How long do stretch marks last

Causes, Treatment Options & Prevention

Overview

What are stretch marks?

Stretch marks (striae) are discolored, slightly sunken (depressed), scar-like lines in your skin. They appear when your skin rapidly stretches or shrinks.

Stretch marks generally appear on your:

Abdominal area (stomach).
Thighs.
Hips.
Breasts (boobs).
Upper arms.
Lower back.
Buttocks (butt).

Who do stretch marks affect?

Anyone can get stretch marks. But you’re more likely to develop stretch marks if:

You’re pregnant, especially if you’re Black, Hispanic, East Asian or South Asian.
You suddenly gain or lose a lot of weight.
Your muscles get bigger quickly through bodybuilding or weightlifting.
You’re experiencing a growth spurt during adolescence.
You have a family history of stretch marks (genetics).
You have Cushing’s syndrome or Marfan syndrome.
You’ve been on prednisone long term.

How common are stretch marks?

Stretch marks are common. Between 50% and 90% of all people who are pregnant develop stretch marks.

How do stretch marks affect my body?

Stretch marks don’t hurt, but they can affect your mental health. They can make you worry about how others look at you. They can also affect how you think about yourself and your behavior. You may experience stress, anxiety and depression.

Symptoms and Causes

What are the symptoms of stretch marks?

Stretch mark symptoms may include:

Sunken lines in your skin.
Discoloration (red, pink, blue, black, purple or brown).
Skin gradually becomes glossy and appears streaked in silver or white.
Itchiness.
Irritation.

What causes stretch marks?

When your skin rapidly stretches or shrinks, it causes the elastin and collagen in your skin to break. Elastin’s main role is to allow your skin to stretch. Collagen’s main role is to provide structure, strength and support to your skin. As your skin heals, stretch marks appear in areas where elastin breaks.

Are stretch marks contagious?

No, stretch marks aren’t contagious. You can’t spread stretch marks through skin-to-skin contact.

Diagnosis and Tests

How are stretch marks diagnosed?

Stretch marks are easy to diagnose. You don’t necessarily need your healthcare provider to diagnose them.

If you see your healthcare provider, they’ll conduct a physical examination and look over your medical history. If they suspect that your stretch marks are a symptom of Cushing’s syndrome, they may order additional tests.

Management and Treatment

How are stretch marks treated?

In general, treating stretch marks is difficult. Treatment improves the appearance of stretch marks, but they may not go away completely. Addressing your stretch marks when they first appear yields the best results. Older, deep stretch marks may be more challenging to treat.

Treatment options include:

Laser skin resurfacing

Laser skin resurfacing is a type of surgery. Your healthcare provider directs short, concentrated, pulsating beams of light on your stretch marks. The laser removes layers of your skin very precisely, which stimulates the growth of new collagen fibers to create smoother skin.

You should see an immediate difference after treatment. Your skin may continue to improve for up to a year, and the improvement may last for several years.

Side effects may include the appearance of small white bumps on your skin (milia), swelling, dark areas of skin (hyperpigmentation) and light areas of skin (hypopigmentation).

Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion is a type of surgery. Your healthcare provider uses a specialized instrument to scrape away your stretch marks. The process improves your skin contour and results in smooth new skin.

It will likely take at least two weeks for your skin to heal. You should see full, complete results several weeks or months after the procedure.

Side effects may include milia, hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, swelling and enlarged pores.

Microneedling

During microneedling, your healthcare provider pokes your skin with thin needles. The tiny punctures stimulate the growth of new collagen and elastin fibers to create firmer skin. Most people require between three and six treatments to see results.

Some people see full, complete results within four to six months. But it may take longer.

Side effects may include irritation, discoloration, swelling and flaky skin.

Retinol

Retinol comes from vitamin A. It’s an ingredient in many over-the-counter (OTC) anti-aging skin care creams because of its ability to improve wrinkles, skin texture and your skin’s hydration levels.

Retinol creams may require at least six months of regular use before you see noticeable results.

Side effects may include dry skin, irritation, discoloration and light sensitivity.

Are there any home remedies for stretch marks?

Research suggests that some home remedies may help treat or prevent stretch marks, including:

Aloe vera gel.
Hyaluronic acid.
Centella asiatica herb.

Gently massage the product into your stretch marks every day for the best results. It may take several weeks before you start seeing results.

If you’re pregnant, it’s a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider before you use these products.

Does cocoa butter get rid of stretch marks?

Many people believe that cocoa butter, coconut oil, olive oil and almond oil help improve stretch marks. However, studies show that they don’t effectively treat or prevent stretch marks.

Do stretch marks go away?

Stretch marks will eventually go away or become less noticeable on their own. You don’t necessarily need to treat your stretch marks.

How long do stretch marks take to fade?

In general, stretch marks take between six and 12 months to fade. With treatment, they often fade faster.

Prevention

How can I reduce my risk of developing stretch marks?

You can’t do anything that guarantees that you won’t develop stretch marks. But a combination of hydration, diet and exercise can help reduce your risk.

Hydration

Drink plenty of water. Water helps keep your skin stay soft, so you’re less likely to develop stretch marks.

