What causes stretch marks and how to get rid of them?

Well, the answers vary as wildly as those wiggly lines appear on one person to the next. But here are the main causes and a few tried and tested ways to get rid of them.

Stretch marks: All shapes and sizes

From white to pale pink, grey, purple and fiery red, stretch marks can appear in a range of colours that present in parallel lines across a small to large section of skin. When you run your fingers across the stretch marks, you can often feel the raised and textured lines.

The most common places stretch marks appear are areas where excess fat occurs or muscle dense areas including such as the tummy, boobs, backside, thighs, hips, upper arms and anywhere else that rapid growth or stretching of the skin has occurred.

What causes stretch marks?

Stretch marks are caused from hormone imbalances and more commonly by sudden fluctuations in weight or growth. For example, teenagers experiencing a growth spurt, pregnancy, or rapid weight loss or gain.

This rapid change in the body’s shape or size stretches the skin resulting in a loss of elasticity and of course the coloured and raised parallel lines we know as ‘stretch marks’.

Another lesser known cause of stretch marks is an increase in the hormone cortisol. Cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands and, amongst other jobs including regulating our mood, sleep and wake cycle and stress, it can also affect the skin’s ability to heal itself. In this case, too much cortisol can prevent the skin’s structure healing after it has been stretched abnormally.

How to get rid of stretch marks

Stretch marks are essentially scars. They typically fade over time and for some people they disappear completely, but not for everyone … For those on a mission to get rid of stretch marks, there are multiple approaches.

• Silicone gels. Silicone gels have been proven to reduce the size and appearance of scars and the sooner you treat them, the better the result. DermaScar is a range of clinically proven gels tailored for different skin needs. Recommended by plastic surgeons and dermatologists, it is proven to visibly improve the appearance of scars in 4 weeks. DermaScar Platinum C&E is the most premium version

Stretch marks are essentially a type of scar. DermaScar Platinum C&E with added Vitamin C & Vitamin E 10% is a premium silicone gel specifically developed to improve the itching and discomfort associated with scars. The powerful blend of antioxidants also provide other benefits for the skin: prevents photo damage, reduces scar pigmentation and is extra moisturising.

• Good ol’ water.  The panacea to many an ailment! When it comes to stretch marks the idea is that drinking plenty of water naturally helps keep your skin hydrated, healthy, radiant and soft, and can help improve the stretched skin’s elasticity and fade discolouration.
• Exercise. The health benefits of exercise are exponential. In terms of our skin, exercise promotes anti-oxidants and give us good blood flow, which are important for stimulating new collagen and healing.
• Shea butter and few stretch mark creams.