Stretch Marks 101
Stretch marks can occur on the skin anytime the skin is stretched to accommodate growth such as in pregnancy or weight gain. Stretch marks are a form of scarring. Another term you may see referring to this scarring is striae.
When stretch marks first appear they are red or purple in color. As they age they become glossy and turn silver or white in color.
The layer of skin that stretch marks appear in is called the dermis, which is the elastic middle layer of your skin. When skin is constantly stretched or stretched over a period of time such as in a period of weight gain or during pregnancy the dermis suffers break down and the result is the stretch marks. Men and women can get these stretch marks. Common areas of the body to get them are the abdominal area, your thighs, hips, breast area, upper arms and also your lower back and belly area.
There are several treatment options for reducing the appearance of stretch marks. A dermatologist or surgeon can give some options for treatment including medications.
Two surgical methods include dermabrasion and chemical peel. Recently there have been some advances with laser surgery. Your age, skin tone and your diet are all factors that will affect the success of these various treatments. Stretch mark removal is a cosmetic procedure so most insurance companies will not cover the expenses for these treatments.
Diet and exercise can be beneficial for improving the appearance of stretch marks. Healthy skin comes from good food and exercise. Don’t forget to drink enough water as your skin needs water to stay healthy. Stay away from caffeine as it tends to increase your risk for stretch marks. If you must drink beverages that contain caffeine than the best thing you can do is to drink more water than you do caffeinated beverages.
Stretch marks can result from a lack of nutrition. Make sure that you include foods that are rich in zinc in your daily meal planning such as nuts or fish. Other foods that are healthy for your skin are carrots, citrus fruits and dairy products. Another good food source are foods rich in protein such as eggs.
Exercise improves blood circulation, which helps to nourish skin so get your daily exercise and drink plenty of water before during and after exercising.
You will find lots of creams and lotions in health and beauty aisles of most stores that advertise they help rid you of unwanted stretch marks. The best time to use these products is before you start noticing stretch marks. This is difficult to do if you do not know ahead of time that you will be gaining weight. You can know ahead of time that stretch marks are a possibility if you discover that you are pregnant. Talk with your obstetrician before your abdomen starts to expand so that you can be given a safe recommendation for an over-the-counter cream or lotion to use to prevent or lessen the appearance of stretch marks.
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