Stretch marks are completely harmless. Some people are perfectly comfortable with their stretch marks and choose to embrace them. But others may not like their appearance and strive to get rid of them.
Not all stretch marks look the same. They can vary depending on where they appear on the body, how long a person had them, and what caused them.
They may appear as bright streaks or bands on the skin that fade to a lighter color. Sometimes stretch marks appear to be indented or sunken.
Causes and Risk Factors
Stretch marks are the result of abrupt stretching and shrinking of the skin.
“Stretch marks can occur when the skin stretches out so rapidly that the collagen and elastin, essential proteins that provide strength and elasticity to the skin, break,” says Dr. Qaisar Ahmed MD, DHMS, clinical dermatology at the Al-Haytham Clinic, Risalpur, KPK, Pakistan.
Common risk factors for stretch marks include:
- Pregnancy.
- Growth spurts during puberty.
- Rapid weight gain or loss.
- Bodybuilding or weightlifting.
- Breast enlargement surgery.
- Steroid use.
Stretch marks after using steroids isn’t only a problem for bodybuilders or weightlifters. It’s also true for prescription steroids when used to treat medical issues, such as in connective tissue disease, arthritis conditions, skin diseases, heart diseases, cancers, respiratory diseases etc.
Prolonged elevated cortisol levels can weaken the elastic fibers in the skin, leading to stretch marks. Marfan syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, two disorders of the body’s connective tissues, both weaken the skin, which can lead to stretch marks.
Allopathic treatment for Stretch Marks
There is not any allopathic magic bullet to get rid of stretch marks, “With any of the treatments available, none of them are a slam dunk,”.
Here are some experimental allopathic medicines for stretch marks:
Retinoid Cream
Tretinoin can cause pain, irritation, and dryness, so be sure to communicate with your patient or your dermatologist.
Microneedling
Laser Skin Resurfacing
Vascular Laser Treatment
Homeopathic treatment for Stretch Marks
Homeopathy has some well proven magic bullets for stretch marks, here are few of them:
Thiosinaminum
Thiosinaminum a specific remedy, are solvent, externally and internally, for dissolving scar tissue, tumors, enlarged glands, lupus, strictures, adhesions. Stretch marks. Ectropion, opacities of cornea, cataract, ankylosis, fibroids, scleroderma. Tinnitus. It helps dissolve tumors, scar tissues, strictures, adhesions, cataracts, and fibroids. Thiosinaminum ointment for dermal use.
Kalium Sulphuricum
Skin pale. Suppressed rash of measles. Abundant scaling of epidermis. Burning itching, papular eruption exuding pus-like moisture. Fine red pimples running together. Scurf, scaling, chapping. Sores with yellow, sticky secretions. Epithelial cancer. Eczema; burning, itching, papular eruption. Nettle-rash. Polypi. Epithelioma. Seborrhea. Stretch marks. Favus. Ring-worm of scalp or beard with abundant scales. Itch. Intertrigo. Nails diseased.
Kalium Phosphoricum
Blue spots on calves as if they would ulcerate. Itching: of whole skin – on chest and under arms, in the night, on scalp and under beard, soles, and palms. Pimples, small boils, itching. Pricking in abdomen as from a pin. Stretch marks.
Silicea Tera
Silica can stimulate the organism to re-absorb fibrotic conditions and scar-tissue. Malnutrition. Keloid growth. Scrofulous. Side effects of vaccination. Felons, abscesses, boils, old fistulous ulcers. Delicate, pale, waxy. Cracks at end of fingers. Painless swelling of glands. Rose-colored blotches. Scars suddenly become painful. Pus offensive. Promotes expulsion of foreign bodies from tissues. Every little injury suppurates. Long lasting suppuration and fistulous tracts. Stretch marks. Dry fingertips. Eruptions. Crippled nails. Indurated tumors. Abscesses of joints. Vaccination side effects. Bursa. Lepra, nodes, and coppery spots. Keloid growths.
Hepar Sulphuricum
Unhealthy skin – every little injury suppurates. Stretch marks. Chapped skin, with deep cracks. Ulcers, with bloody suppuration. Ulcers very sensitive to contact, burning, stinging, easily bleeding. Sweats day and night without relief. “Cold sores” very sensitive. Sticking or pricking in afflicted parts. Putrid ulcers, surrounded by little pimples. Chronic and recurring urticaria. Smallpox. Herpes circinate.
