Stretch Marks. Causes, Symptoms, Prevention and Cure.

Find a medication for Stretch Marks.

Stretch marks are a normal part of puberty and often occur in pregnant women. When a person grows or gains weight rather quickly, it causes tiny tears in the dermis layer of the skin, resulting in a scar. At first, it may appear reddish or purplish and have a different texture from surrounding skin. Over time stretch marks can fade in color and almost disappear, however if left untreated they will remain. Keeping the skin hydrated with lotion or moisturizer can help accelerate the fading and prevent more occurrences.

Stretch marks are prone to appear:

• During pregnancy
• During puberty
• In obese people
• In people whose diets frequently fluctuate
• In bodybuilders
• In people who use steroid-containing skin creams or ointments (such as hydrocortisone)

Prevention

Research is contradictory in the prevention of stretch marks. Most studies maintain that creams and lotions cannot prevent stretch marks, although many people find success with certain creams. At any rate, the best way to treat stretch marks is to prevent them. Here are some helpful suggestions:

• Eat healthy and avoid gaining excess body fat.
• Eat a highly nutritious diet to maintain the health of your skin.
• When pregnant, wear supportive maternity clothing (such as the correct bra and pants).
• Exercise regularly, stretch, and maintain a flexible physique
• Consider using creams that include centella asiatica extract, alpha tocopherol (vitamin E) and collagen-elastin hydrolysates.

How to Get Rid of Stretch Marks

Recent studies have found that it is possible to remove stretch marks (or at least, reduce them) with laser treatment and regular application of creams containing retinoic acid. More extreme measures may include chemical peels or the use of an Endermologie machine, a device that uses rollers and gentle suctioning to deeply massage stretch-marked areas. The simple approach is to wait for the stretch marks to fade on their own.