Did you know stretch marks are actually a type of scar? Stretch marks are a badge of honor for most people, who get them during puberty, for body builders and for pregnant women. Over 90% of Americans have stretch marks somewhere on their body.
What exactly are stretch marks, and how can you get rid of them?
Stretch marks occur when a person gains weight or grows rapidly. Normally, the skin is fairly elastic and copes with growth well. But when rapid changes in body size or shape occur, the skin is stretched. Overstretching disrupts the production of collagen – the major protein that makes up the connective tissue of your skin. As a result, a type of scar we call stretch marks occurs.
Stretch marks usually occur on the breasts, thighs, hips and butt. Occasionally they occur on the arms and legs too.
Some medications can increase the likelihood of stretch marks. If a person uses creams or lotions containing corticosteriods, like cortisone, for longer than a few weeks, the person is very likely to get stretch marks.
High doses of corticosteriods taken orally for extended periods also increase the risk of stretch marks.
For many years only plastic surgeons could really assist you with stretch mark removal. Fortunately, today there are more options for stretch mark removal available that are neither as costly or as dangerous as surgery.
This cream contains a powerful blend of peptides, antioxidants and moisturizers that help your body to repair stretch marks. Highly recommended.
This cosmetic procedure abrades the top surface of the skin, removing it completely. Done a little at a time, this procedure removes stretch marks by slowly eliminating the skin that contains the stretch marks. This process can be lengthy and expensive.
Similarly to microdermabrasion, lasers are used to resurface the skin and reduce the appearance of stretch marks. This process can be painful and expensive.