How to Deal with Stretch Marks

Stretch marks are a natural part of life, but often we want to improve the way they look. Read on for some simple tips on how to deal with stretch marks.

Want to reduce the appearance of stretch marks? Vaseline® Jelly helps soothe skin.  After losing or gaining weight (during pregnancy or puberty, for example), stretch marks can form on the skin. These can sometimes make us feel self-conscious and leave us asking questions such as: “Can I use petroleum jelly for stretch marks?”

The good news is that, while it’s very difficult to get rid of stretch marks, there are simple methods that may help improve the appearance of stretch marks over time, and may reduce the risk of developing them in the future.

Stretch marks are caused when the skin is stretched very quickly. Pregnant women and growing teens are prone to developing stretch marks, and they usually appear in places such as the stomach, breasts, and hips. They often start off as parallel streaks in a faint pink or purplish color, then gradually darken or fade to white depending on your skin tone. Stretch marks may also be a slightly different texture to your overall body skin.

Tips for Dealing with Stretch Marks

1. Does Vaseline® Jelly Help Stretch Marks?
   If you do experience eczema on hands or feet, don’t scratch. Some home remedies include changing your laundry detergent and cleaning your bathtub with bleach to kill the bacteria that lives on eczema hands. If you do experience eczema on hands or feet, don’t scratch. Some home remedies include changing your laundry detergent and cleaning your bathtub with bleach to kill the bacteria that lives on eczema hands.
   
   Vaseline® Jelly helps to lock moisture into the skin – moisture that’s needed to maintain skin elasticity. When the skin becomes dry, the corneocytes (skin cells) can’t draw moisture into their cells, which means they lose some of their strength and structure. Vaseline® Jelly helps to restore dry, damaged skin cells by sealing in moisture to facilitate the natural skin cell renewal process. Keeping the skin well hydrated is one of the best cosmetic approaches to dry skin issues.
   
   
2. Moisturize & Massage Your Skin
   While stretch marks may be impossible to avoid, it is believed that good skin elasticity may help to reduce the impact of stretch marks. The skin relies on moisture to maintain this elasticity, so a good moisturizer that’s gentle on the skin and helps lock in moisture can help to keep your skin supple. Try massaging a moisturizing cream or lotion that contains petroleum jelly into your skin using circular motions – the physical act of massaging may be beneficial for stretch marks as it can help promote new tissue growth and break down the bands of collagen that form in the underlying tissue leading to stretch marks.
   
   
3. A Last Resort
   Stretch marks are a natural part of life. However, if you’re very troubled by them, consult your doctor who may recommend a more intensive treatment. Microdermabrasion, which is often used as a treatment for acne, may be beneficial in reducing the appearance of stretch marks. However, this option may cause irritation to the skin.
   
   Stretch marks may fade with time, but to give skin that is under stress a little extra help, try the above steps. T he res ults may not be instant, but it may be possible to eventually achieve smooth, more even looking skin over time.
   
   Expert Advice
   The advice in this article does not constitute medical advice, it is solely available for information purposes.