Stretch Marks
What are stretch marks?
Stretch marks are stubborn marks that appear on the abdomen, chest, hips, buttocks, and thighs. These long, thin, raised spots are also called streaks. If you have stretch marks, you probably want them to go away. These skin bumps and lines are not harmful to your health, but they are also unattractive. And while they won't go away completely, they can go away over time or with the help of certain products or procedures.
Stretch Mark Causes and Risk Factors
Stretch marks appear when the body is growing rapidly for some reason. Your skin just can't stretch enough to keep up.
Collagen is a protein that increases the elasticity of the skin. If there is not enough amount on the skin, marks may appear when stretched. Stretch marks can occur for the following reasons:
• Rapid weight gain (this affects both men and women)
• Child growth spikes at puberty. Let your children know that this is normal and that traces of childhood can fade with age.
• Pregnancy due to a surge of hormones that weaken stretched skin and skin fibers. If you lose weight after your baby is born, it can falter.
• Breast augmentation surgery
• Bodybuilding can take people with less fat to places with more muscle
• High levels of steroids due to steroid drugs or conditions such as Cushing's syndrome
• Marfan syndrome, a genetic condition that weakens skin fibers and causes abnormal growth
• Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), a group of disorders caused by genetic alterations in collagen, a protein in the body
They are also family run. Symptoms of stretch marks
New Stretch Her marks can be slightly raised and itchy. The wavy, streaky lines on the skin come in different colors. They go from red or pink to purplish-blue over time and become thinner, thinner, more scar-like streaks.
They can appear in many places on your body:
• Weapons
•back
•chest
• buttocks
• Waist
• shoulder
Abdomen or upper bodyStretch Mark Diagnosis
The doctor only has to look at your skin to diagnose them. But they’ll probably ask about your medical history. If you’ve taken either oral or topical steroids for a long time, high cortisol levels in your body might be to blame.
Stretch Mark Treatments and Home Remedies
A range of medical treatments and home remedies is available to treat your stretch marks. Some work better than others.
Medical treatment for stretch marks
A skin doctor or plastic surgeon can use lasers or other treatments to help fade the marks. It may help your skin make more collagen:
Home remedies for stretch marks
You’ll find many creams, salves, oils, and other skin ointments that claim to either prevent or treat them. But there’s little proof that any of these products really work. Some treatments and home remedies can fade or hide stretch marks:
Stretch Mark Prevention
It’s possible to prevent stretch marks, but there’s no guarantee. The best way to lower your chances is to stay at a healthy weight, even during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about an exercise plan and how to eat well.
Products with the ingredients centella and hyaluronic acid may work to prevent stretch marks.
Stretch marks are stubborn marks that appear on the abdomen, chest, hips, buttocks, and thighs. These long, thin, raised spots are also called streaks. If you have stretch marks, you probably want them to go away. These skin bumps and lines are not harmful to your health, but they are also unattractive. And while they won't go away completely, they can go away over time or with the help of certain products or procedures.
Stretch Mark Causes and Risk Factors
Stretch marks appear when the body is growing rapidly for some reason. Your skin just can't stretch enough to keep up.
Collagen is a protein that increases the elasticity of the skin. If there is not enough amount on the skin, marks may appear when stretched. Stretch marks can occur for the following reasons:
• Rapid weight gain (this affects both men and women)
• Child growth spikes at puberty. Let your children know that this is normal and that traces of childhood can fade with age.
• Pregnancy due to a surge of hormones that weaken stretched skin and skin fibers. If you lose weight after your baby is born, it can falter.
• Breast augmentation surgery
• Bodybuilding can take people with less fat to places with more muscle
• High levels of steroids due to steroid drugs or conditions such as Cushing's syndrome
• Marfan syndrome, a genetic condition that weakens skin fibers and causes abnormal growth
• Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), a group of disorders caused by genetic alterations in collagen, a protein in the body
They are also family run. Symptoms of stretch marks
New Stretch Her marks can be slightly raised and itchy. The wavy, streaky lines on the skin come in different colors. They go from red or pink to purplish-blue over time and become thinner, thinner, more scar-like streaks.
They can appear in many places on your body:
• Weapons
•back
•chest
• buttocks
• Waist
• shoulder
Abdomen or upper bodyStretch Mark Diagnosis
The doctor only has to look at your skin to diagnose them. But they’ll probably ask about your medical history. If you’ve taken either oral or topical steroids for a long time, high cortisol levels in your body might be to blame.
Stretch Mark Treatments and Home Remedies
A range of medical treatments and home remedies is available to treat your stretch marks. Some work better than others.
Medical treatment for stretch marks
A skin doctor or plastic surgeon can use lasers or other treatments to help fade the marks. It may help your skin make more collagen:
- Pulsed dye laser therapyis a painless blast of light used on new, red stretch marks. The light’s energy calms blood vessels under your skin that could cause the marks.
- Fractional CO2 laser therapy is a new treatment that may smooth out old, white stretch marks. One study showed that women’s stretch marks faded after five sessions compared to others who used topical creams with glycolic acid and tretinoin.
- Excimer laser therapyexposes stretch marks to targeted ultraviolet B (UVB) light. A small study shows that it’s safe and treatments over 1 to 4 months can correct pigment problems from stretch marks.
- Microdermabrasion uses tiny crystals to rub off the top layer of your skin. One new study showed that this treatment helped fade new, reddish stretch marks when combined with skin peels.
- Cosmetic surgery, like a tummy tuck, may remove skin with stretch marks. But these operations could leave scars. Plus they’re often painful and costly.
- Chemical peelis an acidic solution that burns off the top layers of your skin to remove dead and damaged cells and boost new skin growth. This treatment may improve your stretch marks a little, but won’t completely get rid of them.
- Radiofrequency uses radio wave energy to create heat and trigger your body to make collagen. One small study found this treatment is safe and can improve stretch marks, but scientists need to do more research.
- Ultrasound works a lot like radiofrequency treatments. The procedure sends sound waves deep into your skin to heat and tighten and jumpstart collagen production.
Home remedies for stretch marks
You’ll find many creams, salves, oils, and other skin ointments that claim to either prevent or treat them. But there’s little proof that any of these products really work. Some treatments and home remedies can fade or hide stretch marks:
- Body makeup and self-tanner: These products can help hide stretch marks. Note that tanning won’t get rid of stretch marks. It actually makes them easier to see.
- Tretinoin: Creams with tretinoin (Retin-A) contain retinoid, a compound related to Vitamin A. Retinoids increase collagen production. They’re often used to treat wrinkles. They may help fade newer stretch marks, but they can also make your skin red, irritated, or scaly.
- Collagen boosters: StriVectin-SD and lupin seed extracts are both supposed to increase collagen in your skin, but it’s hard to say if they’ll fade or prevent stretch marks.
- Centella asiatica: This herbal oil boosts cells in your body that make collagen and build up skin tissue. Some people use it to help heal wounds. Centella asiatica is in a number of over-the-counter skin creams for stretch marks, but there’s little proof it helps to fade them.
- Bitter almond oil:One study showed that women who massaged bitter almond oil into the skin on their bellies during pregnancy had fewer stretch marks than others who just used oil without massage.
- Cocoa butter, shea butter, olive oil, vitamin E oil, and other moisturizers: These natural creams can make your skin feel softer, but it isn’t clear if they help or prevent stretch marks.
Stretch Mark Prevention
It’s possible to prevent stretch marks, but there’s no guarantee. The best way to lower your chances is to stay at a healthy weight, even during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about an exercise plan and how to eat well.
Products with the ingredients centella and hyaluronic acid may work to prevent stretch marks.
Dec 30,2022