Stretch Marks Removal Guide
If you have suffered from stretch marks, it was most likely during puberty or a pregnancy where the skin underwent fast weight changes. But you may be wondering what exactly causes stretch marks and how to fade stretch marks appearance after they have formed. In general, stretch marks are formed on the body in regions that store large amounts of fat, and they occur in the dermis, the skin layer which determines its shape.
What are Stretch Marks
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. These marks are created by your own body to heal those tears. The truth is that stretch marks are actually scar tissue created by the body to heal damage caused by thin skin stretched beyond its limits.
Known 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 radical changes throughout the body. In fact, almost 90% of females who are pregnant get stretch marks.
Stretch marks are actually skin lesions and are surprisingly the most common type of lesion. Stretch marks, or Striae, are most commonly located on the breasts, hips, thighs, buttocks, abdomen, and flank. Be aware that stretch marks are absolutely normal and are not a medical concern. The dilemma is that they can become an appearance issue and affect a person’s self esteem.
Preventing Stretch Marks – Your First Line of Defense
A secret to stretch mark prevention from developing is to maintain moisture in the skin during periods of weight gain or loss. This will help reduce stretch marks and for those that do appear, repair themselve quicker. A practice of exfoliation and massaging nutrient-rich natural oils into the skin ,such as wheatgerm, jojoba or vitamin E, will help erase stretch marks from your susceptible areas.
The Art of Stretch Mark Removal
The practice of massaging the stretch mark area 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 cream to penetrate more effectively 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. A little tenderness will go a long way to remove stretch marks effectively!
