Roughly 80% of people have stretch marks. Stretch marks can be caused by many reasons but the biggest cause being pregnancy, they can be diagnosed by generally red/pink/white indented lines across the body. Some may be darker in colour or deeper streaks.
The skin has 3 layers, but the one that stretch marks are affected by is called the Dermis. When the skin has extreme growth, it can lose all its elasticity (stretchy-ness), this is when the stretch marks begin to appear.
Causes of stretch marks:
- Extreme growth (pregnancy, weight gain/loss, medical conditions, puberty).
- Increase of cortisone (stress hormone)
- Decrease of collagen in the skin (helps regulate the skins elasticity)
Treatments -
- Increasing daily water intake - By increasing your daily water intake to 4-5L you will greatly increase your bodies hydration level allow your skin to become more elastic.
- Cocoa Butter; rubbing cocoa butter on the affected areas twice daily will allow the areas to become more hydrated.
Vitamins -
- Vitamin A: Can accelerate the skin's repair and promote new growth (found in carrots, broccoli and milk)
- Vitamin C: Naturally boost collagen levels (found in oranges, broccoli and strawberries)
- Vitamin E: Helps the skin to produce elastin and collagen (found in broccoli, kiwi fruit and cocoa butter)
- Vitamin K: Known as the best vitamin to help with skin repair (typically found in asparagus, broccoli and spinach)
- Zinc: The body relies on zinc to help new (skin) cell production (typically found in beef, spinach and mushrooms)
Summary
Although it's very rare for stretch marks to completely disappear, it is possible to decrease the intensity of them, both the darkness and also severity of the streaks.
*Disclaimer: Individual results vary based on agreed goals. Click here for details.
