What should you do to overcome stubborn stretch marks on your hips?

Even though the location is in a closed area, stretch marks on the hips can still make us feel less confident. Moreover, stretch marks basically cannot be completely removed permanently. Calm down first! The annoying stretch mark lines can be disguised, really. You just need to find the right way to deal with stretch marks.

Overcoming stretch marks on the hips with topical drugs

To help disguise the appearance of stretch marks on your hips, there are several topical medications that are usually used, namely:

Tretinoin cream

Tretinoin helps produce collagen in the skin so that the signs of stretching will be reduced even if they don't completely disappear.

However, you need to be careful when using this cream as it can irritate the skin. We recommend that you consult your doctor first before using tretinoin cream, especially if you are pregnant because there are potential side effects that can harm your baby.

Alphastria Cream and Tropholastin

In 11 clinical studies in 2016, it was found that Alphastria and Tropholastin cream had a positive effect on treating stretch marks.

Alphastria cream contains hyaluronic acid which is believed to stimulate collagen production in the skin.

Meanwhile, Tropholastin cream contains Centella asiatica (gotu kola leaf) extract which is also able to increase collagen production.

Silicone gel

Silicone gel is generally used to treat hypertrophic scars or wounds that have raised scars.

However, a 2013 study conducted on 20 people found evidence that silicone gel was able to increase collagen levels and reduce melanin levels in skin with stretch marks.

Treat stretch marks on the hips with medical means

Some medical procedures that can be done to help disguise stretch marks on the hips include:

Laser therapy

Laser therapy helps repair and regenerate your skin cells. Apart from that, lasers are also usually meant to help soften and smooth the surface of the skin with stretch marks.

Several types of laser therapy are also aimed at stimulating the production of elastin and collagen in the skin. You will need about 20 treatments to see significant results.

Platelet-rich plasma injection

This one therapy is done by injecting plasma enriched with platelets. The goal is to improve skin structure by stimulating the growth of new cells and stimulating collagen formation.

This one therapy is quite safe and will not cause allergic reactions because the blood plasma comes from the patient's own body.

Microdermabrasion

This one treatment is done with special tools and crystal beads that are able to remove the outermost layer of skin and encourage the growth of new, more elastic skin.

A study in 2014 found that microdermabrasion has the same effect as when you use tretinoin cream.

Microneedling

Microneedling is a therapy to stimulate the formation of elastin and collagen by making small punctures in the top layer of the skin using a special needle. To see significant results you will need to repeat the treatment for about six months.

Get rid of stretch marks on the hips with natural treatments

Although not as fast and effective as using certain topical medications and medical treatments, there's nothing wrong with trying various natural treatments to help treat stretch marks. You do this by massaging the part of the skin that has stretch marks with oil.

A 2015 study found evidence that massaging the affected area with almond oil helps reduce the appearance of the stretch marks. Apart from that, you can also use various other oils such as coconut oil and argan oil to help improve the appearance of your skin.

Find the treatment that is right for you so that your skin looks smooth again and is protected from annoying stretch marks.