The Art of Reducing Stretch Marks
If you have experienced 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 if they develop. As a general rule, stretch marks form on the body in regions that store large amounts of fat, and they occur in the dermis, the skin layer which determines its shape.
Stretch Mark Basics
Stretch marks begin as 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 fact is that stretch marks are essentially scar tissue created by the body to heal damage caused by expanding skin that is too thin.
Known by doctors as “striae” (usually “striae distensae” or, in the case of pregnancy , “striae gravidarum”) stretch marks typically develop after a period of 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 major changes throughout the body. The truth is that almost 90% of females who are pregnant form 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. The good news is that stretch marks are totally normal and are not a medical concern. The problem is that they can become an appearance issue and affect a person’s self esteem.
Stretch Mark Prevention – Your First Line of Defense
A secret to preventing 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, repair themselve quicker. A regimen of exfoliation and massaging nutrient-rich natural oils into the skin ,such as wheatgerm, jojoba or vitamin E, will help fade stretch marks from your susceptible areas.
The Art of Stretch Mark Removal
The act 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 remove stretch marks 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!
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