How to Get Rid of Red Strechmarks
Stretch marks can be an unsightly blemish on your skin and can sometimes cause serious self-image problems. Be it from pregnancy or sudden weight gain, stretch marks may be unattractive, but they can also be reversible. There are many remedies for removing these marks that may work for you, but beware that they work differently for each person and that some of these steps may work for you while others may not. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Prevent stretch marks. One of the easiest ways to deal with stretch marks is to prevent them from showing up in the first place. You can use skin creams and lotions (cocoa butter lotions work well), take vitamin supplements (A, E and C) and stay hydrated to achieve this. It's a good idea to do these things anyway for general skin health, but sometimes preventing stretch marks isn't always an option.
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Allow time for the stretch marks to fade. If prevention isn't an option, and you have stretch marks you want to get rid of, allow some time. Over a given amount of time, all scarring (such as stretch marks) will fade.
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Exfoliate your skin daily. Use a loofah or scrunchy to get rid of daily grime, as well as stretch and move the skin around the marks.
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Increase circulation by taking hot baths and massaging the stretch marks and areas around the stretch marks as often as you can. This goes hand-in-hand with exfoliating and they can be done at the same time.
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Tan your skin. Go sunbathing, as the sun can diminish and even eliminate minor red marks. Use sunscreen, however, as sunbathing can be a dangerous habit if it's not done properly. Always be safe.
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Use Retin-A (Tretinoin). 0.1% Tretinoin creams have been studied and proven to drastically reduce or even remove fresh stretch marks. It can be dangerous, though, to use while pregnant because it can pass from mother to unborn child. Make sure to talk to your doctor and get a prescription if you want to use this method.
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Use mentholated vapor rub. Oddly enough, putting vapor rub on a washcloth and applying it to the stretch marks has been shown to remove those marks in some cases. Apply the vapor rub to the washcloth, and rub it forcefully to the scarred area. Repeat this daily for two to three weeks.
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Rub vitamin E gel onto the skin. Break open vitamin E capsules and rub the gel on your skin and stretch marks every day for two to three weeks. This has been shown to help eliminate the red marks.
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Use stretch mark creams and lotions. Many are on the market, and some of them actually work. Cocoa butter lotions are said to have the best results. Other useful ingredients include rose hip oil, emu oil or jojoba oil. You can find these creams in many cosmetic stores and online sites, and they vary in price.
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Use medical procedures to remove stretch marks. This should be used for the final option if none of the other methods work, as these procedures can be expensive and destructive if done improperly. Some methods of medical procedures to remove stretch marks are microdermabrasion (removing the top layer of skin by chemical or mechanical means), endermologie (a machine that massages the area to increase circulation and expel toxins), laser therapy (using lasers to burn off the marks and heal the skin in the process) or cosmetic surgery (tummy tucks are often used to remove red stretch marks).
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Tips & Warnings
Always consult your physician when attempting to remove skin or alter your stretch marks. Some of these methods may be beneficial, but some may also be harmful if improperly applied (such as the Retin-A cream). Be careful.
