Fat Loss Stretch Marks
Fat Loss Stretch Marks
Do you want to show off your new beach figure but are concerned about getting stretch marks from losing weight? They may be an obvious reminder of the body you have worked so hard to leave behind, despite the fact that they are harmless.
If you are considering losing weight or having stretch marks before or after, read on to learn how to improve the image of your former body!
- The formation of stretch marks can result from either weight gain or decrease.
- One way to minimize or lessen the effects of stretch marks is to prepare your body for weight changes.
- You can also use lotions and other therapies to lessen their effects.
This essay will analyze the following:
- reasons why stretch marks might appear both before and after losing weight.
- The prevention of stretch marks during or after weight loss.
- How to deal with stretch marks.
Most often, stretch marks are caused by the skin’s fast stretching, which breaks the skin’s inner layers.
Is it typical to have stretch marks while trying to lose weight?
Up to 90% of people have stretch marks, which is tremendously frequent. Although they are more prevalent in those who were assigned female at birth, stretch marks can also appear in those who were assigned male.
For the most part, stretch marks are caused by abrupt changes in bodily growth or severe weight gain. It is usual for stretch marks to appear during pregnancy, adolescence, and obesity.
Although stretch marks are less prevalent when losing weight, they might still occur if your weight changes drastically or quickly.
Signs And Symptoms Of Stretch Marks
Stretch marks can appear on your skin as red, pink, purple, blue, or black streaks. New stretch marks will have a shiny or crimson appearance and appear somewhat elevated. They ultimately turn white and take on a somewhat melancholy appearance.
Older stretch marks could resemble scars. They can appear anywhere that fat is deposited on the body. The thighs, hips, buttocks, and breasts are where they most frequently appear. Additionally, they may show up on your arms, back, shoulders, or belly. It may surprise you to hear that stretch marks can occur in both men and women.
Why do stretch marks occur with losing weight?
Although some stretching and tearing may result from excess skin following abrupt, drastic weight loss, most stretch marks are not genuinely caused by weight loss. Stretch marks, particularly on the stomach, are more prone to occur when you gain weight. However, when you start losing weight again, they usually become more noticeable.
Overall, several factors, such as hormones and genetics, influence your likelihood of developing stretch marks following weight loss, childbirth, or rapid muscle growth followed by a decrease. The skin may rupture in these situations if it is stretched too quickly for the underlying connective tissue to keep up. The stretch mark is a kind of scar that results from this.
Strata dispensers, a particular kind of stretch mark brought on by skin stretching, are typically seen with weight loss. There are other kinds of stretch marks, such as stirae atrophica, which appear when the skin is too thin.
Your skin might respond by tightening and contracting when you lose weight gradually. Your skin might not be able to adjust to your altered body composition if you lose weight too quickly or drastically.
The dermis, the middle layer of skin, tears as a result of the extra skin hanging and tugging on the surrounding skin.
A fresh stretch mark might be red, brown, or purple because a rip in your dermis causes an inflammatory reaction that increases blood flow to the area.
As time passes, the dermal tears heal and disappear, leaving behind the pale, noticeable lines that are typical of older stretch marks.
Stretch marks can occur in anybody who loses weight, but your risk may be increased by other variables like hormones, genetics, and underlying medical disorders.
Does losing weight increase the visibility of stretch marks?
Following weight loss, stretch marks may seem more severe to some people.
Your skin may stretch more if you gain weight quickly, such as during pregnancy, and get stretch marks. If you lose weight quickly after giving birth, however, you might get stretch marks again.
The stretch caused by loose skin during weight loss may make the stretch from weight gain worse.
Not everyone who loses weight sees that their stretch marks have gotten worse. The beginning, look, and development of striae depend on your particular circumstances. Sometimes, stretch marks may even become less noticeable as you lose weight.
7 Advice on how to reduce stretch marks when losing weight
Although stretch marks are prevalent, you can lower your risk of getting them while losing weight.
1. Manage your weight:
Maintaining a healthy weight is one of the best ways to avoid stretch marks, whether or not you are pregnant. Rapid weight gain can cause your skin to tear apart quickly, which might result in stretch marks. Following rapid weight loss, stretch marks may also be seen. Some people may get stretch marks when they go through fast growth stages like puberty. Others, like as bodybuilders, become aware of them following significant gains from steroid use or exercise.
The best course of action might be to try to prevent too rapid changes in your physical appearance. Exercise and a nutritious diet will help you control your weight. It could be wise to see your doctor to find out why you are experiencing sudden weight gain or loss.
