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The Truth About Stretch Marks

Stretch marks are every woman's fear with the majority suffering them to some extent. Whilst there is no way to remove them completely keep reading to find out how to make the appearance of stretch marks diminish.

When the skin is stretched past its natural elasticity a stretch mark appears. It is the mark which appears like a tear in the skin and is a purple/reddish colour to begin with and then slowly fades to white. The fading process can take up to 2 years.

Stretch marks are often reported as a result of weight gain, however it has now been proven that stretch marks are caused by a hormonal change. This change is effected by weight gain, weight loss, pregnancy or puberty. They appear more drastic in cases where a large amount of weight is gained or lost in a small period of time such as growth spurts in teenagers or pregnancy. The collagen in the skins surface is damaged and blood vessels dilate to make the tissue expand past the skins elasticity causing the scars to be visible on the surface. It is common for athletes or body builders to experience stretch marks as their muscle mass quickly outgrows their collagen levels.

The most common areas for stretch marks to appear are on the thighs, buttocks, hips, stomach, breasts and arms. You may also be more prone to developing stretch marks, those with oily skin are less prone to stretch marks than those with dry skin due to it having more elasticity. The amount of sun exposure you get also can affect stretch marks. UV rays damage skin reducing the elasticity and making it more vulnerable to scarring.

If you decide to get a natural tan be aware that stretch marks will not tan like regular skin as it is scar tissue. They will maintain the purple/red or white colour which may be more noticeable against tanned skin.

Unfortunately, once you notice a stretch mark it is impossible for it to be removed completely but there are a number of treatments available to make them less noticeable. Surgery methods such as abdominoplasty can completely remove the marks by removing the whole portion of skin, however this is an extreme surgery and should not be used if possible. An abdominoplasty is used to to remove excess skin and fat stores on the surface of the stomach and removal of stretch marks is an added bonus.

Laser surgery is the most popular form of stretch mark removal, however it is also expensive and whilst it will not remove the scars completely they will shrink and fade dramatically. The laser pulses light onto the skin surface, stimulating the collagen to produce more tissue. This procedure relies on the marks being relatively fresh as it requires colour pigment, therefore it works on scars that have the purplish/reddish colour but will not reduce faded scars. Scientists are currently working on lasers to treat white scars. Most people see results after 5-6 sessions which does make it costly.

If you have stretch marks in their early stage some creams are available to reduce the appearance and stop them from spreading in size and number. Prescription topical applications or over the counter creams that contain Retin A stimulate cell growth to firm up skin whilst creams containing Vitamin E soften skin and stimulate the collagen production. These are relatively cost effective and can lessen the condition greatly.

Microdermabrasion is a buffing technique where the surface layer of skin is sanded back to allow more oxygen to penetrate the new cells underneath. This treatment works best on scars that are raised as they are buffed back whereas stretch marks tend to be lower than the surrounding skin cells. A number of treatments may be required before you will see some if any, improvement.

A massage technique developed in France is used to soften the scar tissue making it less noticeable. Endermologie uses rollers and suction to gently massage the area which increases circulation and improves elasticity. Again this is a procedure that requires several sessions before a difference is noted.

The best and most cost effective method of reducing stretch marks is by visiting your doctor and asking for a prescription cream. They are proven to diminish the size, shape and severity of scars. Prevention is always the best approach and by following a healthy diet and looking after your skin you can expect to have a much less likely chance of developing unsightly scars.

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