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Most people deal with stretch marks at some point in their lives, which either leaves them feeling insecure or confident.

The first thing to know is that they can pop up all over the body in areas such as the thighs, the bum, the arms and, most commonly, the tummy.

Again, while some women might proudly show off their post-baby stretch marks and guys can show off their ripped muscles, others constantly search for treatments for stretch mark removal.

Don’t fret!

Online publication Hellomagazine.com suggests a great professional who has the best advice on ‘how to remove’ stretch marks.

Consultant Dermatologist Dr Justine Hextall, located in Arundel, England, says: “Stretch marks are triggered by a rapidity of growth and how that
affects collagen.”

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body and it’s found in bones, muscles, tendons and skin.

So, basically, collagen is essentially the substance that holds the body together; you know, keeping it right and tight and not jello-like.

Collagen gives the appearance of bouncy, full, smooth skin.

However, collagen production declines as you get older and can be literally over-stretched by rapid growth and weight gain or weight loss.

Hextall says: “Collagen is a bit like elastic. If you stretch it beyond its limit, you’ll get fractures in the collagen within the connected tissue. It’s important to understand that’s what a stretch mark is. It’s in the deep area of the skin, the dermis.”

She continues: “You can’t really prevent stretch marks with a topical treatment because it’s in the ‘scaffolding of the skin’, but you can help them. Keeping skin hydrated and healthy, is always a good thing to do.”

Our Today has taken to list the 10 ways to the minimise the appearance of stretch marks. They are:

Step 1: Be Patient (wait for the stretch marks to fade)

Reportedly, there are two stages of stretch marks. Stage one is when they are very new and red and the second is when they fade to a white, silvery appearance. 

Although the underlying problem of the fractured collagen cannot be corrected by a cream, using one when the stretch marks are still red will help to speed up this colour change, making them less visible.

Step 2: Try intense pulse light

Hextall suggests that If you have residual stretch marks that aren’t improving and the redness remains, you could consider a treatment such as IPL (intense pulse light) that will promote collagen and reduce redness.

This treatment is available at medical facilities globally.

Step 3: Photo Fractional Treatment

Photo Fractional Treatment IPL and laser. The IPL will help with pigmentation change and the fractional treatment will help promote new collagen and tightening of the skin.

By combining the two, it increases the effect of the fractional laser.

Step 4: Micro-needling

This is another treatment that Hextall recommends.

She explains: “Micro-needling is a treatment where you needle the skin. Rather than putting heat holes into the skin, you use a mechanical approach where you damage the collagen in certain areas.”

She continued: “It realises it’s under attack and starts to produce new collagen. That starts to soften those lines. With any treatment, the end result depends on the severity of the stretch marks and how the patient responds.”

Step 5: Natural treatments

What better way to treat the body than with some natural remedies?
Chamomile is a great anti-inflammatory treatment that you can use right at home.

Anything that reduces inflammation and soothes the skin is a good idea.
Products containing aloe vera or glycerin are very hydrating and soothing.

Step 6: Boost anti-oxidants through exercise

Hextall says: “If you don’t exercise for nine months in pregnancy, you lose muscle tone and the skin looks looser.”

She advises that expecting mommies should continue to do gentle exercise such as yoga, swimming and walking to prevent stretch marks.

Exercise also helps reduce the marks.

Exercise promotes anti-oxidants and give the body a good blood flow, which are really important for stimulating new collagen. Any repair is much better once there is exercise involved.

Step 7: Look intrinsically at your lifestyle

Being stress, having a poor diet, not protecting your skin from the UV exposure and smoking ‘cancer sticks’ breaks down the collagen in the body.

The best way to counter this is to have a healthy diet full of ‘rainbow foods’ such as yellow peppers, berries, carrots – foods full of antioxidants.

Wear sun block even if in a shaded area. Overall, just take care of the body inside and out.

Step 8: Supper supplements

According to VeryWellHealth.com, anthocyanins are a type of flavonoid, a class of compounds with antioxidant effects.

Found naturally in a number of foods, anthocyanins are the pigments that give red, purple, and blue plants their rich colouring.

Hextall explains the benefits of anthocyanins, stating that they are interesting antioxidants for protecting your collagen.

She added: “Green tea is also a good antioxidant and vitamins D and C are great for the skin too.”

Step 9: Be careful of UV exposure

Again, protect your beautiful skin.

Lying in the sun on holiday can pigment the stretch mark, which you don’t want and can also give you a very bad sunburn, ouch!

Hextall advises: “It’s very important when you have new stretch marks to wear a high sun cream like Factor 50 sunblock with both UVA and UVB protection, and reapply as often as a low factor sun cream. I’d recommend wearing a UV top if you’re swimming in the sea because reflection from the water means higher sun exposure.”

The sun is good, but it’s not all that good, ladies and gents!

Step 10: Makeup fixes everything

At this point, sometimes it’s just best to cover the stretch marks with a really good water-proof concealer, maybe try the Dermablend made by Vichy (a camouflaging makeup that contains high-performance pigments formulated to conceal the most difficult skin conditions or concerns,
such as vitiligo, rosacea, hyperpigmentation, birthmarks, burns, scars, bruising, tattoos, spider veins, and many more).

Dermablend was founded by American Dermatologist Dr Craig Roberts in 1981.

Hopefully these tips will help remove, minimise or cover any unwanted stretch marks and make you full of confidence, whether you’re a man or a woman!

You are your truest self when you feel and look your best!