How to Cure Strech Marks
Stretch marks, known medically as "striae," are scars that occur when skin stretches quickly. Stretch marks can appear as a result of pregnancy, rapid weight gain, puberty, or rapid muscle gain. Stretch marks are difficult to remove once they appear, but it is possible through exfoliation, stretch mark cream or surgical procedures to minimize or remove scarring.
Instructions
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Exfoliate with store-bought exfoliating cream. You can purchase exfoliation cream at your local drugstore, department store or cosmetics store. Apply a quarter-sized amount of exfoliating cream to the affected area and rub vigorously with the palm of your hand and fingers for up to 2 minutes. Repeat daily until stretch marks are minimized.
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Make your own exfoliating cream. If you are interested in saving money, you can make an exfoliating cream at home and avoid paying expensive drugstore or department store prices. Mix one part coarse kosher salt and one part tea tree oil in a Ziplock bag. Take a quarter-sized amount of the mixture in your palm and rub vigorously on the affected area. Repeat daily until stretch marks are gone.
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Slather the affected area with cream made specifically for stretch marks. The cream will work to minimize the appearance of stretch marks. You can purchase a stretch mark cream at your local drugstore, beauty supply store, or department store. Apply a generous amount of stretch mark cream to the afflicted area three times a day or as often as indicated in the bottle's directions. The cream is safe to use in conjunction with exfoliation cream unless otherwise stated on the bottle.
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Consider surgery. A cosmetic or plastic surgeon can give you a consultation to see what can be done surgically with your stretch marks. This will depend on where the stretch marks are located and how severe they are. For example, if the stretch marks are located on your stomach, the surgeon will most likely recommend a tummy tuck. The tummy tuck will remove or hide any loose skin that might accompany the stretch marks. The surgery will be performed either in the hospital or the surgeon's office, and you will be given local or general anesthesia depending on the severity of your operation.
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Tips & Warnings
Try over-the-counter products before having a surgical procedure.
If you experience swelling or a rash from exfoliating or stretch mark creams, discontinue use immediately.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Penny Matthews -- http://www.sxc.hu/profile/ZoofytheJi
