Postpartum Stretch Marks: 6 Safe Ways to Heal

If you’ve ever dealt with marks before pregnancy, the chances of you having to deal with postpartum stretch marks after pregnancy are even higher.

Over 90% of mothers develop striae distensae, or postpartum stretch marks, during pregnancy and are left to deal with those stretch marks after birth.

For women who have never had stretch marks before, experiencing and accepting stretch marks can be difficult.

Although stretch marks are normal and cause no damage to your health, many women find themselves worrying about the appearance of stretch marks and they are searching for remedies that will help them get rid of the said stretch marks.

Before we jump into how you can minimize the appearance of stretch marks, we’ll start with the basics.

What are stretch marks?

Stretch marks after pregnancy, also known as striae distensae, are exactly what the name suggests.

In essence, stretch marks are indentations that are ‘marked’ into your skin from tears that occur in the middle or bottom layer of tissues of your skin.

Depending on how stretch marks are caused, where stretch marks are on your body, and how old the stretch marks are, stretch marks can appear pink, red, black, blue, or purple.

Stretch marks are usually present on the belly, buttocks, breasts, and thighs.

How to prevent stretch marks?

Unfortunately, it is not possible to prevent future stretch marks from appearing.

It is not possible to prevent stretch marks since they are inevitable for most women and men during adolescence and growing up, but stretch marks are even more likely to appear during pregnancy.

Simply put, stretch marks happen when the skin stretches excessively over a short period of time, and pregnancy is the perfect ground for stretch marks to appear.

What causes pregnancy stretch marks?

In the majority of instances, stretch marks are developed due to genetic predisposition.

If you want to check your chances of developing stretch marks, refer to your mother or grandmother.

If they have existing stretch marks, you are likely to have them as well.

In addition to the genetic factors, bouncing hormones, collagen production in the skin, skin tone, rapid weight gain, certain health conditions, and age can determine if you are more likely to get stretch marks since age does slow down collagen production.

Also, if you’re using corticosteroids, it is almost certain you’ll develop stretch marks.

Stretch marks are more likely when your skin loses elasticity due to cortisone, a hormone released by your adrenal glands.

Can you get rid of pregnancy stretch marks?

You cannot completely get rid of stretch marks and you cannot remove pregnancy stretch marks once they appear.

However, you can improve the appearance of stretch marks after pregnancy through various treatments.

Whether you can or cannot get rid of stretch marks largely depends on when you start treating stretch marks and taking care of stretch marks.

For example, if you are dealing with mature stretch marks (which are older than a year), it will be a little more difficult to get rid of stretch marks.

On the other hand, if you tackle the stretch marks as soon as you start to notice them, the chances of getting rid of stretch marks will be immensely greater.

6 ways to heal stretch marks

No matter what kind of stretch marks you are dealing with, there are certain measures you can take to minimize their appearance.

Keep in mind that the best time to start treating them is as soon as they become apparent.

If you know you are prone to them, you can even start treatment early before the skin starts to rapidly stretch.

Creams & Oils

Gently massage creams and oils, which can be over-the-counter products, to the affected area.

Massaging helps promote blood flow and breaks up scar tissue, while the ingredients found in the product you’re using provide nutrients for the skin.

Take into consideration the cream/oil formula, as well as the point in time you’re using them (before, during, or after pregnancy).

Certain chemicals may interfere with your health or your baby’s growth and health and they can lead to some birth defects, therefore, consult with a doctor beforehand.

Some of the useful ingredients include aloe vera gel, glycolic acid, vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, honey scrub, tretinoin cream, retinol creams, castor oil, almond oil, olive oil, and many others.

Hydrate & Moisturize with Cocoa Butter and Shea Butter

Proper hydration with cocoa butter and shea butter is going to promote healthier-looking skin.

Moisturizing the skin from the outside with cocoa butter is going to make it silky smooth skin and keep the skin supple.

If you want the real deal, try getting homemade cocoa butter.

If you want to speed up the healing process make sure you intake enough water and keep your skin hydrated. Skin will appear to function optimally when it has enough water and is moisturized.

Exercise

Proper exercise is important for postpartum recovery in general. However, it can also be an effective treatment for stretch marks. While you’re strengthening your muscles through working out, you’re also tightening loose skin.

Exfoliate

Aim to exfoliate your skin at least once a week.

Exfoliation removes dead skin cells from the top layer of your skin and also promotes blood flow.

This combination triggers skin cells to grow and heal from a deeper layer of skin.

Exfoliation can be done with a honey scrub right at home, but it can also be done with glycolic acid.

Make sure to apply some aloe vera gel or bio-oil to the treated area, for tissue repair.

Nutrition

Even if you do all of the above, in the end, a healthy balanced diet can be the key to successful healing and having your skin smooth.

If you’re providing your body with the nutrients and micronutrients it needs, your chances of faster body recovery will be higher.

Your skin health relies heavily on what you eat, so if you want to minimize the appearance of stretch marks, eat plenty of fruits and veggies.

Eating a healthy diet can also stimulate collagen production, which improves skin elasticity, skin laxity, and skin texture, and it can help rejuvenate skin.

Moms-to-be and new moms should try to avoid junk food and fried foods, which are also bad for breast milk.

Proper nutrition will also help minimize weight gain, which can help with the appearance of stretch marks.

Dermatological procedures

If all else fails, or if you want to get rid of the stretch marks as soon as possible, you can look into dermatological procedures and consult a healthcare provider or a plastic surgeon about them.

Some of the most popular treatments of this kind are laser treatments, laser therapy, light therapy, and microneedling.

Microneedling can leave tiny scars on the surrounding skin, a less invasive treatment that can be done on your own at home is a derma roller.

How long will the recovery take?

How fast the stretch marks will fade depends on various factors. Age, when you get them, how old they are, and when you start treating them are just some to name a few.

Chances are unless a dermatological procedure is in question, you’ll never be able to fully get rid of your stretch marks.

Although they might seem like a nuisance at times, remember that you earned those stripes through months of carrying a little one inside, and there is no real need to get rid of stretch marks.

Think of them as a roadmap of your love!

Conclusion

Stretch marks naturally occur during pregnancy.

They are caused by the stretching of the skin and can happen to all women.

Women whose mothers and grandmothers experienced stretch marks have a higher chance of developing stretch marks during pregnancy.

With proper nutrition, medical treatments, and hydration, stretch marks can become less visible, but it is not possible to get rid of stretch marks completely.