How to Get Rid of Red Stretch Marks that occur during pregnancy?

Neither you nor your body remains the same after giving birth to your baby. While the apple of your eye becomes the centre of your life and makes you more responsible than ever, your body also gets unwanted pregnancy marks. Stretch marks are one of those changes you wish should not have happened. Though you can’t stop them from appearing, you can reduce them to a great extent.

While they may be common, red stretch marks can still hurt your self-confidence and body image. Fortunately, there are several effective ways to get rid of red stretch marks and improve the appearance of your skin. In this guide, we will explore some of the most popular and effective methods for reducing the appearance of red stretch marks so that you can feel more confident and comfortable in your skin.

What Are Red Stretch Marks?

Stretch marks are nothing but a kind of scar. They appear when elastin and collagen fibres spread wide and tear because of stretching. This happens due to hormonal changes. When stretch marks first appear, they are red, hence the name red stretch marks. Over time, they may change colour to purple, blue or black. Though they are not harmful in any sense, we can’t deny that stretch marks look ugly and can bring your self-confidence down.

Causes Of Red Stretch Marks

The most common cause of red stretch marks is weight gain, especially during pregnancy, but there are other causes as well. Some of the most common causes of red stretch marks are:

1. Pregnancy

Women experience rapid body growth during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Red stretch marks commonly appear as their skin stretches out around the abdomen, thigh and hips areas.

2. Sudden Weight Changes

Rapid weight gain can cause the skin to stretch to accommodate the increased body mass. The areas with the most weight gain or fat accumulation are susceptible to stretch marks. Sudden weight loss may also lead to stretch marks.

3. Growth Spurts

People may develop red stretch marks during growth spurts, like puberty, where adolescents experience rapid body growth.

4. Rapid Muscle Growth

Muscles tend to grow rapidly during weight training and bodybuilding, which can sometimes cause red stretch marks to appear on the skin.

5. Genes & Gender

If stretch marks run in your family, you’re likely to experience them. Additionally, females are more prone to develop stretch marks compared to men.

6. Underlying Medical Conditions

Besides the above causes, underlying health conditions such as Ehlers-Danlos and Cushing Syndrome may also lead to red stretch marks.

You may also like: Stretch Marks On Stomach Causes and Treatments

Common Body Parts Where You Get Red Stretch Marks

The most common parts of your body where you may notice red stretch marks are the abdomen, breasts, buttocks, hips, lower back, and thighs. In addition to these areas, you may notice stretch marks towards the back of your arms or any other area that adds weight. Stretch marks usually appear on body parts where more fat is stored, and the skin has stretched.

How to Treat and Get Rid of Red Stretch Marks?

Many skincare and beauty brands claim they can help prevent stretch marks during pregnancy. However, we must know that we can only minimize these stretch marks, and there are no ways to give you true prevention from stretch marks. You can still follow these steps to keep them to a minimum-

• Keep your weight in control

• Eat well for healthy skin

• Keep your abdomen moisturized; use good creams and lotions

Management

1. Timely Precautions

Stretch marks are easier to treat in the early stages of pregnancy. The first stage of stretch marks is known as striae Rubra. They appear red or purple in this stage. You can take various steps to treat striae Rubra. With time, these stretch marks become stubborn and lighter in colour. They appear almost silvery white. At this stage of their life, they are called striae alba. During the alba phase, it becomes very difficult to treat them. Hence, early treatment steps are necessary to maximize their benefit.

2. Use Retinol Creams and Lotions

Retinol works most effectively on stretch marks by stimulating collagen production. Therefore, you should check this ingredient before buying anti-stretch mark cream or lotion. You will start to see the results in approximately six weeks.

3. Other Ingredients to Treat Stretch Marks After Pregnancy

Retinol is very effective on stretch marks but may not suit everyone. Some other stretch marks removal creams and oil with ingredients like Vitamin C, Hyaluronic acid, Onion extract and Centella Asiatica are available over the counter. However, consulting your doctor before buying these products is necessary. You must also try Mylo Stretch Mark cream and Mylo strech marks oil which helps to lighten these marks.

Also read: Mylo Care Stretch Marks Cream Review

4. Laser Treatments for Stretch Marks

Laser stretch mark removal is a very effective but costly stretch mark treatment. The types of lasers are advised according to the type of stretch marks. This should be reserved for when you are done having children. Different types of lasers can be used. It is not only a very costly procedure, but you will also need to take out time for more than three visits to the dermatologist.

5. Micro Needling

If interested, you can also opt for micro-needling. It treats the appearance of skin problems like stretch marks and acne with the help of radio frequencies.

Conclusion

No one likes to have stretch marks, but you cannot prevent stretch marks from appearing during pregnancy. But you don’t need to lose your heart because there are many anti-stretch mark treatments you can use after giving birth to your baby. You can choose them according to your choice and budget and minimize the appearance of these stretch marks after childbirth.