Stretch Marks
How to get rid of Stretch Marks
Stretch marks or Striae Gravidarum is a term that refers to the scars on your skin which are caused by excessive stretching and rupture of elastic fibers.
Although ugly looking, it is not a serious skin disease nor it is not life threatening. Most women and even some men have them!
However, the ugly sight often causes a lot of grief to sufferers, especially for those who are more beauty conscious.
Here are some common questions that one would ask. We will attempt to provide some answers. We will also examine the various treatment options available.
- What do stretch marks look like?
Depending on the color of your skin, stretch marks start out as pink, reddish brown, brown, or very dark brown streaks. After some time they can fade to a more silvery color that is lighter than the rest of your skin.
- Where do they normally occur on your body?
They can appear anywhere on your body, but are most commonly found on the hips, breasts and buttocks.
- What are the causes of stretch marks?
They are usually caused by pregnancy or obesity that results in excessive stretching of the skin.
STRETCH MARKS PREVENTION
If you are obese, you should try to reduce weight through healthy diets and exercise.
Healthy diets are important for ensuring a healthy body and a healthy skin. You are essentially what you eat.
Obesity will over-stretch the skin and leads to stretch marks.
Otherwise, it is a matter of how elastic your skin is. That has to do with your genetics and there is nothing very much that you can do about it.
So don ’t worry about what you have no control over.
Take charge of what is within your control such as maintaining a healthy diet and exercising to keep your weight at a healthy level.
STRETCH MARK TREATMENT OPTIONS
CREAMS & LOTIONS
Many women use various types of creams, lotions and oils to try to prevent stretch marks from forming.
Unfortunately, while such products soothe and soften the skin, there are many of these products that do not work or have no medical evidence to prove that they actually work!
So beware of advertisers trying to sell you expensive products making dubious claims!
WARNING
Please consult with your pharmacy or doctor before using any of these products. In particular, if you are pregnant or breast feeding, you should check with your doctor first.
Having said that, there are some new medical research which shows that certain specific creams may be able to help with the appearance of stretch marks.
Products that contain about 0.1 percent Tretinoin cream (commonly known by the trade name Retin-A) when applied, will slightly reduce the length and width of stretch marks.
The ZENMED ® Stretta gently removes the outermost layers of dead skin cells and nourishes deep within the skin, to remove unwanted, unsightly stretch marks and promote healthy cellular regeneration.
LASER THERAPY
WARNING
Using laser therapy is a very serious and expensive route to take. You should consult with your skin specialist and give it thorough consideration before making a decision.
Laser therapy can also help improve the appearance of stretch marks.
The surgeon would make use different types of lasers to treat the skin. The type of laser used depends on the color of the marks.
There is a type of laser that reduces the color and can be used for dark-colored marks. Another type of laser stimulates the production of pigment-making cells. This is effective in treatment of faded stretch marks.
An even newer type of laser therapy stimulates the body and helps it to produce collagen. This helps to restore the elasticity of the skin.