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Stretch marks are beautiful. They really are. You might feel embarrassed or weird about them on a personal level. But where I come from, I think stretch marks are a sign that something drastic has happened to you. Maybe you are blessed with a child or lost a lot of weight, or maybe gained some. So why hide?
However, if you think that getting rid of stretch marks will make you feel better, then you have all the permission in the world.
This article is about how to get rid of purple stretch marks naturally. The one you see initially and then they transform into white ones.
What are purple stretch marks?
In simple words, stretch marks happen when your skin gets stretched beyond its limits.
Your skin is basically made up of elastin and collagen fibers that help keep the skin healthy and supple. But when these fibers get damaged due to abnormal stretching, they form stretch marks.
In the beginning, when the stretch marks are fairly new, they will appear like thin reddish purple lines on the skin. It is mainly because of the tiny blood vessels which are peeking through the skin. They may also feel a little itchy and raised on touching.
But when the stretch marks get older, they change into white lines and later fade into the skin and match its color.
Why do you get purple stretch marks?
It is so common to see stretch marks when there is a sudden change in the body and your skin stretches. For instance, during pregnancy, quick gain or loss of weight, rapid muscle growth due to weight training, or body changes when a person hits puberty.
where are you most likely to get purple stretch marks?
You may not see purple stretch marks everywhere; instead, they commonly appear on some specific areas like
- abdomen
- lower back
- thighs
- buttocks
- hips
- breasts
- upper arm
Again, stretch marks are like permanent scars. They won’t go away any sooner. But purple stretch marks are considerably easier to treat than white or silver ones. This is because they actually respond to the treatments and improve the appearance of the marks before they get worse.
How long does it take for purple stretch marks to fade?
Getting rid of stretch marks is a long, tiring, and, most of the time, disappointing process, as you have to try many natural and chemical products to find the one that helps your skin type and issue.
Since purple stretch marks are newer scars, it can take considerably less time for the marks to fade. You can see a clear, noticeable difference after 6-12 months of consistent use of treatment. But if you don’t do anything, stretch marks can stay with you for years.
So it’s really important to take care of them from the first day.
how to get rid of purple stretch marks naturally?
I’ll be honest: it really is hard to treat purple stretch marks naturally with home remedies, just like acne scars. However, there have been studies that say that the moisturizing effects of creams and ointments can help reduce the appearance of scars.
So, if you keep the skin well hydrated and moisturized, it can help majorly. Some other home remedies for purple stretch marks are:
1. drink enough water
Obviously, the best way to keep your body hydrated is to drink enough water. I seriously believe that drinking water consistently every day can be the treatment for most of your skin issues. And stretch marks are no different.
Water can help keep the skin elastic, toned, and hydrated so that your body can naturally prevent more purple stretch marks and reduce the appearance of the current ones and fasten the process of fading the scars.
If you cannot, just cannot get yourself to drink enough water, here are some really useful tips to stay hydrated that have actually helped me stay consistent for more than 2 years.
2. keep skin moisturised
With the same belief, keeping your skin elastic, moisturized, and supple can also help. It may not be the fastest or the best way to get rid of purple stretch marks, but it does help in fastening the process of fading scars.
My top recommendation is to use coconut oil to keep your skin moisturized naturally. It has been an age-old remedy to treat scars and stretch marks at home, and fortunately, it does work. And even my dermatologist recommend that for purple stretch marks! 😉
You can also try using shea butter, hyaluronic acid, and almond oil for the same purpose. My friend saw amazing results from using a shea butter soap and coconut oil as a moisturizer for getting rid of her purple stretch marks.
3. sugar scrubs for exfoliation
Gentle exfoliation has the power to shed away dead skin cells and increase cell production. And I’m a fan of sugar scrubs for that. You can either DIY your own scrub by mixing 5 parts of sugar with 2 parts of coconut oil, 1 part honey, and a few drops of lemon juice to add some lightning effect or get yourself this amazing sugar scrub for a dirt-cheap price.
Massage it gently for about 5-10 minutes, and wash it off. Use it twice or thrice a week for around 2 months consistently to actually see a noticeable difference.
Remember to moisturize your skin every time after exfoliating and to scrub really gently.
4. vitamin A
Vitamin A is basically a retinoid. As we know, they help make the skin appear smoother and younger by boosting collagen production, which is why a variety of over-the-counter cosmetic products contain them.
So, if you can use a topical cream with vitamin A or consume it orally, you could see a noticeable improvement in fading away from the purple stretch marks.
5. aloe vera gel
There is no doubt that aloe vera gel can be the best thing to use for helping the skin. But stretch marks are permanent scars, and aloe vera gel alone cannot really do much.
So, what you can do to get rid of purple stretch marks is to add some antioxidants and collagen-boosting ingredients to the organic aloe vera gel and massage it twice a day to get all the goodness.
You can crush and use 10-15 vitamin A capsules or coconut oil, which have been an age-old remedy to get rid of permanent scars.
How to treat purple stretch marks for real?
If you are looking for quick results, then these treatments are made solely for that purpose.
1. retinoid cream
As already mentioned, retinoid creams can really help boost collagen production in the skin. That is why they are used widely on newer stretch marks to fasten the process of fading purple stretch marks.
Tretinoin (Retin-A) is a common retinoid cream used by many. However, you should strictly avoid it during pregnancy. Many doctors will prescribe alternatives to this, so don’t worry about that.
2. microdermabrasion
This is a minimally invasive procedure used to renew overall skin tone and texture by exfoliating the outer layer of the skin to let new and improved skin grow.
There have been studies that showed visible results on early purple stretch marks with this method.
3. chemical peels
Chemical peeling also works in the same way by exfoliating or removing the topmost layer of the skin to promote new skin growth.
What is the best way to get rid of purple stretch marks?
There have been many natural remedies discussed; however, there are very limited studies and experiments to prove that home remedies can drastically improve the appearance of stretch marks. They can help slightly lighten and fasten the process but cannot eliminate 100% of them.
Neither can chemical procedures. Different people have different responses to different treatments. And even though they perform much better than natural remedies, they cannot make the skin feel like there never was a huge bodily change in your life.
So, the best way to get rid of stretch marks is to accept them, love them, and let them be in their best form. They’ll disappear automatically with time.
Now onto the best products for purple stretch marks –
If natural remedies don’t work for you or you don’t have time to use them consistently, and chemical treatments look like a lot, don’t hesitate to go for store-bought products to get rid of purple stretch marks.
Some of the very popular products that could actually help you are;
1. bio-oil
2. Mederma
3. stretch marks massage oil
3. stretch marks massage lotion
how to prevent purple stretch marks?
I strongly believe that you cannot really do anything to prevent stretch marks because when the skin expands or shrinks drastically, it will show up in some way or another. But what you can do is ensure that the scars are not severe or permanent by taking good care of your skin and self. Eventually, they will fade with time.
- Keep your skin moisturized
- Drink more than the usual amount of water
- Use recommended oils and lotion consistently
- Have a balanced diet full of nutrients and vitamins
- Maintain a healthy weight. If you are pregnant, consult your doctor about all the necessities
That being said, accepting stretch marks and the time they take to go away is really important. And don’t let anyone tell you what part of you is beautiful and what is not.