If you perform a search online for ways to remove stretch marks naturally, you’ll find a number of articles suggesting dozens of ways that you can get rid of your stretch marks using things you probably have in your house right now. These articles claim that rubbing things like castor oil, sugar, aloe vera, or lemon juice onto your skin regularly will get rid of your stretch marks for good.
The problem is that these methods don’t work. If they did, there would be a lot fewer women in the world who feel self-conscious in a bikini after having a baby. Stretch marks can’t be gotten rid of using common household items, and they don’t go away on their own. To get rid of stretch marks, you have to have your stretch marks treated.
Why Don’t Natural Methods Work?
Your skin is composed of three layers. The topmost layer of your skin is called the epidermis, and it is the layer of skin that you can touch and feel. The middle layer of skin is known as the dermis; it is the layer beneath the epidermis. The bottommost layer of skin is called the hypodermis.
When applying natural treatments to your skin, you are only treating the epidermis. However, stretch marks are actually scars in the dermis. This is why stretch mark scars don’t look like other types of scars you get from skin injuries. In order for a treatment to have an effect on stretch marks, it must be able to penetrate the epidermis and affect the dermis.
So Are Stretch Marks a Life Sentence?
No. Just because natural methods of treating stretch marks don’t work, it doesn’t mean that you’ll have to live with your stretch marks forever. There are many lotions and creams available that can significantly reduce the appearance of your stretch marks or get rid of them for good. Like the natural treatments, these products are simply applied regularly to the areas of your body afflicted with stretch marks. With regular application, you will be much more likely to see improvement in your stretch marks than you would using a natural treatment method.
What Other Treatment Options Are Available?
Other common methods of stretch mark removal include deep chemical peels, microdermabrasion, laser treatment, and tummy tuck surgery. Some of these treatments are more effective than others; while laser treatment is an effective method of removing stretch marks, chemical peels and microdermabrasion may simply reduce the appearance of stretch marks.
Disadvantages of alternative stretch mark treatments include costs and risks. Laser treatment can require months of recurring treatments to get rid of stretch marks and can cost between $5,000 and $10,000. Deep chemical peels can leave your skin red and raw for weeks after treatment. A tummy tuck is a serious surgery and carries all of the risks of any surgical procedure.
If you’re interested in finding out the potential costs of alternative stretch mark treatments, use our cost calculator to get an idea of how much you may need to spend to get rid of your stretch marks for good.
