Remove Stretch Marks the Easy Way
If you have experienced stretch marks, it was probably during puberty or a pregnancy where the skin underwent fast weight changes. However, you may be questioning what exactly is the cause of stretch marks and how to reduce stretch marks appearance after they have formed. As a general rule, stretch marks form in those body areas 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 reality is that stretch marks are really scar tissue developed 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 appear after a period of rapid weight gain or loss. Stretch marks are most common during pregnancy and the teen years, when growth spurts 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.
A little known fact is that the annoying stretch mark is really the most common form of skin lesion. Stretch marks, or Striae, are most commonly located on the breasts, hips, thighs, buttocks, abdomen, and flank. You need to know that stretch marks are absolutely normal and are not a medical concern. The issue 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 developing is to maintain moisture in the skin during times of weight gain or loss. This will help reduce stretch marks and for those that do appear, become less noticeable over time. A process 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 remove stretch marks by shedding dead skin cells and allowing the stretch mark cream to penetrate more effectively into the damaged skin. A word of caution 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!
