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The hips are a common site for stretch marks. Both home and professional treatments can help to reduce their appearance.
If you have stretch marks on your hips, you’re not alone. Up to 80 percent of people get stretch marks. They are more common on women, but men have them, too.
You can discuss a variety of available treatments for stretch marks with your doctor. In most cases, treatment may improve the appearance of stretch marks, but not result in their complete disappearance.
Stretch marks are areas of skin that look like lines or stripes.
When the skin is overstretched, it disrupts the normal production of the major protein (collagen) that makes up the connective tissue in your skin. This can result in scars called striae or stretch marks.
These parallel bands of thin, reddish/purplish skin can occur when there is a faststretching of the skin, such as when a person has rapid weight gain or young person grows during puberty. For many people, these marks eventually lighten and have a scar-like appearance.
Following diagnosis of what is causing the stretch marks on your hips, your doctor might recommend a topical treatment. Topical creams and gels for treating stretch marks include:
Tretinoin cream
A small study in
Alphastria and Trofolastin creams
A2016 review of 11 clinical studies acknowledged that both creams have demonstrated positive results. However, it’s unclear whether the creams work better to reduce stretch-mark appearance in the early or later stages.
Alphastria cream contains hyaluronic acid — thought to stimulate collagen production — combined with various fatty acids and vitamins.
Trofolastin cream contains extract of Centella asiatica (gotu kola), a medicinal herb thought to increase collagen production.
Silicone gel
Silicone gel is often used to treat hypertrophic scars. In one
Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or nursing before using these products.
If you want to eliminate the stretch marks on your hips, there are various treatment options that can reduced the appearance of stretch marks.
No treatments, however, have been endorsed to completely eliminate them for the majority of people. Options include:
Laser therapy
Laser therapy repairs and regenerates skin cells and is used to soften and flatten the appearance of stretch marks. It does not promise to entirely eradicate stretch marks, but it can fade them and make them less noticeable for some people.
Expect a several-week treatment of up to 20 sessions.
Platelet-rich plasma
A2018 research study of 30 people indicated that injections ofplatelet-rich plasma (PRP) can assist in the rebuilding of collagen, making stretch marks less visible.
That same study concluded that PRP injection is more effective and offers a better therapeutic response than tretinoin.
Microneedling
Microneedling is often referred to as collagen induction therapy. It triggers elastin and collagen creation by making tiny punctures in the top layer of skin. Expect up to six treatments over about six months to maximize results.
Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is a process that uses an abrasive instrument to gently remove the outer skin layer of skin. A
Oftenstretch marks will turn lighter and practically disappear after the cause of the stretching is eliminated. Steps you can take to help that process include:
Avoiding corticosteroids
Corticosteroid creams, lotions, and pills decrease the skin’s ability to stretch, and that can set the stage for stretch marks. Avoid them if possible.
Drinking water
Stay hydrated. If your skin does not get enough water — about eight glasses a day – it will be less pliable and flexible.
Eating a healthy diet
Diet can affect skin health, so what you eat can play a role in stretch marks.
To bestprevent stretch marks, you should make sure your diet is healthy, balanced, and rich invitamins and minerals, particularly:
Massaging with oils
Advocates of natural healing suggest a number of home remedies to reduce the appearance of oreliminate stretch marks. These include massaging the striae withoils, such as:
A
On the other hand, a
Researchers are unsure whether the positive effects of massaging with oil are due to the oil or the massage.
Stretch marks are the result of a number of causes including:
- Cushing syndrome
- Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
- Marfan syndrome
- abnormal collagen formation
- overuse of cortisone skin creams
- medicines that block collagen formation
- a family history of stretch marks
- pregnancy
- puberty
- obesity
If you see stretch marks without having experienced physical changes like rapid weight gain or pregnancy, make an appointment with your doctor.
Also, some people are self-conscious about the stretch marks on their hips. If you aredepressed about your stretch marks, and that is impacting your daily life, consult with your doctor.
Stretch marks on hips are common. If they make you uncomfortably self-conscious about your appearance, you have a number of treatment alternatives.
As you consider options, understand that it is improbable that your stretch marks will disappear completely.
Spend some time with your doctor reviewing treatment options, expectations and possible side effects before making a decision regarding treatment of the stretch marks on your hips.