A large part of the population has had or will have stretch marks at some point in their lives. They can appear anywhere on the body and show up as purple marks. The older the stretch mark, the lighter it should become until a white mark is the only thing left to see. Pregnant women, body builders, and those who are obese or have undergone significant weight loss are the ones who get stretch marks more than others. Body builders may also be affected since their skin grows as the muscles get larger.
The Cause Of Stretch Marks
The stretch mark you see is caused by the stretching of the skin. Since the skin has stretched itself quickly, the body does not have time to replace the collagen as it does if it stretches naturally. The result is a scar that is created from under the dermal layer of the skin. The body can recover from the damage, but a regimen of proper diet, stable weight, and skin care is necessary. Left untreated, stretch marks will diminish over time – they will become lighter but is still visible and scar-like.
Prevention and Removal Of Stretch Marks
No one can stop stretch marks altogether but by watching your weight and how you gain muscle, it can help. For women who want to have children, preventative stretch mark cream and support clothing may also help. Watching the diet and reducing excess fats will slow the process. Collagen-based creams will help before the stretch marks occur but creams after the fact take more time as Collagen, elastin and hydration repair the skin and remove marks.
Plastic Surgery And Lasers For Scar Removal
The location of the stretch marks will be the factor that will tell you what procedure you need to remove them. For those stomach stretch marks, a tummy tuck may help because of the removal of the damaged skin. Unfortunately, the skin left behind is stretched and sewn together to give you a completely new scar. It is comparable to trading one scar for the other. Laser scar removal has not been conclusively proven to be effective but those who have tried it say it helps to reduce the signs of the stretch marks. Since the dermal layer has been damaged by the stretching skin, it might be impossible to say the laser helps because it does not go deep enough.
Stretch Mark Cream
The most effective stretch mark creams incorporate active ingredients that help promote healthy skin development and repair or remove marks and scars. Increasing elastin (and elasticity) by invigorating fibroblast production, and promoting healthy skin with Collagen III, hydrating with Emu Oil and repairing with Vitamins A and E, all lead to diminished stretch marks and healthy cell growth.
Tim is president and managing partner of a skin care manufacturing and distribution firm outside Athens, GA near Atlanta.
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