Everything You Need to Know About Stretch Marks

Stretch marks are a symptom of the skin that has been stretched to the point that markings begin to appear just under the upper surface.

There are three layers of skin. The top most layer of skin is called the epidermis. The middle layer is the dermis and the lower layer is the subcutaneous stratum. In the case of stretch marks, it’s the second layer of skin that is affected. When the dermis is stretched over a prolonged period of time, mild abrasions can occur. Over time, these abrasions, which are in essence tiny tears in the skin, do heal. However, they often leave remnants of their past markings.

A number of factors can affect the severity of stretch marks. The primary factor is the ability of an individual's skin to handle the stress of being stretched. Some skin is simply supple enough to handle the constant stretching without incurring too many stretch marks. However, others are less fortunate in this regard. The issues that can affect how supple the skin is often boils down to genetics and the overall health of the individual.

Causes of Stretch Marks

During pregnancy - Stretch marks most commonly appear in women in their latter months of pregnancy. They usually appear around the stomach and lower abdominal area. They can also appear around the breasts.

During puberty - Though far less common, stretch marks can also occur during puberty.

During weight gain - Stretch marks can occur after a short term, excessive weight gain. This is a common symptom of yo-yo dieting.

What can be done

In and of themselves, stretch marks do not pose a serious health risk. However, the psychological effects of stretch marks need to be distinguished. It is in recognition of these effects that a variety of methods are available for treating them. They range from home remedies and drugstore products to cosmetic treatments such as Laser Skin Tightening. Due to the nature of stretch marks, the sooner they are dealt with, the better the chances of being treated effectively.

Among the three types of treatments, home remedies may seem to be the most appealing. The problem with them though is that they are more or less a preventative measure as opposed to a treatment of stretch marks. As such, the cosmetic procedure Laser Skin Tightening is one of the best methods for the treatment of stretch marks after they have appeared.

In the case of pregnant women though, any cosmetic treatment should be handled after their pregnancy. Similarly, a cosmetic procedure is normally not recommended for anyone in the midst of puberty because the body may continue to grow thereby reversing the effects of treatment.

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