Causes And Dietary Remedy Of Stretch Marks

Stretch marks are common problem encounters by both men and women, stretch marks are stubborn and tend to have an effect on people’s confidence.

It can take place due to pregnancy or sudden weight gain, also a beauty woe that can be commonly seen on waist, thighs, lower backs, hips, breasts, arms, and buttocks.

Typically, stretch marks appear as bands of parallel lines on your skin. These lines are a different color and texture than normal skin, and range from purple to bright pink to light gray.

They occur when the dermal layer of the skin is suddenly stretched in the case of pregnancy. The dermis has strong, inter-connected fibers that let your skin stretch as your body grows. Sudden weight gain results in the skin overstretching and the fibers breaking which ultimately causes stretch marks.

When the dermis tears, the blood vessels under the skin show, making the stretch marks appear red or purple initially. Later, when the blood vessels get smaller, the pale-coloured fat under your skin becomes visible; and the marks turn silvery white in colour.

Causes of stretch marks

Weight gain

Stretch marks occur due to weight gain in a short period of time as the skin stretches suddenly. Similarly, they also appear if you are on a diet, due to the fluctuating weight. It is therefore advisable to lose weight gradually so that the skin is not strained.

Genetics

If your parents have had stretch marks, then you are most likely to have them too.

Pregnancy

Most women develop stretch marks during pregnancy as the fibers in the skin become soft and stretches, making room for the developing baby. As the baby grows, stretch marks appear on the tummy, thighs and breasts due to the continual tugging and stretching.

Puberty

During puberty, youngsters experience a sudden growth spurt and might rapidly gain or lose weight. This sudden stretching and contracting of skin leads to stretch marks on hips, thighs and breasts.

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroid creams, lotions and pills used to treat certain skin diseases can also cause stretch marks as they bring down the collagen levels in your skin. This decreases the skin’s ability to stretch and makes you prone to developing stretch marks.

Health conditions

Rare health conditions such as Cushing’s syndrome, Marfan’s syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos and other adrenal gland disorders cause stretch marks due to various reasons.

In Cushing’s syndrome, the body tends to overproduce the hormone cortisol, which causes these marks. Meanwhile, Marfan syndrome is the result of a faulty gene that makes the body's skin and connective tissues weak, reducing their elasticity, thus increasing the chances of developing stretch marks.

Body Building

Body builders very commonly face this problem of stretch marks. Rapid growth in muscle mass and sometimes misuse of anabolic steroids to accelerate the growth of muscle lead to the appearance of stretch marks.

Types of stretch marks

Red stretch marks

Also known as striae rubra, these stretch marks are fresh and appear reddish or purplish at the initial stage. They are formed when the dermal layer of the skin is stretched, letting the blood vessels show.

At this stage, you may experience a lot of itching around these stretch marks. It is easier to get rid of red stretch marks faster because they are new.

White stretch marks

Also known as striae alba, these are the most stubborn and appear white or silverish in colour.

The tiny tears on the skin occur when the blood vessels reduce in size, thus making the fat under the skin visible. Since the white stretch marks are mature, it might take longer treat it.

There are  numbers of dietary natural remedies that can help lighten and get rid of stretch marks.

Dietary Remedies

Water

Water keeps skin supple and soft. Drinking 8-10 glasses of water daily is very good for the skin. It helps to restore its elasticity, keeping it supple and soft. This helps to reduce the stretch marks.

Vitamin C

Foods like berries, raw cabbage, citrus fruits, kiwi fruit, melons, peas, peppers, broccoli, pineapple, spinach, tomatoes and turnips provide the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin C.

It is antioxidant that helps our bodies to fight the toxins or free radicals. With adequate Vitamin C intake, the skin scars heal faster.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is also an antioxidant that fights free radicals while deeply nourishing the skin. Foods like almonds, raw seeds like pumpkin and sesame, Swiss chards, hazelnuts, pine nuts, spinach, avocado, broccoli, parsley, papaya and olives are rich sources of Vitamin E. Daily consumption of these foods will help to get rid of stretch marks.

Gelatin

Gelatin contains collagen which is also present in  skin and is responsible for providing elasticity to  skin. Bone broth (chicken, lamb or beef) is an excellent natural source of gelatine in your diet.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids also help increase elasticity in the skin. Foods like flax seed, chia seeds, salmon, sardines, cod liver, walnuts, soybean, beef, tofu, shrimps and cauliflower can go a long way in keeping the stretch marks at bay.