Over 90% of pregnant women are expected to have stretch marks at some point throughout their pregnancy. Whether they have big or small, dark or light, there are no certain ways to remove them completely. However, there are several ways that are known, clinically, to reduce the appearance of stretch marks.
Use natural ingredients – using a lotion made up of natural ingredients is one of the best stretch mark removal methods available. The properties of cocoa butter and vitamin C, when mixed together and applied to the skin, not only help to make the skin feel softer but also encourage and promote the growth of natural collagen – protein within the body that helps to tighten the skin, therefore effectively reducing the appearance of even the deepest stretch marks.
Laser surgery – whilst it isn’t recommended and is often used as a last resort, laser surgery is available to try and remove stretch marks. A simple form of cosmetic surgery, laser surgery aims to reduce the visibility of stretch marks by aiming a laser at the affected skin area, hopefully promoting the skin to produce new cells. A costly process, it can take around 5 individual surgical procedures until any noticeable difference is seen.
Eat properly – eating the correct diet has a larger part to play in stretch mark removal than most people would believe. The first point to consider is the amount of water that is be drunk. The recommended daily amount of water that the body needs to be in its healthiest state is 8 glasses, however a large amount of people do not even meet half this much. By drinking 8 glasses a day, the skin becomes extremely soft and supple, allowing it to stretch and return to its normal state – the cause of stretch marks – extremely easy. Furthermore, products such as coffee, soda and alcohol should all be avoided when trying to remove stretch marks, as these only dehydrate the skin further. In addition to regular water intake and a reduction in dehydration products, a diet high in zinc and protein, as well as vitamin A, C and D rich will help tremendously with the removal of stretch marks anywhere on the body.
Exercise – although many think that they should leave the skin to remove the stretch marks itself naturally, actually carrying out exercises on the affected body area can help considerably. Using tightening exercises, such as abdominal crunches for the stomach area, can speed up the process of stretch mark removal as they help to tighten the skin – which is simply the reverse of how the stretch marks were initially caused.