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Stretch mark busters
It may not yet be possible to banish stretch marks completely, but there are ways to make them less noticeable. Tara King investigates
Stretch marks: these red or yellow lines that slink across the skin are the plague of many women's bodies. Once the skin has stretched, although they shrink and fade to silvery traces, the marks are there for life.
Stretch marks are a form of scarring and tend to be found on women's hips, thighs, buttocks, tummy and breasts or on any area where fat is deposited. Pregnancy, weight fluctuation and changes in body shape at adolescence can all result in stretch marks.
Beat the stretch
Keeping your skin supple and well moisturised from the inside out will help avoid the dreaded stretch marks. You can eat your way to better skin by following a healthy diet. 'A wholefood diet packed with essentials fats, zinc, Vitamin C and E are good for your skin', says nutritionist Kate Cook from www.thenutritioncoach.co.uk. 'Make sure you are taking a good multivitamin such as Biocare - One a day or Solgar VM2000 which contains at least 15mg of zinc'. Drink plenty of water to ensure your skin is properly hydrated and also to flush out toxins.
Boost your daily intake of essential fats and zinc by mixing together 50g each of flaxseeds, sunflower, sesame and pumpkin seeds. Grind in a food blender and sprinkle over salads, breakfast cereals or eat raw. Store in the fridge to keep fresh.
The nine-month worry
Pregnancy is a time when women worry most about stretch marks when their skin is stretched to its limits. Midwife and natural health practitioner Zita West advises women 'to use a rich natural cream to nourish and hydrate the skin that is safe for use during pregnancy'. However she warns that, 'stretch marks unfortunately tend to be congenital and no cream will ever prevent or get rid of stretch marks whatever claims they make.'
Stretch mark creams on the spotlight
Having recently had a baby and graced with a fresh sprinkling of stretch marks, I was more than happy to test out these stretch mark body products.
Elancyl Stretch Mark Reducing Concentrate (£14.95 for 75ml) Stockists: 0845 117 0116.
Elancyl boasts skin-repairing active ingredients which help to regenerate the skin tissue. With it's nozzle dispenser it looks a serious business, but it's in fact a deliciously effective product. I loved the planty smell, it's light and non-greasy texture and the feel of it on my skin. Use twice a day to reap the benefits.
DECLEOR Tonilastil - Firming Stretch Mark Cream with Plant Extracts (£33.50, 100ml. Stockists: 020 7313 8780)
This is one of those word-of-mouth wonder creams that helped to reduce the redness in my stretch marks. The cream has a light, almost serum-like texture - with a fresh and clean smell. It's non-greasy, easy to apply and is quickly absorbed into skin, so you can slap it on and get dressed without sticking to your clothes.
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