Get Rid From Stretch Marks Post Delivery

Stretch marks also called striae are the indented streaks which usually appear on the belly, breasts and buttocks in the body. They are commonly seen in pregnant females, especially during the third trimester. Although painless and harmless in nature the stretch marks do make the skin look unappealing. In this article, we will get to know what causes stretch marks and how to get rid of them.

What are the signs and symptoms of stretch marks?

The appearance of stretch marks varies on factors such as where they are on the body, what caused them, for how long they have been there as well as the type of skin one has.  Based on these factors common variations of stretch marks include:-

• Indented lines or streaks on the belly, hips, buttocks, breasts and other sites on the body
• Red, pink, blue, black or purple streaks
• Slightly raised and itchy
• Bright lines that become light with time
• Streaks present on large parts of the body

What causes stretch marks to appear on the body?

A Stretch mark is basically a type of scar. It is caused due to quick stretching or shrinking of the skin. This quick change in the skin causes the elastin and collagen proteins in the skin to rupture. Due to this stretch marks appear as the skin heals. The severity of stretch marks depends on the extent of stress on the skin.  When someone gains weight the accumulating fatty tissue causes the skin to stretch to accommodate it. Therefore stretch mark is of common occurrence during pregnancy. 

Genetics also play a vital role in determining the severity of stretch marks.

 Cortisol which is the hormone that is produced by the adrenal glands in the body is also attributed to playing a role in causing stretch marks. Cortisol is seen to make the elastic fibres in the skin weak which eventually leads to stretch marks. 

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What are the risk factors that lead to stretch marks?

There are some factors that raise the probability of getting stretch marks. These are:-

• Having a positive family or personal history of stretch marks
• Pregnancy– During pregnancy, there is an increase in the abdomen girth in order to accommodate the developing fetus.
• Rapid growth during puberty
• Rapid weight loss or weight gain
• Using corticosteroids as they are well known to cause weight gain, especially around the abdomen, a phenomenon known as truncal obesity.
• Undergoing breast enlargement surgery
• Exercising and consuming anabolic steroids that cause a rapid increase in muscle mass, especially around the arms and thighs.  
•  Marfan syndrome– It is a rare genetic disorder of the connective tissue. In this the connective tissue is weak and the skin is not much elastic. Stretch marks typically appear on the lower back, hips and shoulders in this disorder. 
•  Cushing’s syndrome– It is a hormonal disorder in which adrenal hormones are produced in excess in the body. This high level of cortisol in the blood contributes to weight gain and obesity. The stretch marks in Cushing’s syndrome are purple or pink in color and mainly occur on the abdomen.
• Hypothyroidism – In this hormonal disorder there is rapid weight gain which leads to the development of stretch marks. 

How can stretch marks be diagnosed?

Usually, no tests are required for the diagnosis of stretch marks. Stretch marks can be easily diagnosed by a general examination of the skin and a review of medical history. Additional tests may be advised by the physician if an increase in the level of the hormone cortisol is suspected.

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What are the tips to manage stretch marks?

The chances to develop stretch marks can be lowered with the help of the following tips:-

• It is advised to maintain a healthy weight. Rapid weight gain not only predisposes to many health problems but it strongly contributes to the formation of stretch marks in the body. 
• If weight gain is necessary it is advised that the process should be well planned and controlled which can avoid sudden stretching of the skin.
• It is important to keep the skin hydrated by regularly applying moisturizer. Herbal moisturizers that contain components with healing effects such as olive oil, coconut oil, shea butter, aloe vera, tea tree oil etc are more beneficial than chemical-based moisturizers.
• During pregnancy, it is seen that regularly massaging the body with olive oil reduces the probability of developing stretch marks. 
• Consuming certain food items such as eggs, fish, dairy products, green vegetables, citric fruits, broccoli etc that are well known to promote the production of collagen fibres in the body. This collagen is important to support the skin and keep it taut and smooth. 

What is the treatment for stretch mark removal?

A Stretch mark is a cosmetic problem. Stretch marks are harmless and like any other scar, they tend to be permanent. Also, the treatment outcome improves if the stretch marks are treated at the earliest possible. The conventional system of medical treatment involves the use of retinoid creams, light and laser therapy as well as micro-needling to improve the texture and appearance of stretch marks. However, none of these methods is found to be consistently more helpful than the others. They only make the stretch marks fade away to some extent but their prolonged use can cause potential side effects. Not only this some of the treatment methods for stretch marks are quite a strain on the pocket and thus not within the reach of everyone suffering from this problem.

On the other hand, homeopathy has a significant role to play in the treatment of stretch marks.  Homeopathic medicines help to treat the risk factors such as hypothyroidism and Cushing’s syndrome that causes and aggravate the problem of stretch marks. Homeopathic medicine helps to reduce and eliminate the need for corticosteroids for the treatment of various health problems. Homeopathic medicines directly act on the connective tissue present in the skin, hair and nails. This helps to treat poor elasticity and loosening of the skin which had contributed to the development of stretch marks. This eases the skin’s itchiness and helps in faster lightening of the stretch marks to a significant extent.  As against conventional medicines, homeopathic medicines for stretch marks can be safely taken by the female during pregnancy and the lactation period. Due to this homeopathic medicines have shown satisfying results to reduce pregnancy-related stretch marks.

Homeopathic medicine can be taken by both children and adults without any risk of possible side effects.

The best homeopathic medicine to treat stretch marks is constitutional medicine. Constitutional medicine is prescribed after thorough case-taking of the patient. Apart from stretch marks, other relevant symptoms from both the mental and physical sphere of the patient are elicited to find the correct minimum. Such a medicine stops the progress of stretch marks and significantly lightens the existing stretch marks.

 Common homeopathic remedies for skin problems of stretch marks are:-

Thiosinaminum – This medicine helps to dissolve scar tissue whether external or internal as well as strictures, adhesions, tumors and enlarged glands. 

Calcarea flourica – This is another powerful medicine for the healing of scar tissue especially resulting from operations. It prevents adhesion between the tissues at the site of injury thus avoiding long-term complications. 

Graphites– It helps in the absorption of the cicatricial tissue therefore it is commonly indicated in the early stages of keloid. It also helps to treat swelling and induration of glands, fibroma, and gouty nodosities. 

Silicea– It is helpful in stimulating the healing of wounds and dissolution of scar tissue It acts well on the connective and fibrous tissue of the body which makes it effective in the treatment of weakness of the joint, brittle nails and hair loss. It is suited to individuals who suffer from imperfect assimilation and consequent defective nutrition. They tend to be prostrated mentally and physically and lack moral and physical grit.  

CONCLUSION

Stretch marks or striations are a common and harmless problem. It is a cosmetic problem and makes the skin look unappealing. They are mainly caused by factors that cause sudden weight gain. Some of the common factors are growth spurt during puberty, exercise and intake of anabolic steroids to gain weight, prolonged use of steroid-based medication and pregnancy.

Genetics and health conditions such as hypothyroidism and Cushing syndrome also lead to stretch mark formation. Early stretch marks tend to be itchy, slightly raised and red, pink, purple or dark in color. Mature stretch marks are often light and slightly grooved. These stretch marks can be avoided by maintaining a healthy weight and keeping the skin well hydrated with regular use of herbal moisturizers. Homeopathic treatment for stretch marks is effective and safe.

Homeopathic medicine helps to prevent the occurrence of stretch marks by treating the root cause. Also in cases where stretch marks have formed correct homeopathic medicine helps to stop their progress and lightens them significantly in a short time without causing any side effects.