Calcarea Carbonica
Its chief action is centered in the vegetative sphere, impaired nutrition is the keynote of its action. Abscesses in deep muscles; polypi and exostoses. Pituitary and thyroid disfunction. Skin unhealthy; readily ulcerating; flaccid. Stretch marks. Small wounds do not heal readily. Glands swollen. Nettle rash. Warts on face and hands. Petechial eruptions. Chilblains. Boils.
Calcarea Flour
A powerful tissue remedy for hard, stony glands, varicose and enlarged veins, and malnutrition of bones. Hard knots in female breast. Goiter. Congenital hereditary syphilis. Induration threatening suppuration. Marked whiteness of skin. Stretch marks. Scar tissue; adhesions after operations. Chaps and cracks. Fissures or cracks in the palms of the hands, or hard skin. Fissure of the anus. Suppurations with callous, hard edges. Whitlow. Indolent, fistulous ulcers, secreting thick, yellow pus. Hard, elevated edges of ulcer, surrounding skin purple and swollen. Knots, kernels, hardened glands in the female breast. Swellings or indurated enlargements.
Rhus Toxicodendrone
Skin red, swollen; itching intense. Vesicles, herpes; urticaria; pemphigus; erysipelas; vesicular suppurative forms. Glands swollen. Cellulitis. Burning eczematous eruptions with tendency to scale formation. Stretch marks.
Mangifera Indica
Varicose veins. Drowsiness. Atomic conditions, poor circulation, relaxed muscles. Itching of palms. Skin as if sunburned, swollen. Stretch marks. White spots, intense itching. Lobes of ears and lips swollen.
Floricum Acidum
Acts especially upon lower tissues, and indicated in deep, destructive processes, bedsores, ulcerations, varicose veins, and ulcers. Varicose veins. Naevi. Ulcers; red edges and vesicles. Decubitus; worse, warmth. Syphilitic rupia. Itching of cicatrices. Itching especially of the orifices, and in spots, worse warmth. Nails grow rapidly. Periosteal abscess. Profuse, sour, offensive perspiration. Syphilitic tubercles. Stretch marks. Atony of capillary and venous system. Skin bloated.
Cuprum Metallicum
Skin bluish, marbled. Ulcers, itching spots, and pimples at the folds of joints. Chronic psoriasis and lepra. Stretch marks.
Berberis Aquifolium
Best for the skin, chronic catarrhal affections, secondary syphilis. Hepatic torpor, lassitude and other evidence of incomplete metamorphosis; stimulates all glands and improves nutrition. Skin pimply, dry, rough, scaly. Stretch marks. Eruption on scalp extending to face and neck. Tumor of breast, with pain. Psoriasis. Acne. Dry eczema. Pruritus. Glandular induration.
Berberis Vulgaris
Flat warts. Itching, burning and smarting; worse, scratching; better, cold applications. Small pustules over whole body. Eczema. Circumscribed pigmentation following eczematous inflammation. Stretch marks.
Graphite
Skin rough, hard, persistent dryness of portions of skin unaffected by eczema. Early stage of keloid and fibroma. Stretch marks. Pimples and acne. Eruptions, oozing out a sticky exudation. Rawness in bends of limbs, groins, neck, behind ears. Unhealthy skin: every little injury suppurates. Ulcers discharging a glutinous fluid, thin and sticky. Swelling and induration of glands. Gouty nodosities. Cracks in nipples, mouth, between toes, anus. Phlegmonous erysipelas of face; burning and stinging pain. Swelling of feet. Wens.
Calendula Officianalis
Skin yellow; gooseflesh. Cicatrization (scars) with least amount of suppuration. Slough, proud flesh, and raised edges. Superficial burns and scalds. Erysipelas.
P. S: This article is only for doctors having good knowledge about Homeopathy and allopathy, for learning purpose(s).
For proper consultation and treatment, please visit our clinic.
None of above-mentioned medicine(s) is/are the full/complete treatment, but just hints for treatment; every patient has his/her own constitutional medicine.
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Dr. Sayyad Qaisar Ahmed (MD {Ukraine}, DHMS), Abdominal Surgeries, Oncological surgeries, Gastroenterologist, Specialist Homeopathic Medicines.
Senior research officer at Dnepropetrovsk state medical academy Ukraine.
Location: Al-Haytham clinic, Umer Farooq Chowk Risalpur Sadder (0923631023, 03119884588), K.P.K, Pakistan.
Find more about Dr Sayed Qaisar Ahmed at:
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