For all the women out there who wake up, get in the shower or put on that cute bathing suit or crop top and short shorts and then noticed the only thing worse than cellulite on your legs and hips; stretch marks! This post will explain what a stretch mark is, why it happens and how to prevent and diminish visible stretch marks!
I want to thank my friend for suggesting this topic! It's one that is easy to explain and if treated quickly and at the first stage, very easy to fix!
A stretch mark, is exactly that, a mark from skin that was stretched. The layers of your skin are stacked on top of each other like layers of a cake. But each layer is thick enough that the cells kind of intertwine themselves to create a mesh-like barrier to hold in water to keep hydrated and a fluid feel. When this hydration level isn't sufficient, the interlocking skin cells begin to disintegrate, shrivel up if you will, and separate from each other. The elasticity in the skin begins to diminish and the skin no longer "bounces" back into proper form. This separation of skin cells and lack of hydration is the first thing that causes stretch marks, the next is increased weight gain in a short period of time, this includes any kind of weight gain, not just pregnancy.
Think of an elastic band, when the elastic band has be stretched beyond its capability and it is and older elastic so you can see little cracks on the edge, if you were to stretch that one more time as big as you can it will break.
Another example: put your hands together in front of you, fingers of one hand in between the fingers of the other and palms open facing you. Now slowly pull them away from each other, you see the gaps?
Both these examples show the same effects of the skin when stretch marks occur, the skin becomes too dry and dehydrated and when the skin needs to expand to compensate for any sudden or extreme weight gain that's when it starts to tear and you see "gaps". A stretch mark is a "wound" because if severe they can bleed and get infected.
To prevent stretch marks from forming, its always best to drink sufficient amount of water throughout the day and hydrate your skin from head to toe! I find body oils and Shea butters best but find your favorite and stick with it. To keep hydration in at night after a shower, moisturize your favorite body cream and once that's soaked in slather a body oil on top, this keeps the water in the skin and the product from evaporating to quickly! I suggest a vitamin e oil or grape seed oil because of the antioxidants, many like jojoba oils or sweet almond oils too.
To treat a stretch mark, it has to be red. If your stretch mark has turned silvery white, its too late and you may have to resort to a minor surgery if too big or laser treatments. If they are still pinky red, you can treat them to be less visible. Always use a body cream and keep drinking water, but in this case you will want to invest in a vitamin e oil, and the big bottle is best because this is a slow process! Bio oil is a tested and true brand, its my favorite! You'll want to apply the oil on the affected area twice a day, if you can only do it once a day do it at night, otherwise aim for twice!
Vitamin e helps to heal the skin and moisturize as well, its the best way! If your stretch marks are thick or deep, avoid body scrubs and loofas on the area, also if walking a long distance, and they are on your legs, keep the area covered to avoid chafing, they can bleed from this. Also moisturize the area after swimming in chlorinated waters or salt waters because it will cause more dehydration!
My next piece of advice is patience. This is a long process, but there are so many benefits to using vitamin e oil that it just turns into a routine (for me a nightly routine) and after a few weeks you'll notice less redness, the marks are smaller, and your skin is softer!
Good luck! And have a great day!
Presley Charlotte :)
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