It’s hard to find a woman who doesn’t have at least one stretch mark somewhere on her body, right? This is a problem that haunts the female universe, but the good news is that there are effective treatments that promise to reduce and even eliminate red stretch marks. Stretch marks have a linear appearance and are usually parallel. In many cases, they look like a scar1. Stretch marks can be small or very large, sometimes reaching up to 30 centimeters in length. They usually appear on the stomach, arms, thighs, and buttocks, and women are more susceptible. Over time, stretch marks fade until they become almost white, with a “peachy” tone. Because they differ in color from the skin, they become more visible, which bothers women who suffer from this issue even more. 
How to get rid of stretch marks
Once the skin’s fibers are stretched in a way that causes a stretch mark, it is difficult to completely eliminate it right away, even with red, or more recent, stretch marks. Even though it is difficult to recover damaged skin, red stretch marks are easier to eliminate than whitish stretch marks. Still, there are effective treatments for both cases that significantly improve the skin’s appearance—if they don’t remove the stretch mark entirely, they make them nearly invisible, which is already a great result2. The tip is to start treating stretch marks as soon as you notice them appearing. The sooner you begin treatment, the better the results. And it’s also possible to prevent them, especially during pregnancy, when weight gain happens quickly and can trigger the dreaded stretch marks.
Prevention and care tips
Check out some great tips below to help you eliminate stretch marks early and strengthen your skin:
- Use moisturizing cream daily (especially on the stomach, arms, and legs);
- Drink plenty of water, which is great for skin hydration;
- Avoid gaining and losing weight rapidly (yo-yo effect);
- Avoid bathing with very hot water;
- When bathing, prefer liquid and moisturizing soaps.
Treatment for red stretch marks
Stretch marks appear red due to the breaking of blood vessels in the area where they appear. They look like wrinkled skin, which is very bothersome for women who have them. This coloring means they are recent and, therefore, easier to eliminate with treatment. Precisely because they are recent, the affected skin region has a greater chance to regenerate. That’s why treatment for red stretch marks is even more effective. If this is your case, don’t waste any time. Choose the best treatment and start caring for your skin immediately to get better results. One highly recommended treatment is quite simple. It involves an exfoliation using a homemade recipe that has proven to be very effective and delivers positive results. You should do it only 3 times a week, together with daily moisturizing using the cream of your choice. Watch this video teaching a very simple homemade exfoliant recipe for treating red stretch marks:
In addition to homemade exfoliants, there are creams and ointments available at pharmacies that are also very effective in treating both red and white stretch marks. Ask your doctor about which of these medications is best suited for your case.
Remember, the most important thing is to follow tips to prevent stretch marks. If they still appear, start treatment as soon as possible.
White Stretch Marks
After red stretch marks appear, over time they become white, with a “peachy” hue. This happens because, in these older lesions, melanin is no longer produced. White stretch marks mean that the scar caused by the breaking of collagen fibers in the affected skin area has already formed, and therefore they no longer have as much regenerative capacity as red stretch marks. This is due both to the lack of melanin production and to the fact that skin with white stretch marks loses some thickness, forming small cavities that are more scar-like and more difficult to get rid of.
Treatment for white stretch marks
For white stretch marks, treatments are longer. Some of the most recommended treatments for these cases are mesotherapy, peels, and especially carboxytherapy, which involves localized microinjections of CO² to improve skin appearance. Results may vary from woman to woman, but, according to a specialist, white stretch marks can be reduced by up to 70%. Good moisturizing helps prevent and treat any type of stretch mark and actually protects the skin against any kind of lesion3. So the recipe is simple: whether during pregnancy or at any time of life, plenty of moisturizer, no very hot showers, and lots of sunscreen to keep your skin always healthy and beautiful! Also see: Stretch Marks During Pregnancy – How to Care and Prevent Photo: chezbeate
