Stretch marks appear on the body as red lines that often times come accompanied with wrinkled skin. The medical term for stretch marks is "striae" and they are caused from the skin being rapidly stretched. A few examples of situations that can trigger them are pregnancy, rapid weight loss or gain, and puberty when adolescents go through growth spurts. The unfortunate thing about stretch marks is the fact that they cause scarring in the dermis which is the middle layer of skin. This makes them hard to remove without surgery, but there are still many options available that can help alleviate them.
Step 1
Use some cream. Keeping the skin in good condition is paramount when it comes to stretch marks. To help promote its health and elasticity, use creams and oils that contain vitamin-E, cocoa butter, aloe vera and coconut oil.
Step 2
Lift your legs. When you have stretch marks on the hip and leg areas, side leg lifts can be done to tone this area, making the marks less noticeable. To perform these, lie on your side with your legs stacked on top of each other. Keep the top leg straight and lift it up as high as you can, then lower it back down. Use your muscles the whole time and really focus on controlling your leg without momentum. Do a series of reps then change sides.
Step 3
Apply some vitamin-C fluid. According to research done at the Duke University Medical Center, a product called Cellex-C Serum can be used to promote collagen. This is a substance in the skin that gives it elasticity. Apply the fluid to areas with stretch marks right after you have showered and dried off.
Step 4
Remove some skin. Microdermabrasion is a process that utilizes a crystal spray that gets blasted against your skin. This causes dead skin cells to fall off and it promotes the formation of new cells that promote elastin and collagen, which are both quintessential for healthy skin.
Step 5
Keep your weight in check. According to Dr. Margaret A. Weiss, assistant professor of dermatology at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institution in Baltimore, you should keep your weight at an even keel, being that excess weight promotes stretch marks. Partake in daily exercise like walking, avoid foods that are high in fat and keep portion sizes to a minimum.
Step 6
Work your butt. Lie face down on the floor with your legs straight. Alternate lifting one leg at a time about six inches off the floor. When you do this movement, stay in a controlled motion and really focus on squeezing the glutes. This can help tone the muscles in the buttock area and make the skin more taut.
