If you have suffered from stretch marks, it was probably during puberty or a pregnancy where the skin underwent fast weight changes. But you may be wondering what exactly is the cause of stretch marks and how to fade stretch marks appearance after they have formed. As a general rule, stretch marks are formed on the body in regions that store large amounts of fat, and and develop in the dermis skin layer.
What are Stretch Marks
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. 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 expanding skin that is too thin.
Referred to 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. They are most common during pregnancy and the teen years, when growth spurts and increased levels of steroid hormones cause radical changes throughout the body. The truth is that almost 90% of pregnant females form 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 absolutely normal and aren’t considered 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 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, 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 eliminate stretch marks from your high risk areas.
The Art of Stretch Mark Removal
The act of massaging the stretch mark damaged skin is critical 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!
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