What Can Help With Stretch Marks?
Many pregnant women and new mothers constantly wonder what can help with stretch marks once they have them. The truth is, although they will fade over time, they will never completely disappear. There are treatments that can help get rid of stretch marks however, but of course, the best solution is to try to prevent them in the first place!
Why do stretch marks form?
Skin is strong and elastic, with the remarkable ability to expand and contract as required. But stretch marks can appear when the skin expands too quickly. Hormones cause collagen bundles (collagen is the major protein that makes up the connective tissue in your skin) to separate making the skin more susceptible to tears as the it stretches. Small micro-tears appear and these then rip further downwards at right angles to the body’s natural skin lines, which results in permanent scars, called stretch marks, forming.
Stretch marks do not cause physical pain, but they can affect a person’s self-esteem and confidence.
More than 90% of women get stretch marks when they’re pregnant. These scars usually appear across the bump but they can occur on the thighs and breasts too.
Whilst prevention is better than cure, for those of you asking “What can help with stretch marks”, read on, because there are a few treatments that will help lessen their appearance if you already have them.
Light or laser therapy
Light and laser therapy are effective at improving the appearance of the marks. But, it's still not a guarantee and it's much costlier than other methods.
Laser therapy uses intense pulsed light and dye laser to increase collagen production. Treatment is done by a licensed skin aesthetician, cosmetic doctor, or plastic surgeon. You may need about 20 treatment sessions to achieve results — and it's only around a 60% improvement rate.
You also need to give your skin 2 to 3 weeks to heal between treatments. So not only is it costly, but it's also a big commitment. It's advised that you steer clear of activities like gym workouts and swimming, as they can lead to infection of the treated areas, so make sure you pick the right time of the year for this therapy.
And you should also be aware that there are cases where therapies like this cause more scars instead of treat stretch marks.
Plastic surgery
Tummy tucks are a cosmetic procedure involving the removal of excess skin and tightening of the remaining skin tissue.
This method is suitable for people with sagging skin caused by pregnancy or weight loss. To be an ideal candidate for this treatment option you should have good overall health, stable weight, be a non-smoker and have realistic expectations regarding what plastic surgery can do.
Bear in mind that these types of procedures are not specifically designed for getting rid of stretch marks, but the removal of excess skin from your body might improve the appearance of the marks. The skin must be loose for this treatment option to be viable.
Not only is plastic surgery incredibly costly, it's also a surgical procedure. That means staying in hospital overnight, medical expenses, and recovery time are all involved.
If you're looking for a more natural way to reduce stretch marks, this option is probably not for you.
Home and alternative remedies
There are a few home remedies that are less invasive than laser therapy or plastic surgery but there is very little evidence that any help to minimise scarring and help your stretch marks fade.
- Sugar:Exfoliate the affected areas by rubbing sugar on your skin.
- Aloe Vera:Rub this skin softener and natural healing agent over your stretch marks.
- Castor oil: Massage castor oil onto the skin to smoothen it
Secret Saviours Stretch Mark Prevention Kit
Not convinced by these methods? Neither are we.
If you're wondering 'what can reduce stretch marks' here's the answer: nothing really can. The key lies in prevention. That's why we created our patented Stretch Mark Prevention Kit.
According to the Cochrane Report, gels and creams only moisturise the skin. They make the skin more flexible as it stretches over your stomach, but they can’t prevent stretch marks forming.
However Secret Saviours has taken a different approach. Through the invention of clever textile technology (raised pads developed with Dermal Support Technology™ printed onto bump bands) stretch marks can be prevented from forming and ripping downwards across a women’s bump.
In clinical trials, more than 70% of the women using our 3-step system didn’t get stretch marks, while 20% got less severe marks than they would have without it.
Following the trials we made slight improvements to the pad technology and in a later independent consumer trial 82% of women who used our 3-step system entered motherhood with the same smooth, stretch mark-free skin they had before pregnancy.
How it works:
Our simple 3-step system is simple to use every day.
Nourishing Day Gel goes on first.
This helps the bump band grip the skin. It contains extracts of Centella Asiatica for healthy skin tone and elasticity - and it smells luxe.
Next step is the band.
The patented Stretch Mark Prevention Band uses specially arranged pads to dissipate stress across the bump. This stops micro-tears forming and eventually tearing downwards at right angles to the body’s natural skin lines. The lightweight breathable fabric is comfy to wear in any temperature, and as an added bonus, it even prevents back pain. Most importantly, our band is completely safe for you and your baby. Just slide it under your clothes and you're good to go.
Last but not least is the deeply moisturising Night Cream.
After removing the band in the evening, rub the Night Cream over your bump. This will nourish and soothe your skin. It prevents itchy tummies and contains Centella Asiatica leaf extract, vitamin B5, and Vitamin E.
Most women start using our 3-step system at around the 12-14 week mark. The band does need a small bump to grab onto though, so for some it can be a little later.
Using Secret Saviours daily for the duration of your pregnancy can result in gorgeous, stretch mark free skin.
And even if you got stretch marks in your first pregnancy we recommend Secret Saviours because our clever technology can prevent further scars forming.
