Steroids Done Right

There are a lot of things that cause stretch marks, like weight gain, pregnancy, and lack of moisture in the air. Stretch marks aren’t harmful, but they are unsightly, and if you are a woman, you will probably get them at some point in your life.

You may be wondering why people get stretch marks. Stretch marks are formed when the top layer of skin is stretched too far, and the skin tears. As these tiny tears heal, scar tissue forms and the area is left wrinkled and misshapen. For most people, they will fade as years go by, but sometimes they just won’t go away. Many resort to surgical procedures to get rid of stretch marks, but they can often be prevented by maintaining your weight, and taking good care of your skin.

The other reasons that someone may get stretch marks are: extremely dry skin, continued cycles of weight gain and loss, and malnutrition. All of these things can make the collagen and elastin in your skin deteriorate, and your skin will be less resilient- leading to stretch marks. Read a little further for some good tips on treating and minimizing stretch marks.

Regular exercise is beneficial not only to your skin, but to your entire body. It increases circulation all over, keeping your skin replenished and supple. Also, a good “sweat session” will flush all those toxins and dead skin cells out of your pores, stimulating your skin’s natural renewal.

Fresh skin is more evenly textured and resilient, which will prevent stretch marks from forming. A good workout will reduce stress and possibly keep hormones balanced, which will help your skin stay healthy.

If you don’t already, choose a good moisturizer and apply it consistently. Ideally, your moisturizer will contain vitamin E, and cocoa or shea butter. Apply it twice a day, preferably after a bath because that will seal moisture into your skin. Remember, consistency is key!

Enjoy a balanced and healthy diet. Eating a lot of lean protein, fruits, and vegetables (and cutting down or eliminating tobacco and alcohol) will improve the condition of your skin. Select foods that have a lot of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. These ingredients will stimulate the skin cells’ natural renewal process, making the skin look stronger and reducing stretch marks.

There are many skin care and cosmetic products that work well on stretch marks. Those that have a higher concentration of vitamin A and vitamin E are great at preventing stretch marks from forming, and treating those that you may already have.

Some cosmetics and skin care products work against stretch marks, also. Those that are loaded with vitamins (such as vitamin A and vitamin E) are excellent at preventing stretch marks from forming, as well as treating ones that are already present.

For those who want to keep it natural, there are quite a few herbal preparations that promote healthy and supple skin. Ingredients like vitamin A, vitamin E, olive oil, and aloe vera work well when applied directly to the affected area. All of these will make you have more elastic, moisturized skin.

There are home remedies that are effective too- combining ingredients like egg whites and oatmeal will help to make stretch marks less noticeable, as well as encouraging the growth of new skin tissue. While they aren’t as fast-acting as a surgery, these natural and homemade remedies will work over time.

Unfortunately, there’s no real way to guarantee that you won’t get stretch marks. Most cases can be minimized through a balanced diet and a good workout program. Most of us will have to deal with stretch marks eventually, and no matter how you choose to treat them, it is possible to maintain healthy and stretch mark-free skin.