Stretch marks are little tears in the layers of your skin. Like scars, they’ll fade, but they won’t disappear completely.  Stretch marks happen in pregnancy when your skin layers stretch over your fast-growing body. You may have them on your tummy, bottom, thighs and breasts.

Massaging creams, oils, or lotions into the area won’t make the marks disappear. However, using them will make your skin feel smoother and more supple. You don’t need to use expensive creams or oils. A good body cream, or natural oil suitable for skin, will do.  Over the months and years the lines will fade to fine streaks that are closer to your own skin colour. You may not like the look of your stretch marks now, but they will seem a whole lot better in six months’ time.  You could try doing exercises that work on the muscles in the areas of your body where you have stretch marks. Though it won’t get rid of the stretch marks, it will help to tone the area. 

A combination of exercise and healthy eating can help you to feel better about your post-baby body.  Skin cream derived from vitamin A, such as tretinoin (Retin-A), may have a small effect on stretch marks, but it won’t make them disappear.

Your doctor is unlikely to prescribe tretinoin-based cream for stretch marks, and will advise you not to buy any online. It’s risky to use these creams in case you become pregnant again. Tretinoin is known to cause birth defects in unborn babies. The little effect the cream may have on your stretch marks is greatly outweighed by the possible risks of using it.

Until your stretch marks fade, you could use camouflage make-up to conceal areas of skin on show.  Another, more expensive option is cosmetic treatments, such as laser therapy. Cosmetic treatments are not available on the NHS.  Talk to your doctor before opting for cosmetic treatments. She may suggest other ways to help you to feel better about your body.

Original article: https://www.babycentre.co.uk/x2432/how-can-i-get-rid-of-stretch-marks



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