How Can I Minimize The Appearance Of Stretch Marks?

Luckily, there are some things you can do to minimize the appearance of stretch marks. The main thing you need to do is moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.

Look for products that contain shea butter or cocoa butter as a base as these are incredibly nourishing and use your fingertips to massage the moisturizer into skin so that it can get to work on the deeper layers of skin.

Take Vitamin C

Vitamin C is thought to improve the suppleness of skin and it could even increase collagen production, improving the elasticity of skin. The more elastic the skin, the less likely it is that stretch marks will appear. If you start taking a vitamin C supplement when your stretch marks are in the early stages, they could fade and turn silvery-white more quickly. Leslie Baumann, author of The Skin Type Solution recommends taking 500mg of Vitamin C three times a day. Some experts also advise crushing a vitamin C capsule into your regular moisturizer so that the vitamin C can get to work on the skin from the outside in.

Retinoids and Glycolic Acid

Retinoids are thought to be effective because they increase collagen production, evening out the texture of skin, preventing further tears and increasing suppleness. You shouldn't use retinoids if you're pregnant and generally, they won't be effective on old stretch marks.

Glycolic acid is another topical solution, in the same family of treatments as chemical peels, also thought to increase the production of collagen. For the best results, use retinoids and glycolic acid alongside vitamin C supplements.

Vitamin E Oil

Widely touted as the "miracle cure", vitamin E oil has long been used to fade the appearance of stretch marks. However, one study found that vitamin E oil is most effective in women who are pregnant, and this is possibly due to the interaction of the vitamin E with the hormones that occur during pregnancy. Still, it can't hurt to try - use your vitamin E oil with a carrier cream, oil or moisturizer.

Laser Treatment

Laser treatment is thought to be one of the most effective non-invasive stretch mark treatments. Laser light is guided by a dermatologist or surgeon over the stretch marks, where it damages the stretch marks, encouraging the growth of new, stretch mark-free skin over the following 12 months. It can be painful, and it can be pricey, but if you've tried everything else but don't want to go under the knife, laser treatment might well be your best option.

Stretch marks can be tricky to minimize. But with the right mix of treatments and the right lifestyle, you can reduce their appearance.