Remove Stretch Marks the Easy Way

If you have experienced stretch marks, it was probably during puberty or a pregnancy where the skin underwent fast weight changes. However, you may be questioning what exactly causes stretch marks and how to reduce stretch marks appearance once they form. As a general rule, stretch marks form in those body areas that store large amounts of fat, and they occur in the dermis, the skin layer which determines its shape.

What are Stretch Marks

Stretch marks begin as 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 truth is that stretch marks are really scar tissue formed 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 appear after rapid weight gain or loss. They are most common during pregnancy and the teenage years, when growth spurts and increased levels of steroid hormones cause radical changes throughout the body. In fact, almost 90% of pregnant females form stretch marks.

Stretch marks are actually skin lesions and are surprisingly the most common type of lesion. Stretch marks, or Striae, are most commonly located on the breasts, hips, thighs, buttocks, abdomen, and flank. You need to know that stretch marks are perfectly normal and are not a medical concern. The problem is that stretch marks can become an appearance issue and affect a person’s self esteem.

Prevent Stretch Marks – Your First Line of Defense

A secret to stretch mark prevention from developing 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, repair themselve quicker. A practice of exfoliation and massaging nutrient-rich natural oils into the skin ,such as wheatgerm, jojoba or vitamin E, will help rid stretch marks from your high risk 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 shedding dead skin cells and allowing the stretch mark cream to penetrate deeper 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. Remember, the skin is already damaged so remove stretch marks with care!