March 7, 2009
Stretch marks - What are they and how do you get rid of them?
How to reduce stretch marks
Stretchmarks (or striae as they are referred to in dermatological terms) can develop when an individual’s skin is stretched suddenly : More accurately, the skin's second layer is torn rather than stretched. The worst affected places are the stomach, breasts, thighs and hips. People of all ages can suffer from stretch marks and they affect a huge number of adults. Luckily, our health is not affected by them and are simply a cosmetic concern. Unfortunately, these concerns grow in the warmer seasons as the amount of our bodies we show, increases.
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This stretching occurs when the body expands so quickly that the skin cannot keep up with it. Stretch marks are most frequently associated with pregnancy but can develop during puberty: Body building or quick weight gain can also cause stretch marks.
Although the skin is usually fairly elastic , when it is stretched, the normal production of collagen is disrupted. we need collagen to ensure that the skin remains firm and supple. There are factors outside the body which affect the ability of the skin to produce and maintain collagen levels such as a person’s diet or smoking. It is the level of collagen in the skin which affect the appearance of wrinkles and lines in the face. They also influence how other blemishes, like surgery scars and acne scars, heal.
What do stretch marks look like?
When they first form, stretch marks appear as reddish purple lines. They are indented and have a different texture to the rest of the skin. after a while, the discoloration does subside, turning lighter and less noticeable. The ability to heal however does vary considerably from individual to individual.
Remove stretch marks
Treatment for stretch marks can be done in several different ways. Stretch mark treatments range enormously in price and effectiveness, treatments range from creams to cosmetic surgery For many people, stretch marks cause a lot of embarrassment and often make people feel self concious, but this can be overcome or prevented by treatment to remove stretch marks.
Creams and oils are the cheapest way of treating stretch marks but, only a small amount of the creams is absorbed into the skin so, creams on their own aren't affective to treat stretch marks. Combining this process with techniques such as skin needling, allows a much higher percentage of cream absorbed by the skin so this method often proves the best method for many people.
