Stretch marks from weight loss appear when two elements, elastin, and collagen, get damaged due to shedding weight rapidly. Excess skin during weight gain may undergo tearing or stretching. But stretch marks are more likely to occur when you gain weight in the first place. They appear as red lines and then turn purple and eventually become silver, grey and white over time. They become visible when you lose weight.
How to tell if Stretch Marks are from Losing or gaining Weight?
Usually, when you gain weight or due to a sudden growth spurt, the skin stretches, and red marks or stripes appear vertically on any part of your body. These are stretch veins due to skin stretching during weight gain. The skin cells near these stretch veins tear during stretching, and elastin and collagen get damaged due to dehydration, deficiency of protein, and essential minerals and vitamins.
These stripes turn purple after some time due to damage. When these skin cells become dead, these old marks turn white and become translucent and thin. These marks appear as white stretch marks when you shed weight. So if you want to differentiate stretch marks before and after weight loss, red marks indicate weight gaining, and white marks show up during the weight loss journey.
Can you get stretch marks by losing weight?
It is already clear that you do not get stretch marks by losing weight. They only appear when you shed weight. The damage is already done when someone gains weight quickly. You can prevent stretch marks while gaining weight if you consider some factors in mind.
Gain weight gradually even in pregnancy and maintain your weight according to your BMI.
During weight gain, include zinc in your diet. Zinc is responsible to boost collagen. Collagen helps in making healthy new skin cells. If zinc is deficient, it is more likely that you get stretch marks after weight loss.
Keep your body hydrated so that stretch skin does not tear due to dryness.
Include vitamin C in your diet. Because Vitamin C boosts collagen and helps skin cells during the weight loss journey.
Do not skip a protein-rich diet. Because loss of protein means loss of collagen and elastin. After protein loss, prepare yourself for stretch marks from losing weight.
When you gain weight and see red marks appear on the skin, you have nailed these marks right away at this time. Because red stretch marks are easy to treat. Change your diet and keep your body hydrated.
Do Stretch Marks fade when you Lose Weight?
If you develop stretch marks during gain and you take steps to treat these marks at right time you will see that stretch marks will fade when you lose weight. They disappear on their own.
Can I get rid of Stretch Marks by Losing Weight?
In some cases, when you lose weight, stretch marks eventually go away. But if these marks do not go away after weight loss, it means you have not taken precautionary measures that help in fading stretch skin cells to regrow. In this situation, you cannot get rid of stretch marks with any remedy. You need professional treatment to get rid of these stubborn white stretch marks.
What happens to Stretch Marks when you Lose Weight?
Stretch marks appear visible as white or grey or silver when you lose excess weight. These are old marks and difficult to treat with the help of dietary changes or any cream or lotion. Some treatments are used to cause micro-injuries into skin cells to stimulate the blood veins under the skin. This tiny injury helps in boosting collagen and elastin under skin cells and tries to generate new skin cells. These collagen boosting techniques involved micro-needling, microdermabrasion, laser therapy.
The best treatment of stretch marks from weight loss is to adopt a preventive measure instead of a cure. Stretch marks are not harmful and 80 % of stretch marks go away on their own. If you want to keep reading our blog regularly you can like our Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and YouTube channels for the latest stories.