Drinking caffeine can also increase your risk of developing stretch marks. If you drink a lot of coffee, tea or soda pop, it’s a good idea to drink as much — or more — water.

Diet

It’s also a good idea to eat foods that promote healthy skin, including foods:

Rich in zinc, such as nuts or fish.
High in vitamins A, C and D, such as carrots, citrus fruits and milk.
Rich in protein, such as lentils, beans, broccoli, lean beef and chicken.

Exercise

Exercise increases circulation and helps your body produce collagen. Increased circulation and collagen help your skin stay strong and stretchy.

Outlook / Prognosis

What can I expect if I have stretch marks?

Stretch marks may be difficult to treat, but they aren’t harmful to your physical health. They’ll also become less noticeable over time, even without treatment.

Living With

When should I see my healthcare provider?

It isn’t necessary to see your healthcare provider about stretch marks. But it’s a good idea if your stretch marks cover a large area of your skin or you’d like to explore treatment options. Certain stretch mark creams or medications may cause bad skin reactions.

What questions should I ask my healthcare provider?

What’s causing my stretch marks?
Could anything else cause my stretch marks?
What are my treatment options?
What’s the complete list of side effects for each treatment option?
Should I make any changes to my diet?
When can I expect to see results?

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Stretch marks are a common condition that can affect anyone. Despite how common they are, you may not like how stretch marks look on your body. Talk to your healthcare provider about how you can reduce the appearance of stretch marks. Together, you can decide what treatment is best for you.

Why they appear and how to get rid of them

Diseases & conditions

Coronavirus Resource Center
Acne
Eczema
Hair loss
Psoriasis
Rosacea
Skin cancer
A to Z diseases
A to Z videos

DIY acne treatment
How dermatologists treat
Skin care: Acne-prone skin
Causes
Is it really acne?

Types & treatments
Childhood eczema
Adult eczema
Insider secrets

Types of hair loss
Treatment for hair loss
Causes of hair loss
Hair care matters
Insider secrets

What is psoriasis
Diagnosis & treatment
Skin, hair & nail care
Triggers
Insider secrets

What is rosacea
Treatment
Skin care & triggers
Insider secrets

Types and treatment
Find skin cancer
Prevent skin cancer
Raise awareness
Español

Featured

How Natalie cleared her adult acne

Natalie tried many acne products without success. Find out how a board-certified dermatologist helped Natalie see clear skin before her wedding.

JAK inhibitors: A newer type of medication

JAK inhibitors are helping patients with alopecia areata, eczema/atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and vitiligo. Here’s what you need to know.

Everyday care

Skin care basics
Skin care secrets
Injured skin
Itchy skin
Sun protection
Hair & scalp care
Nail care secrets

Basic skin care
Dry, oily skin
Hair removal
Tattoos and piercings

Anti-aging skin care
For your face
For your skin routine
Preventing skin problems

Bites & stings
Burns, cuts, & other wounds

Itch relief
Poison ivy, oak & sumac
Rashes

Shade, clothing, and sunscreen
Sun damage and your skin
Aprenda a proteger su piel del sol

Your hair
Your scalp

Nail care basics
Manicures & pedicures

Featured

Practice Safe Sun

Everyone's at risk for skin cancer. These dermatologists' tips tell you how to protect your skin.

Relieve uncontrollably itchy skin

Find out what may be causing the itch and what can bring relief.

Darker Skin Tones

Skin care secrets
Hair care
Hair loss
Diseases & Conditions

Acne
Dark spots
Dry skin
Light spots
Razor bumps

Caring for Black hair
Scalp psoriasis
Weaves & extensions

Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia
Frontal fibrosing alopecia
Hairstyles that pull can cause hair loss

Acanthosis nigricans
Acne keloidalis nuchae
Hidradenitis suppurativa
Keloid scars
Lupus and your skin
Sarcoidosis and your skin
Skin cancer
Vitiligo
More diseases & conditions

Featured

Fade dark spots

Find out why dark spots appear and what can fade them.

Untreatable razor bumps or acne?

If you have what feels like razor bumps or acne on the back of your neck or scalp, you may have acne keloidalis nuchae. Find out what can help.

Cosmetic treatments

Your safety
Age spots & dark marks
Cellulite & fat removal
Hair removal
Scars & stretch marks
Wrinkles
Younger-looking skin

Featured

Laser hair removal

You can expect permanent results in all but one area. Do you know which one?

Scar treatment

If you want to diminish a noticeable scar, know these 10 things before having laser treatment.

Botox

It can smooth out deep wrinkles and lines, but the results aren’t permanent. Here’s how long botox tends to last.

Public health programs

Skin cancer awareness
Free skin cancer screenings
Kids' camp
Good Skin Knowledge
Shade Structure grants
Skin Cancer, Take a Hike!™
Awareness campaigns
Flyers & posters
Get involved

Lesson plans and activities
Community grants

Featured

Free materials to help raise skin cancer awareness

Use these professionally produced online infographics, posters, and videos to help others find and prevent skin cancer.

