks.
The second reason is that the skin itself stretches due to the loss of muscle mass. This causes the skin to pull away from the underlying layers of tissue, making the marks more obvious.
How To Prevent Stretch Marks
Whilst you can’t stop having stretch marks, there are several things that you can do to prevent having even more. These include:
1) Avoid Rapid Weight Gain During Pregnancy
This is one of the most common reasons for getting stretch marks. If you are pregnant, then you should avoid gaining too much weight. It is recommended that you eat healthy foods and stay active. Also, make sure that you don’t skip meals and drink plenty of water.
2) Keep Yourself Hydrated
As mentioned above, drinking enough water will help keep your skin looking good. Make sure that you drink plenty of water per day. Water helps flush toxins from your system, which means that your skin looks healthier.
3) Use Moisturizers
Moisturizing your skin regularly will help reduce dryness and irritation. This will also help to prevent stretch marks from forming.
4) Exercise Regularly
Exercise is great for keeping your muscles toned and strong. As well as helping to burn calories, it also improves circulation, which prevents stretch marks from appearing (keep in mind that this is not to say that exercise will make your previous stretch marks vanish).
5) Eat Right
Eating a balanced diet is essential if you want to maintain a healthy lifestyle. A diet rich in protein and low in carbohydrates will help to build up your muscles so that you don’t get stretch marks.
6) Get Professional Advice
It’s important to seek out professional advice when trying to find ways to prevent stretch marks. Your doctor or dermatologist will be able to advise you on what steps you need to take to ensure that you don’t end up with any unwanted scars.
How To Get Rid Of Stretch Marks
If your stretch marks are severe and are taking away your self confidence, then you may wonder what you can do to feel comfortable in your own skin. Well, there are many different options available to you. Some of these include:
1. Treating Them With Creams
There are various topical treatments that you can use to treat stretch marks. One such treatment is using creams containing retinol. Retinols are vitamin A derivatives that work by stimulating collagen production.
Collagen is an important component of the dermis layer of the skin. By stimulating collagen production, you can help to improve the appearance of your stretch marks.
2. Using Makeup Products
Another option is to use makeup products that contain SPF 15 or higher. This will protect your skin against UV rays, which can cause damage to your skin.
3. Getting Laser Therapy
Laser therapy works by targeting specific areas of your skin where the marks are located. This technique uses high-powered light beams to target the affected area. Laser therapy has been shown to be effective for treating stretch marks.
However, it is only suitable for minor cases. The downside of laser therapy is that it requires multiple sessions over time.
4. Using Surgical Techniques
Surgical procedures are another way to remove stretch marks. These procedures involve removing the damaged tissue and replacing it with new skin. Although they are more invasive than other methods, they are highly effective.
Don’t Lose Weight To Get Rid Of Stretch Marks
Although there are multiple methods out there to get rid of stretch marks, do not look at them as your only choice. It is important to recognize that stretch marks are a completely normal part of the human body and the majority of people have them.
The most common reason people get stretch marks is due to body growth. As we go through puberty, our body grows (whether that be our breasts or our thighs) and this growth creates a stretching which leads to stretch marks.
If you are wanting to lose weight, only do this for your health and fitness, not to get rid of an insecurity. Using procedures as mentioned above should only be a last resort and be kept for severe cases. First, try to work on yourself and self love.
Final Thoughts
In this article, we have discovered that losing weight does not mean you will lose your stretch marks; in fact, they are more likely to show clearer on the body.
There are many reasons for stretch marks as well as remedies, however stretch marks should be loved, not shunned. Lose weight for the benefit of your health.
