Getting Rid of Stretch Marks
By: BonebrakeTotal Views: 244, Word Count: 679,
Stretch marks are basically a type of scarring. As with other types of scarring; they also form a source of embarrassment to their owners.
What are Stretch Marks?
The stretch marks generally appear during the periods of growth or when the weight has been gained and lost in a short span of time. The skin has to stretch to accommodate the changes when your size and shape changes, causing stretch marks on the skin. Stretch marks are most common during puberty and pregnancy as these are the two times when the body is undergoing rapid changes.
To avoid the stretch marks on the body, you must be aware of the real reason behind them. The skin is made up of three layers: the epidermis which is the outermost layer; the dermis, the middle layer; and the inner layer, the subcutaneous stratum. The skin has an inherent property of being elastic and it can stretch to a fair amount, but like all things, it has its limits. After that limit has been crossed, the production of collagen is disrupted, elasticity of the skin is lost and the connective fibers break. All this gives you unsightly stretch marks on your skin. Hence, basically stretch marks are those scars that are left as an after effect of overstretching of skin.
There are very few people who do not get stretch marks even when they lose or gain weight quickly, but for most of us, they're a fact of life. Generally, about 75% to 90% of pregnant women develop stretch marks post delivery.
Getting Rid of Stretch Marks
It has been advised by many skin care experts that keeping the skin well hydrated can help you ward off the stretch marks. Make sure to drink lots of water to keep the skin soft and supple and avoid stretch marks.
It is not impossible to get rid of stretch marks, but, in some cases, you might find the efforts and expenses to get them removed are more than you can or are willing to invest.
Following are some of the ways to help you get rid of stretch marks:
- Endermologie – In this, a special machine is used. It employs rollers and gentle suction, deeply massaging the stretch marked areas, thereby increasing circulation. This also helps in expelling water and toxins that were built up in the connective tissue while they were getting stretched. You will have to go through a series of treatments, each lasting about half an hour.
- Tretinoin cream – This cream is also known as ‘Retin-A’ and has been known to help in reducing stretch marks. However, remember not to use it if you are breastfeeding, as it has not yet been determined whether it gets excreted in breast milk or not and what affect it can have on your baby.
- Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) – These are extracted from the plants and also called fruit acids. They increase regeneration of the cells by removing the top layer of skin cells, and allow new and healthier cells to come to the surface. This improves skin color and texture and allows for better absorption of moisture. AHAs also increase the flexibility of the skin, which helps stretch marks to disappear.
- Micro-Dermabrasion – This method helps to remove the outer, dead layer of the skin, by making use of jets of zinc, aluminum oxide crystals, or a rough surface. A small vacuum is attached to a wand which suctions out the dead skin. This process is completely painless and does not require any type of anesthetic.
- Laser Surgery – This treatment actually makes the stretch marks fade but it is most effective during the early stages of their development. This is so because the stretch marks are the darkest while they are developing and the laser will only respond to dark colors.
Losing stretch marks is one of the most liberating experiences. It will take away all your embarrassment and will fill you with self confidence.
About the Author
Bone brake is a well known allergist. His practice encompasses naturopathy, herbal medicine and nutrition. Skin conditions treated include eczema, psoriasis and acne. He explored the treatment of allergies and allergic based conditions such as asthma, eczema and hayfever are by using different diets and techniques such as blood type diet, rotation diet, exclusion diet and kinesiology.
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