Dermatologist-approved lesson plans, activities you can use

Free to everyone, these materials teach young people about common skin conditions, which can prevent misunderstanding and bullying.

Find a dermatologist

Find a dermatologist
What is a dermatologist?
FAAD: What it means
How to select a dermatologist
Telemedicine appointments
Prior authorization
Dermatologists team up to improve patient care

Featured

Find a Dermatologist

You can search by location, condition, and procedure to find the dermatologist that’s right for you.

What is a dermatologist?

A dermatologist is a medical doctor who specializes in treating the skin, hair, and nails. Dermatologists care for people of all ages.

Stretching and training: when, how and how much - FITBAR.RU blog

Flexibility is one of the most important qualities of an athlete for the training process. Stretching is an excellent helper for increasing the amplitude of exercises, which is especially important with active muscle growth. In addition, increased flexibility will help protect against injuries, sprains, joint and muscle pain. But there are a number of nuances that you should pay attention to so that stretching is not harmful.

Best time to stretch

Stretching is a process associated with complete relaxation, therefore it is not recommended to do flexibility exercises before the start of the training process, so as not to relax the muscles. Before training, it is better to do a light warm-up, but after sports, stretching is simply necessary, because it:

relieves tension in muscles and ligaments, relaxing the body
is an excellent stimulator of blood circulation
has a positive effect on the rate of regeneration of injured muscles

stretching after training prevents muscle tissue deformation and sprains
relieves pain after strength training, especially with high weight loads
prevents muscle pain the next day after training

It is very important to start exercising for stretching immediately after the end of the training process, while the muscles are well warmed up. But not only when stretching affects the level of its effectiveness for the athlete. No less important is how it will be done.

How to properly stretch

Do not drink before stretching: a full stomach will prevent proper cool down.
Set yourself up for relaxation: stretching after a workout will not work if you exert yourself a little.
Watch your breathing: it should be slow and deep.
Never make sudden movements: change positions smoothly, holding each phase for 30 seconds
Pay special attention to stretching exercises for the calf, dorsal and lumbar muscles - they are the main ones at risk for injury and pain the next day.

How much time to spend

On average, stretching the muscles after a workout should last from 15 to 20 minutes. This time is enough to do exercises for all important muscle groups slowly. It is extremely important to take your time here: the longer you stretch today, the less your body will hurt the next day. Remember this principle, pay attention to relaxation and get the most benefit.

Don't miss interesting news and events in the telegram channel: https://tlgg.ru/fitbarnews

Rate the article

Streteching classes | Club "Fitness Trud", South Administrative District, near metro stations Nagatinskaya, Tulskaya, Verkhnie Kotly

Dear members of the club!

February 23, 24, 25, March 8 club will be

from 9.00 to 22.00.

Pool hours:

10. 00-13.00, 18.45-21.00

Stretching exercises are designed to work out problem areas and increase muscle elasticity. The more flexible the muscles, the better the process of tissue regeneration will take place, which means that the body will recover faster and maintain its youth.

It is best to start exercising with a trainer, because incorrectly performed exercises can bring more harm than good. Our club in Moscow has all the conditions to make all training sessions as pleasant and effective as possible.

Request a call back

Your name:

Your phone:

By clicking on the "Submit" button, I consent to the processing of personal data and agree to the Privacy Policy

1
Level of training

These stretching classes do not require a special level of training and have no age restrictions. All workouts are conducted under the supervision of an experienced trainer who will always help you perform the exercises correctly.
2
How the training works

Stretching lessons and stretching classes are held in a group. Each lesson lasts 30 minutes. The workouts include exercises to work out one and several muscle groups.

Every workout starts with a warm-up, which is very important for stretching. Without warming up the muscles, the chance of injury or discomfort after exercise increases. During training, the local temperature in the muscle area rises, which also helps to stimulate the work of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. At the very end, there are muscle relaxation exercises that help to relax the body after a workout.
3
Benefits of training

Since stretching is aimed at improving the elasticity and firmness of the muscles, this also affects the state of the whole organism. Pain and tension go away due to work with nerve and muscle blocks. It also affects the figure, excess weight is lost. Stretching or stretching helps in the formation of correct posture, prevents problems with the spine and reduces salt deposits in the body.
4
The result of training

As a result, constant group stretching helps:
- get rid of the feeling of stiffness and tightness in the shoulder area;
- get rid of pain in the lower back and in different parts of the body;
- improve posture;
- prevent various diseases;
- improve concentration, get rid of the feeling of constant fatigue;
- make the body more mobile and plastic, improve coordination of movements;
- work out various muscle groups;
- become more calm and emotionally balanced even in stressful situations.
In fact, there are many more benefits to stretching in a fitness club. It all depends on the characteristics of the body and the problems that you want to solve with classes. In general, this is a great way to heal and rejuvenate the body, as well as feel better.
5
Indications

This class will be useful for those who:
- always wanted to have a plastic and toned body;
- leads a sedentary lifestyle, but wants to take care of the state of his body;
- experiences pain or tension in various parts of the body;
- for those who are already involved in any sport.
  Learn more

Welcome

Find us on iTunes!

Popular Posts