Speed is good””quick-moving lines, rapid Internet connections, express order deliveries. But sometimes, moving fast can have consequences. Like when you gain weight too quickly. You might end up with unsightly, zigzagged streaks known as stretch marks on your skin.
Commonly appearing during pregnancy or the teen years, stretch marks are the result of rapid weight gain or growth spurts. They’re formed when the layer of tissue below the skin grows at a faster rate than the outer skin layer, stretching and tearing the surface.
Stretch marks start off as slightly raised reddish-purplish lines, usually in the areas of the body where the highest amount of fat is stored (abdomen, breasts, buttocks and thighs) and eventually fade into more deeply indented white or silver scars.
Besides rapid weight gain, genetic factors also play a part in the development of stretch marks. If your mother had them, chances are you will have them as well.
The best way to deal with stretch marks is to fight them before they appear. Apply oil or cream with cocoa butter, shea butter, vitamin E or almond oil as the main ingredient into stretch mark-prone areas twice daily: after getting out of the shower and before going to bed. Massage deeply into the skin, working in an upward, circular motion.
Natural stretch mark creams can help keep skin soft, supple and healthy. To minimize the appearance of stretch marks that have already formed, you may want to try exfoliation.