Stretch marks are a type of scarring common to body builders, pregnant women, and people who have gained weight. Although the exact cause of stretch marks is not known, it is thought that it is the breakdown of collagen and elastin. There is no cure for stretch marks, aside from plastic surgery to actually remove the skin in a "tummy tuck" or abdominoplasty. Creams containing vitamin E have been studied, but results are inconclusive.
Stretch Marks
Stretch marks can appear anywhere that the skin has undergone continuous and progressive stretching. They start out red and over time will fade to white. They also shrink in appearance over time with no treatment. They are a cosmetic problem, and cause no health issue. Genetics may play a part in why some people get stretch marks while others don't.
Vitamin E
Alpha tocopherol is the only form of vitamin E that the body can use, according to the National Institute for Health. Vitamin E is found in green leafy vegetables, whole grains, nuts and oils. One serving of wheat germ oil contains 100 percent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin E, according to the NIH. You cannot overdose on vitamin E from foods you eat, while it is possible to overdose on synthetic supplements. Eating a diet high in vitamin E can help the skin protect itself against UV radiation. Whether or not it can help with scar tissue, however, is more controversial.
Stretch Marks and Vitamin E
There are countless anecdotal accounts of people lessening the appearance and texture of scar tissue by using vitamin E, either straight capsules broken onto the skin, wheat germ oil, or a preparation containing vitamin E. However, peer reviewed clinical studies have not shown that there is any difference between using vitamin E or a control cream containing no vitamin E. According to an article in Canadian Family Physician, studies have been inconclusive or shown to actually make scar tissue look worse after application of vitamin E cream. A 1999 study at the University of Florida found that 33 percent of the participants actually developed contact dermatitis from the vitamin E, and concluded that it was not recommended to use vitamin E on scar tissue.
Other Methods
Simply massaging the scar tissue with any oil or lotion may have a positive effect on the scarring, according to the article in Canadian Family Physician. Although there are mixed reviews about the effectiveness of cocoa butter, it has a long history of use on stretch marks. Other methods to try include applying essential oils to the stretch marks. Lavender and chamomile essential oils diluted with sweet almond oil are one recipe. Another is sandalwood with sweet almond oil.
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