Get Rid Of Stretch Marks
Stretch marks, also called strech marks or streach marks (Striae distensae is the medical name for stretch marks) are a well-known skin problem, which causes considerable distress to those that have them. Stretch marks are linear scars, which affect a thin layer of the skin.
Strech marks are the consequence of a rapid stretching of the skin. This is associated with pregnancy, obesity, puberty growth spurts or other fast weight gain that can happen with weightlifters and body builders. When they first appear they are purple or reddish lines. However they fade with age and eventually turn silver in color. The areas of the skin affected look empty and are soft to touch.
Our skin has three layers, the epidermis which is the top layer, the dermis or middle layer and the subcutaneous stratum, which is the inner layer. The dermis is responsible for helping skin keep its shape. When the skin is stretched over a period of time, it becomes less elastic, so that the dermis loses its support causing dermal and epidermal tearing, what we call streach marks.
Stretch marks usually appear in the areas of the body where the highest amounts of fat are stored and the most common areas are the stomach, upper arms, breasts, underarms, hips, buttocks and the inner and outer thighs.
There are various options when it comes to treating stretch marks. If you are really serious about getting rid of them, it’s probably best to be under the care of a dermatologist or surgeon or who can advise what your best options are. He or she can take a comprehensive medical history, including medications that you are taking. It is a fact that some medications, like steroids and hormones, may cause stretch marks, so it is important that you are honest with your doctor.
There are skin care surgical methods, like chemical peels and dermabrasion, which may be used to tackle unwanted stretch marks, and recently there have been many new advances in laser surgery. The amount of success of any treatment will be influenced by your skin tone, age, and even diet. Insurance coverage does not usually extend to stretch mark removal, even if they are severe, as this is a cosmetic procedure.
Removing Stretch Marks
There is a good deal of over-the-counter treatments for stretch marks. These include Vitamin E oil and creams, coconut oil, olive oil, aloe Vera, cocoa butter, to name but a few. Bio-oil is one such specially prepared formula for both stretch marks and scar removal. There are a good number of reviews praising the worth of this product to prevent stretch marks throughout pregnancy.
If you are pregnant (maternity) and/or concerned about stretch marks due to rapid weight loss, your physician can recommend beauty creams to help you prevent stretch marks and even cellulite or wrinkles. There are also some relatively newly developed products that are only available online and some of these, like Trilastin (click for Trilastin-SR Review), are receiving amazing reviews.
Your diet and taking regular light exercise can go a long way in helping you to maintain a healthy skin, as can drinking plenty of water. An adequate daily supply of water keeps it soft and elastic, so it is less likely to be affected by stretch marks.
A nutritional deficiency can cause stretch marks; so make sure you eat foods, which are known to promote a healthy skin, such as nuts, and fish that are rich in zinc. Milk, fruits and vegetables contain high amounts of vitamin A, C and D and protein rich food, like fish and eggs. Use a high-quality stretch mark cream to make the whole process of removing stretch marks even faster and easier.
