Stretch Marks Removal 101
Remove Stretch Marks the Easy Way
If you have suffered from stretch marks, it was most likely during puberty or a pregnancy where the skin underwent fast weight changes. However, you may be questioning what exactly causes stretch marks and how to reduce stretch marks appearance once they form. In general, stretch marks are formed in those body areas that store large amounts of fat, and and develop in the dermis skin layer.
Stretch Marks Defined
Stretch marks are caused by actual tears in a thinned or technically atrophic skin, with fine dermal collagen bundles arranged in straight lines parallel to the surface. This is your body’s defense mechanism at work in an attempt to heal these tears. The truth is that stretch marks are really scar tissue formed by the body to heal damage caused by thin skin stretched beyond its limits.
Recognized by doctors as “striae” (usually “striae distensae” or, in the case of pregnancy , “striae gravidarum”) stretch marks typically show up after rapid weight gain or loss. Stretch marks are most prevalent in pregnancy and the teenage years, when periods of rapid growth and increased levels of steroid hormones cause significant changes throughout the body. The reality is that almost 90% of pregnant women develop stretch marks.
An interesting fact is that stretch marks are the most common types of skin lesions. Stretch marks, or Striae, are most commonly located on the breasts, hips, thighs, buttocks, abdomen, and flank. The good news is that stretch marks are perfectly normal and aren’t considered a medical concern. The dilemma is that stretch marks can become an appearance issue and affect a person’s self esteem.
Prevent Stretch Marks – Your First Line of Defense
A secret to prevent stretch marks from forming is to keep the skin moisturized during periods of weight gain or loss. This will help reduce stretch marks and for those that do appear, become less noticeable over time. A regimen of exfoliation and massaging nutrient-rich natural oils into the skin ,such as wheatgerm, jojoba or vitamin E, will help eliminate stretch marks from your susceptible areas.
The Art of Stretch Mark Removal
The practice of massaging the stretch mark affected location is important and increases blood circulation to the affected area, also assisting the healing process. Exfoliation of the area will also help stretch marks removal by shedding dead skin cells and allowing the stretch mark removal cream to penetrate deeper into the damaged skin. A warning is warranted though – be careful not to overdo with the exfoliation as it may cause your already damaged skin to become extremely sensitive. Remember, the skin is already damaged so remove stretch marks with care!