Stretch Marks, known in the medical community as erythrocyanosis are a form of scarring that can occur when a person’s skin is overstretched.
What
are stretch marks? The fine lines that change in color over a time and appear
on different parts of the body, generally after pregnancy or after sudden
weight increase are Stretch marks. While they are usually mentioned in women’s
issues, Stretch marks may affect not only women and girls, but also men and
boys.
The
Main Causes of Stretch Marks
Stretch
marks form during pregnancy in women, sudden weight gain or loss, growth
spurts, in body builders, weight lifters and in some conditions such as
Cushing’s syndrome. Use of steroid creams over a long period and medical side
effects may also form stretch marks.
Skin
care and stretch marks formation
Stretch
marks (striae) are relatively common. They don’t form only because the skin
stretches during certain periods. Let us look at this carefully. Most of the
women believe that they get stretch marks because of their body expanding
during pregnancy. This is true, but please note that the marks that you see in
your skin get formed when the skin does not stretch and therefore tears. This
not stretching of the skin is believed to be because of an increased level of a
hormone called glucocorticoids (cortisol). Glucocorticoids prevents connective
tissues from forming the collagen and elastin fibers needed to keep the skin
tight, and the dermal layer then tears. Some people may be more genetically
prone to stretch marks than others. Skin type may be a factor; dryer skin has
less elasticity than oily skin, and is more prone to stretch marks. . These
hormones don’t allow the dermis to make more collagen and elastin. If the skin
had made enough collagen and elastin to support the stretching, no marks would
have appeared. This hormone called glucocorticoids is responsible for formation
of stretch marks.
Appearance
Stretch
marks have the initial appearance of purple or red looking lines. In time,
Stretch Marks can fade to a white or off white color.
Stretch
Marks are a VERY common condition. Just think of all the people who are either
pregnant or overweight!
As
alluded to above, Stretch Marks are not just confined to the female population.
Few people realize that they are a common complaint of male body builders. Male
and female, young and old, can all suffer from this and no two people will have
the same severity, symptoms or treatment. It is therefore essential that
whatever your diagnosis, prognosis, stage of development or treatment, that you
have a customized solution that is just right for you and your needs and
requirements.
Skin
care and stretch marks treatment
Most
experts are in agreement however, that stretch marks have to be treated and
caught early, for the best results from any kind of treatment. The premise and
logic here is very simple. It has to do with the fact that you can minimize the
impact and damage that can be caused by these skin culprits.
Stretch
Mark Treatments vary from out-and-out scams to some very smart and scientific
remedies.
Three
Possible Stretch Mark Solutions
Three
of the most common Stretch Mark solutions are:
1. DERMABRASION.
This
is a serious medical procedure that takes place under a general anesthetic.
Dermabrasion is definitely not for the faint of heart.
In
Dermabrasion the surface of the skin is literally removed by a process of
sanding. The aim of dermabrasion is to remove (or at least lessen) the
appearance of scars, damage from the sun or dark spots.
The
procedure is obviously very painful (hence the general anesthetic) and the
healing process can take several months. However, the results can be quite
spectacular.
Dermabrasion
works best when the scar or mark being treated is above the surface of the skin
and is generally much less effective when used to treat sunken scars.
Be
Warned: Having a general anesthetic is NOT something to be taken lightly; it
carries inherent risks and can be life-threatening. Always seek a second
medical opinion (speak to more than one doctor).
2.MICRODERMABRASION.
Often
referred to as Microderm this is far less invasive procedure that has become
very popular throughout the Day Spa and cosmetic industries.
In
Microdermabrasion the surface layer of the skin is removed by using a special
wand with a roughened surface that lightly sands the skin. The shed skin
particles are removed via a suction device attached to the wand.
People
like Microdermabrasion because it has a reputation of being a safe, painless
procedure that does not require an anesthetic.
3.SKIN TREATMENT CREAMS. This is one of those areas where you are most
likely to encounter wild claims and the general rule of thumb here is that if
something sounds too good to be true it probably is.
That
said, there are literally tens of thousands of people who swear by such things
as Vitamin A Cream, Cocoa Butter and a whole raft of different specially
formulated cosmetic creams.
One
thing you can do is ask the people trying to sell you any Stretch Mark Removal
treatment to show you before and after photographs of their last 50 clients.
Also,
ask for written testimonials. In short, you better be sure of something before utilizing it.
Skin
care experts also say that the correct diet, nutritional supplements, rest and
common sense (avoiding excessive sun exposure) can have a big impact on the
skins ability to heal and its general appearance.
Home
Treatments for Stretch Marks
TREATING STRETCH MARKS
With
beauty and looks being so important to you, there are several extra steps you
can take for the reduction of your stretch marks. Consider your skin care
regimen, and fine-tune it to meet the needs of skin that is damaged, requires
cellular repair and the stimulation of collagen and elastin production.
The
basic treatment for the reduction of the appearance of scars is to regularly 1)
remove the overgrown scar tissue with brisk exfoliation and then 2) encourage
the regrowth of normal tissues with use of nutrients and conditioners.
If
stretch marks have formed because of weight gain, reducing body fat stores
(losing weight) can help reduce the appearance of stretch marks by releasing
pressure from the skin.
Exfoliation: Stretch marks are similar to scars, there can
be either a buildup of scar tissue, which results in a raised stretch mark, or
tearing and obvious depressions in the skin. Stretch marks respond well to
vigorous exfoliation with both mechanical and chemical means. Your goal is to
break down the malformed collagen and have it slough off, while new, properly
constructed collagen and skin cells are formed below. You may wish to perform
at least a light exfoliation on the stretch marks on a daily basis. You can use
a massage tool to improve the breakdown of scar tissues. Applying alpha hydroxyl
peel products, such as retinol, glycolic or lactic acid, has shown to be
effective for the improvement of stretch marks.
Protection: After exfoliating, apply antioxidant formulas
with A, E, C, and alpha lipoic acids to protect the new skin cells from damage.
If skin is to be exposed to the sun, apply a sunscreen to prevent further
breakdown of newly formed skin cells.
Moisturizer: After exfoliating skin and applying
antioxidants, moisturize the area thoroughly. If you are prone to stretch
marks, remember to moisturize your body skin daily to avoid developing more
stretch marks with weight changes. Aloe Vera should be used to improve skin
microcirculation, followed by a layer of lipid-based cream or lotion.
Other Treatments:
•
Sleep: Get plenty of sleep to help
your skin regenerate. Sleeping for 8 hours a day is recommended.
• Milk Bath: You can soak your entire body with softening lactic acid by
•
Own Solutions: You can prepare your
own tinctures and creams, or look for commercial products that contain
ingredients known to improve the appearance of stretch marks.
However,
before you embark on any treatment program, consult your doctor.
Latest
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Product Format
Offered
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Target Audience
Suitable
for women (and men) aged 21 to 60+ who wish to reduce the appearance of stretch
marks from pregnancy, weight gain, surgery, growth spurts or other causes.
Remember
that the reduction of stretch marks is a two-step process. First, the malformed
collagen cells must be broken down by mechanical or chemical means. Secondly
the new underlying skin layers must be encouraged to grow properly and with
proper nutrition and hydration.
With
a little diligent effort, the appearance of stretch marks can be reduced and
improved.
Would
you like to share your experience with stretch marks? How did you or do you
handle this challenge? Any ideas we can learn from? Please, put your word in
the comments below.
ALL-IN-ONE
STRETCH MARK SOLUTION
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