Beauty / The Truth About Stretch Marks

The Truth About Stretch Marks

Beauty Oct 09, 2013

by Soriyya Bawa

Everything you need to know about stretch marks, from what they are to how to get rid of them.

Earlier this summer, my girlfriend and I were planning a day at the beach. She was so excited to show off her new “super cute” bikini—except when we actually got to the beach, she refused to take off her shorts. When I asked her why she didn’t want to show off the bottom half of her bikini, she simply said, “And show everyone my disgusting stretch marks?”

That got me thinking. Plenty of women, of every age and race, have stretch marks, and so many of them are overly conscious about how they look. I have them too, but I never really knew what they were—they just kind of showed up one day. I decided to do a little digging into what these marks really are, where they come from, and how to get rid of them.

What Are Stretch Marks Exactly?

Stretch marks appear as streaks on the surface of the skin, most commonly seen around the thighs, buttocks, upper arms, abdomen, and sometimes the breasts. When they first surface, they’re usually a shade of pink, red or purple, but tend to fade to a more gray or cream shade over time.

Other than being unfortunate to look at, stretch marks are harmless.

What Causes Stretch Marks?

Stretch marks are caused by tears in the dermis, which is the middle layer of your skin. Our skin naturally has an elastic quality to it, especially when we’re younger. But when the skin is pulled or stretched at a faster-than-normal rate, it becomes distressed, resulting in scarring underneath the skin’s surface.

That’s why a lot of women start to notice them during a pregnancy. Long story short, stretch marks will appear when your body goes through a rapid change, like rapid muscle or weight gain. Both girls and boys are likely to see a few marks around the same time that puberty kicks in also.

Stretch marks can be genetic, if your mother had a lot of them, there’s a higher chance that you will too. They have also been known to surface with hormonal changes, or with the prolonged use of certain steroid creams, like formulas that contain hydrocortisone or corticosteroids.

How Can You Get Rid of Stretch Marks?

Stretch marks will fade over time, although they probably won’t disappear completely. If you’re really concerned with how they look, you have a few options for reducing how visible they are. They’re also easier to treat when you catch them in their early stages.

Topical creams that contain retinoids (or Retin-A) or glycolic acid have been shown to help reduce the visibility of stretch marks because they help to boost collagen production, which improves the elasticity of skin. The more elasticity skin has, the less likely it is to stretch.

It’s always a good idea to consult your doctor or dermatologist before starting a skin treatment, especially if you’re using both retinoids and glycolic acid. Avoid retinoids if you’re pregnant or nursing.

Vitamin E and other essential oils are also believed to be effective for fading stretch marks. They’re fairly affordable and you can pick up a bottle at your local drug store. I’ve been using Bio-Oil, which contains calendula, lavender, rosemary and chamomile oils, as well as vitamins E and A.

Keep in mind that you have to religiously apply it twice a day to actually see results, but if you stick to it, it does actually work.

If you’re looking for something a little quicker, you may be interested in laser therapy, where high intensity pulses of light penetrate through your skin into the dermis to repair damaged blood vessels, boost collagen, and increase cell production. It won’t get rid of the stretch marks entirely, but it can drastically improve the appearance of them.

Laser treatment only works on newer stretch marks and you’ll need to do several sessions. Also, keep in mind that lasers aren’t usually recommended for darker skin tones because they can cause hyperpigmentation (dark spots).

If you've discovered a great way to treat stretch marks which I haven't mentioned, please do comment below and share what has been working for you.

_{Feature Image: MATURE STRETCH MARKS/ http://skincarebylouisa.com/

BIO-OIL/ http://prestige-point.com}

Soriyya Bawa

Author

Soriyya Bawa has been featured in national publications including ANOKHI Magazine Tribute Magazine and Canadian Family Magazine. Soriyya currently works as a freelance writer and editor based in Toronto, Ontario and also specializes in customized web content and socia...

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The Truth About Stretch Marks

by Soriyya Bawa

Soriyya Bawa

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