Stretch marks develop when your skin is stretched rapidly : more precisely, the skin’s second layer (the dermis), becomes torn due to over stretching. They are most common around the stomach, breasts, thighs and hips. People of all ages can suffer from stretchmarks and they affect a huge number of adults. Luckily, they aren’t harmful to our health and are simply a cosmetic concern. Of course, During the summer months, Stretch marks are more concerning for us because they are on show more as we wear fewer clothes.
The skin stretches when the body grows at a high rate so that the skin doesn’t stretch fast enough to keep up with it. Stretch marks are generally associated with pregnancy but can develop during puberty: Body building or quick weight gain can also cause stretch marks.
Although skin is normally very elastic , when it stretches, the normal production of collagen is disrupted. collagen to ensure that the skin remains firm and supple. There are factors outside the body which affect the ability of the skin to produce and maintain collagen levels such as whether or not the person smokes and their diet These collagen levels affect lines and wrinkles on the face. They also determine how other blemishes, like surgery scars and acne scars, heal.
What do stretch marks look like?
When they first form, stretch marks stand out as red / purple lines. They appear indented and feel different to the rest of the skin. Over time, the reddish purple colour subsides, turning a lighter colour, generally silver,and fade away slightly. Depending on individuals, the stretch marks can heal to a degree but it is unlikely that they will completely disappear.
Removal of stretch marks
There are several methods to treat stretch marks. Stretch mark treatments vary dramatically in cost and effectiveness, treatments range from treatments brought in a shop to having expensive surgery for many individuals, stretch marks are ugly and undesirable and may make some people cover up even in summer, but this is overcome or greatly reduced by treatment to remove stretch marks.
Creams and oils are the cheapest variety of stretch marks removal however, not all creams work overall, creams are not the best stretch marks treatment. Using creams with techniques such as micro-needling, results in a much higher percentage of cream absorbed by the skin so this method often proves the most reliable method for many people.