2. Drink plenty of water:
Maintaining moisturized and soft skin may be facilitated by drinking adequate water. Compared to dry skin, soft skin is less likely to get stretch marks. The Institute of Medicine states that men and women should drink 104 and 72 ounces of water daily, respectively.
Coffee and other caffeinated beverages may make stretch marks more likely to appear. Drink plenty of water, herbal tea, and other caffeine-free beverages to balance your fluid intake if you drink coffee.
3. Eat a diet high in nutrients:
Lack of nourishment in some regions might also result in stretch marks. Consuming meals high in skin health may be beneficial. Make certain that the things you eat are high in:
Vitamins C and D.
Zinc, vitamin E, and Protein
Making a choice of unprocessed foods with different hues is one approach to ensure you are getting a range of nutrients. A breakfast of eggs, whole wheat toast, and mixed berries, for instance, gives your plate a multitude of colors and a wealth of nutrients.
- Lean meats such as tuna, salmon, and turkey
- Berries
- Fruits with citrus
- Red, orange, and green vegetables
- Nuts and Beans
You can help your skin resist the strain that comes with losing weight by eating foods that promote its suppleness and elasticity.
Drinking lots of water and concentrating on foods that contain the following are advised by the American Pregnancy Association:
Vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin C, zinc, and silica
4. Make sure your diet contains vitamin C:
Your skin’s strength and elasticity are maintained in part by collagen. In addition to helping to lessen the visibility of wrinkles, it might also be crucial for avoiding stretch marks.
For the creation of collagen, vitamin C is essential. Many fruits and vegetables contain vitamin C. Vitamin C is particularly abundant in citrus fruits like lemons and oranges.
5. Take in some vitamin D:
According to one study, stretch marks are more common when vitamin D levels are insufficient. Although more research is required, the findings indicate that stretch marks may be less likely if you maintain enough levels of vitamin D.
The easiest way to get vitamin D is to put yourself in the sun. Additionally, bread, cereal, and dairy items like milk or yogurt frequently include the vitamin.
6. Eat meals high in zinc:
Zinc is one nutrient that is essential for optimal skin health. It contributes to wound healing and helps lower inflammation. Consuming foods high in zinc, including nuts and fish, may help maintain good skin, although there is currently very little research linking zinc to stretch marks.
7. As soon as new stretch marks appear, treat them:
If you are unable to completely avoid getting stretch marks on your skin, you can try to make them less obvious over time. Make an appointment to discuss your options with a dermatologist or your doctor if you have recently developed stretch marks.
In addition to helping you identify the cause of your markings, your doctor might be able to recommend treatments that are most effective for newly developed stretch marks.
Risk variables
Stretch marks are more common in some persons. These are the risk factors:
- A family history of women’s stretch marks
- obesity,
- pregnancy,
- rapid weight gain or loss, and
- use of corticosteroids
getting breast augmentations
harboring certain genetic conditions, such as Marfan syndrome or Cushing’s syndrome
How may gaining weight help me avoid getting stretch marks?
Although there are treatments for stretch marks both before and after weight loss, the most effective course of action begins either before or during weight gain. However, since weight increase is not always expected, this is not always feasible. However, you should begin right away if you are aware that you will gain weight—for instance, as a result of bodybuilding, pregnancy, or as a side effect of receiving steroids or another medical therapy.
Maintaining a healthy diet and getting regular exercise will help you support your skin. Make an effort to incorporate skin-healthy elements like zinc, vitamins E and C, and water to stay hydrated. Frequent exercise will increase skin suppleness and circulation in addition to keeping you in shape.
Stretch marks typically show up as purplish-blue, pink, or red streaks when they are still fresh. They get thinner, paler, and more indented over time, resembling scars.
You should apply heavy moisturizers, cosmetic oils, or topical stretch mark treatments to keep your skin firm and hydrated.
Skin that is supple and well-hydrated is more elastic and can react to pressures more effectively, which may lead to stretch marks. Naturally, if you are pregnant, you should confirm that the treatment is appropriate for your condition. For instance, Mederma Stretch Marks Therapy is advised to be used starting in the second trimester.
How can I avoid getting stretch marks when I am trying to lose weight?
You most likely do not want stretch marks to be the obvious outcome of your weight loss efforts, regardless of whether you want to tone your body, regain your former self, or have to reduce weight for other reasons.
Excess skin following abrupt, drastic weight loss may result in some straining and ripping in addition to any stretch marks from weight gain. Therefore, as previously mentioned, it is beneficial to lose weight gradually with regular exercise and a nutritious diet if you wish to reduce a significant amount of weight. Above all, maintain proper hydration to provide your skin with the suppleness it needs to contract again.
How should stretch marks be treated both before and after losing weight?
