Remove Stretch Marks with Care

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November 7th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed

Stretch marks are most prevalent during puberty and pregnancy – times when the body undergoes rapid 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 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 Marks Defined

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. This is your body’s defense mechanism at work in an attempt to heal these tears. The fact is that stretch marks are really scar tissue developed 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 show up after a period of rapid weight gain or loss. Stretch marks are most prevalent during pregnancy and the teen years, when growth spurts and increased levels of steroid hormones cause significant changes throughout the body. The truth is that almost 90% of females who are pregnant develop 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. Be aware that stretch marks are absolutely normal and aren’t considered a medical concern. The dilemma 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 stretch mark prevention from developing is to maintain moisture in the skin during times of weight gain or loss. This will aid in the reduction of stretch marks and for those that do appear, fade faster. 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 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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