Posts Tagged ‘remove stretch marks’
Remove Stretch Marks with Care
Remove Stretch Marks the Easy Way
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 develop in those body areas 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. These tears are a response from your own body to try to heal the damaged skin. The fact is that stretch marks are essentially 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 develop after a period of rapid weight gain or loss. Stretch marks are most common in pregnancy and the teenage years, when periods of rapid growth and increased levels of steroid hormones cause major changes throughout the body. The reality is that almost 90% of pregnant females develop 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. The good news is that stretch marks are totally normal and aren’t considered a medical concern. The issue is that stretch marks 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 forming is to keep the skin moisturized during periods of weight gain or loss. This will aid in the reduction of stretch marks and for those that do appear, become less noticeable over time. A regimen 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 damaged skin is key and increases blood circulation to the affected area, also assisting the healing process. Exfoliation of the area will also help remove stretch marks by eliminating dead skin cells and allowing the stretch mark removal 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. A little tenderness will go a long way to remove stretch marks effectively!
Tags: Health, exercise, nutrition