Have you lost weight yet? Well done! You may feel self-conscious about the residual stretch marks, or you may be disappointed that your efforts did not yield the results you had hoped for. Do not be concerned! Losing weight has already demonstrated your strength, so you will have no trouble handling this one.
The market offers a variety of topical oils and lotions. The majority can be purchased over-the-counter, while some are only available with a prescription.
The best stretch mark treatments are those that are designed to help increase the production of collagen by containing, for instance, hyaluronic acid or a hydrolyzed collagen supplement along with calming and moisturizing ingredients that tighten and plump your skin to improve the texture of your skin. Both chemical and physical exfoliation, as well as light massage to promote circulation locally, can enhance the effects of such products.
Consult a Dermatologist
You should speak with your dermatologist if none of these solutions work for you. You can talk with a dermatologist about more intrusive alternatives like radiotherapy, laser therapy, ultrasound therapy, and microneedling.
Surgery is the most extreme course of treatment, however, it is usually not necessary. Rehydrating your skin with topical moisturizers, like those in the Mederma line, is still essential to promoting its healing during these procedures.
When you are starting a weight loss regimen, consulting a dermatologist early on can help you keep your skin healthy. With regard to the skin at every stage of life, dermatologists possess extensive knowledge. In order to help, they can also recommend drugs, such as topical creams.
Solutions for stretch marks
Although there are ways to treat stretch marks, no one method is effective for everyone. Most options have little research to support them.
Some examples of topical treatments are:
- Silicone gels and moisturizers with vitamins
- Peels with chemical tretinoin cream
The following physical therapies and procedures are available:
- Broadband UV radiation exposure, massage, laser, and light therapy
- treatment with radiofrequency
- Magnetic fields that pulse during microdermabrasion or micro-needling
- Treatment with galvanopuncture ultrasonic
- Not all available treatments for stretch marks are suitable for certain skin types. You can get advice from your dermatologist on which treatments are best for your particular skin condition.
Do stretch marks disappear with time?
Stretch marks may eventually become less noticeable once the inflammatory reaction has subsided and the wounds have completely healed.
However, most stretch marks will not go away entirely with the natural shedding of surface skin cells over time because of structural changes in the deeper middle layer of the skin.
Treatment for stretch marks can often enhance their look, depending on their location, size, number, and visibility. No treatment is 100% successful in getting rid of stretch marks.
Conclusion
Both weight increase and weight loss are linked to striae or stretch marks. The strain of extra skin after rapid or drastic weight loss tears the dermis, or middle layer, of the skin, causing a stretch mark.
Stretch marks can be avoided after weight loss if you reduce your weight gradually. However, the likelihood of this skin condition is also increased by hormones, genetics, and other factors.
Although stretch marks typically do not go away on their own, they can be made to look better with topical treatments and dermatological procedures.
FAQs
Will I get loose skin if I lose weight and have stretch marks?
As you gain weight, more fat is stored beneath your skin, which causes it to eventually stretch. The skin becomes sagging and develops stretch marks as a result of the loss of fat beneath it when you dramatically reduce your weight, whether by diet and exercise or surgery.
How to clear A stretch mark naturally?
Natural solutions for stretch marks
vitamin A. The term “retinoid” refers to vitamin A found in skin care products. hyaluronic acid. One of the most effective ingredients for skin healing and moisturizing is hyaluronic acid.
… Coconut oil… Aloe vera… Sugar… Centella.
Is it OK to get stretch marks?
Stretch marks are not painful or dangerous, but some people do not like how they look on their skin. Stretch marks need not require treatment. With or without therapy, they frequently go away with time. They might never go away entirely.
How to remove stretch marks fast?
When applied to the skin, retinoids, which are derived from vitamin A, such as tretinoin (Retin-A, Renova, Avita), can make stretch marks that are less than a few months old look better. When it is effective, tretinoin helps to repair collagen, a protein in the skin, which makes stretch marks appear more like your natural skin.
References:
- Gillette, H. (2024, February 1). Can You Get Stretch Marks From Losing Weight? Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/weight-loss/can-you-get-stretch-marks-from-losing-weight#summary
- How to Care for Stretch Marks Before and After Weight Loss | Mederma®. (2023, July 5). mederma.com. https://www.mederma.com/article/how-to-care-for-stretch-marks-after-weight-loss-gain/
- SOG Health Pte. Ltd. (n.d.). Stretch Marks & Weight Loss: Everything You Need To Know – SOG Health Pte. Ltd. https://www.sog.com.sg/blog/stretch-marks-weight-loss-everything-you-need-to-know/
- Marcin, A. (2023, July 21). 7 Tips to Help Prevent Stretch Marks. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-prevent-stretch-marks#acting-fast