One day a few months ago I was getting ready for work and I happened to look in a mirror. I said Wow! My stretch marks are almost unnoticeable. Then it hit me. Exactly how long does it take for stretch marks to fade? How did I get to this point? I almost didn’t think it would ever happen but my stretch marks faded almost entirely naturally. Don’t we all just hate stretch marks? It’s an imperfection that lingers on our mind a lot, every time we lay our eyes on them. Stretch marks are not rare. Most people have them, due to weight gain, growth, or pregnancy. So why are we so insecure about these scars?
It takes stretch marks approximately 5-6 months to fade, depending on the type of stretch marks that they are. For more severe stretch marks it may take 5-12 months to see a noticeable difference. With certain skin care routines you can see stretch marks start to fade only after a few weeks.
Why do stretch marks take time to fade?
Just like everything in life, results take time. Stretch marks take time to fade because of how complex our skin make up is. Our skin has elasticity but once something disturbs our elasticity it is hard to regain it back. But it’s possible. The truth to why stretch marks take time to fade is simply that it needs time to produce collagen to heal and repair the skin. When I tried to heal other target spots on my body that had stretch marks, I made sure to use products that promoted collagen creation. Doing this, made the process of fading stretch marks faster. Although it takes a lot more than just collagen, as you will see below, this was one of the main keys into fixing my skin. The skin is the biggest organ in the body so it may take longer to heal than any other but trust that it’s working overtime.
Which type of stretch marks are harder to fade?
There are many types of stretch marks. Stretch marks can be red, purple, pink, silver or white. Stretch marks that look red or purple are newer stretch marks. This means that a person has had these marks for a year or less and that’s evident by the blood vessels making them appear more in color. This is the time to actually treat stretch marks, to have a faster process of fading them. When I first had stretch marks, I never treated them in this period which is why it took longer for me to see them fade. Stretch marks that are white, are the complete opposite. These marks are usually a few years old and the blood vessels under them are no longer visible and because of that, they appear white. Stretch marks can still fade in this stage but it will take a lot more products and a good regimen. When I targeted my white stretch marks, I was able to fade them after just a few weeks. Everyone is different but the end result will always be the same, as long as we promote collagen and cell creation.
Why aren’t your stretch marks fading?
Chances are, your stretch marks aren’t fading because of either time or the type of skin care products you are using. If you want your stretch marks to fade naturally then you just have to wait until they do. On average they go away in just a few months to a year but not everyone has the same type of skin. You just need to always remember that skin is always repairing itself so the results that you want will surely come. Apart from waiting for them to fade, the biggest factor of your stretch marks fading is your use of skin care products. These are the things that will quickly get you the results that you want. People are curious as to how long does it take for stretch marks to fade, they fail to realize what they need to accelerate the process of getting them to fade.
How to quickly get stretch marks to fade?
A lot of people don’t want to wait months or years for stretch marks to start fading. If you leave your skin alone and do nothing, your stretch marks will still fade but if you use products on your skin then you will see a faster process. No matter what type of stretch marks you have, whether it be red or white. Some of the things you can use to accelerate the process of fading your stretch marks are:
• Raw Cocoa Butter
Raw cocoa butter is one of the best things to use on your skin when wanting to fade your stretch marks. It was the main thing that I used and is recommended by many. This oil seeps all the way into your dermis, past your epidermis to properly target the damaged skin to make it recover and promote collagen. Repeated use of cocoa butter on your skin along with other products will show a positive effect.
• Bio Oil
Bio Oil is very underrated when it comes to stretch marks. Admittedly this is something that I didn’t immediately discover. Bio Oil makes the appearance of your stretch marks a lot more even and smoother. It also helps with changing the color of your marks to be more even with your skin tone.
• African Black Soap
African Black Soap is a must, if you’re trying to fade your stretch marks. Why? This soap moisturizes your skin to the point where it almost feels brand new. How does it do this? African black soap is rough compared to other soaps so it works well as an exfoliant. Because of this, dead skin is easily removed and it promotes new cell growth so the skin can properly act better to the other products you put on your skin. This soap is also anti bacterial and smooths skin out.
• Raw Shea Butter
Raw Shea Butter is very popular when it comes to treating stretch marks. Just like cocoa butter, this cream goes into the dermis to promote collagen creation. The only difference is, that this cream does not clog pores and your skin is less likely to create dead cells. Shea butter and cocoa butter work every well when mixed and is actually how most people use it.
• Coconut Oil
Coconut oil smooths out the surface of your skin and hydrates your skin to prevent more stretch marks from appearing on your skin. In my experience this oil also promotes rapid healing of the target area. Coconut oil is also a good daily moisturizer to keep keep your skin hydrated when you feel like it’s dry.
• Coffee Scrub
Coffee Scrubs are something that not a lot of people in skin care know about. This scrub is an unsung hero when it comes to stretch marks repair. Why? Coffee scrubs are an exfoliant. It targets dead skin cells in your skin and promotes the creation of new ones. This scrub really gets deep down into your skin. Not only that but it contains many different types of oils such as olive oil, grapeseed oil, and many others. Because of that, this scrub ends up leaving a glow on your skin every time you use it. Unlike African black soap, where you use it daily, you have to use coffee scrubs every few days. Why? Because the scrub is just that powerful. Overuse of the coffee scrub can actually damage your skin. It’s best to use it every 2-3 days.
Can stretch marks completely disappear?
A lot of people will tell you that stretch marks cannot completely go away but that’s not true. Everyone’s skin is different. Yes we can all fade our stretch marks but a lot of people can actually get rid of their stretch marks completely. I have personally gotten rid of almost all of my stretch marks that I have gotten over the years to go away completely. The marks that I still have are all faded and are barely noticeable. How is this possible? It’s possible by finding the right skin care regimen for your body. Make a routine, use products that promote skin repair, keep your skin hydrated. This is a winning formula for anybody that’s dealing with stretch marks. Just remember to not give up and know that your stretch marks cannot get worse, they can only improve!