In some studies, researchers found a correlation between low levels of vitamin D and the incidence of stretch marks. This suggests that maintaining healthy levels of vitamin D through sun exposure can help reduce the occurrence of stretch marks. You can also find vitamin D in many foods like bread, milk, and yogurt.
Kim Kardashian has famously used laser treatments to address her stretch marks.
However, sometimes your skin will grow beyond the ability of its elastin. This is when stretch marks appear on a women's thighs, hips, stomach and breasts. Stretch marks can be a sign that women are deficient in vitamin C, zinc, vitamin E or essential fatty acid.
Derived from vitamin A, retinoids — such as tretinoin (Retin-A, Renova, Avita) — that you apply to your skin may improve the appearance of stretch marks less than a few months old. Tretinoin, when it works, helps to rebuild a protein in the skin called collagen, making the stretch marks look more like your normal skin.
The cause of stretch marks is stretching of the skin. Their severity is affected by several factors, including your genetics and the degree of stress on the skin. Your level of the hormone cortisol also might play a role. Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands.
In some studies, researchers found a correlation between low levels of vitamin D and the incidence of stretch marks. This suggests that maintaining healthy levels of vitamin D through sun exposure can help reduce the occurrence of stretch marks. You can also find vitamin D in many foods like bread, milk, and yogurt.
The medical name for stretch marks is striae. Stretch marks (striae) result from rapid stretching of the skin which may occur with obesity, pubertal growth spurts, pregnancy, or from other influences such as Cushing syndrome. Stretch marks (striae) can appear when there is rapid stretching of the skin.
Stretch Marks Causes and Risk Factors
Collagen is a protein that makes your skin more elastic. If your skin doesn't have enough, the marks may show up as it stretches. Childhood growth spurts during puberty. Make sure kids know this is normal and that childhood marks may fade as they get older.
Many people believe that cocoa butter, coconut oil, olive oil and almond oil help improve stretch marks. However, studies show that they don't effectively treat or prevent stretch marks.
Exercise. One way to decrease the visibility of excess skin after pregnancy is to strengthen the muscle below it. In the case of the abdomen, strengthening your core through regular exercise can help to build the stomach muscles out and tighten the skin above as a result.
There may be plenty of anecdotal evidence and vitamin E products advertised as stretch mark treatments that seem convincing, but when it comes down to the science, studies say the proof isn't there.
Sweet Almond and Coconut Oils
As mentioned above, sweet almond oil together with aloe vera has been shown to have an effect on the itching of stretch marks. Therefore, applying them individually or together may especially benefit fresh stretch marks.
This lowers the chance of developing both excess skin and the appearance of stretch marks. Losing weight won't make stretch marks go away. Instead, time is one of the best tools you have to reduce the appearance of stretch marks (along with some of the treatments we've rounded up below).
It works by boosting collagen production and speeding up cell turnover, which helps to blend the stretch marks into the surrounding skin. While retinol won't completely remove old stretch marks, it can still improve their texture and make them less noticeable.
An estimated 50% to 90% of women have them, but men can get them, too. It's also common for teen girls (breasts, thighs, hips, or buttocks) and boys (lower backs or hips) to get stretch marks during growth spurts.
Vitamin D
Its active metabolites help protect the skin from major skin aging factors, such as UV radiation and environmental pollutants, decreasing inflammation and repairing the skin's epidermal barrier. By countering oxidative damage, vitamin D may help reduce aging signs, including sagging, loose skin.
Stretch marks are caused by the body part underneath growing faster than the skin can stretch with it, which is common with breasts during puberty, pregnancy, and breastfeeding. None of the above is impacted by wearing or not wearing a bra.
If you develop stretch marks, you're most likely to do so during these times: Growth spurts that happen in puberty. Pregnancy. Rapid weight loss or gain.
Best collagen for stretch marks - which one is it? According to scientific research, the best type of collagen is hydrolysed fish collagen (also known as marine collagen). It has a high bioavailability in the body and is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream.