Stretch Marks and How To Get Rid Of Them Once and For All!

Stretch marks or striae gravidarum, are the most common of all skin lesions and affect a large majority of the population, both male and female. But just what exactly are stretch marks and are they avoidable or simply inevitable? Here is some helpful information on this bothersome, but harmless condition.

Stretch marks are most commonly believed to be the result of skin that has merely been stretched beyond its normal limits. The result is apparent scarring of the skin that may initially be reddish or even purplish in color.

While stretch marks may in fact be a form of scarring, they are caused in part by a loss of collagens and elastins in the skin when it is stretched more than normal. A breakdown of the tissues and fibers then occurs resulting in the appearance of the stretch marks.

Also, an increase of glucocorticoids, which are the hormones that are secreted in excess by the adrenal glands during time such as pregnancy, weight gain or adolescence, are believed to be responsible for the formation of stretch marks. These hormones affect the skin and prevent it from forming the collagens and elastins necessary to keep it taut and healthy.

Stretch marks occur in the middle layer of the skin, commonly called the dermis, and not on the actual surface of the skin. The dermis is an elastic layer which is reinforced with fibrous tissue. These fibers, as we know, are comprised of those essential collagens and elastins, which allow the skin to be stretched and then retain its normal state.

If one were to examine a stretch mark under a microscope, he or she would discover that the dermis is considerably thinner than normal. This is because the collagen fibers have now been pulled apart from one another, causing the elastic properties to become broken down and deposited in the skin, which result as the marks we see.

Pregnancy is the most often reason for the appearance of stretch marks and they usually occur during the third-trimester or in some women, even sooner. Actually, anyone experiencing sudden weight gain may also develop the marks.

They are most often seen on the stomach area, the arms, the breasts and also the thighs, but can appear on any part of the skin. There are also rare instances where people have reported the marks on their neck or face areas as well.

It is estimated that about 85 to 90% of all pregnant women will in fact get stretch marks at some point during their pregnancy. This is a high enough percentage to give most women pause and cause them to actively seek ways of preventing them or at least lessening their appearance.

If the stretch marks have been caused as a result of giving birth, then it's worth taking into account that they will eventually disappear with time, or at least reduce dramatically in visibility(not what we want to hear but true).

While a cream such as tretinoin (also known as Retin-A) is ideal for getting rid of stretch marks, having been proven to reduce the length of stretch marks by up to 20% with just a tiny amount of cream, it's not yet been confirmed whether it affects breast milk or not, so should be avoided if you're breastfeeding.

Another method, which has proven to be reasonably effective, is one that originated in France. It's a treatment called Endermologie, and involves exfoliating the skin. This is caused by a machine that combines a gentle suction feeling with rollers moving across the area of skin with the stretch marks. Although this hasn't been proven to remove these marks completely, it will improve the appearance of the affected skin and give a far smoother feel and look.

A more intense approach to the problem is that of laser treatment. Although expensive, it's one of the more effective remedies, as the actual type of laser used can be set up specifically for the different colors that stretch marks can be. If you have a reasonably fresh set of stretch marks, or darker colored ones, there is a certain type of laser treatment for you. By doing this, it helps the skin and mark to blend into one another, giving the impression of full removal.

Yet another type of laser treatment is that which works with the natural collagen in that everyone has in his or her skin. By stimulating the actual collagen production around the area, it allows any eroded elasticity to be restored, thus working to disguise deeper stretch marks. However, like the other forms of laser treatment, it can be extremely expensive and is unlikely to be covered by any health insurance plans, so be prepared.

Today there are many women who are enquiring about options for stretch mark removal, especially after they have gone through a pregnancy. This is no wonder, since most women end up dealing with pregnancy stretch marks that they are less than happy with. Today there are a variety of different treatments out there for stretch marks, so you really shouldn't have to worry about them. However, if you didn't take care of your body while you were pregnant, you may have some really bad stretch marks on your body. In many cases, though stretch marks can be treated, you may not be able to ever be totally free of the stretch marks.

When you are pregnant, it is the sudden gain of weight that usually causes the stretch marks. When the skin gets stretched out too far, it can lead to these ugly red stretch marks. While they appear dark and red on your skin at first, over time they usually turn into lines that appear almost white. Many things affect whether or not you get stretch marks, and even drinking water and eating right during pregnancy can make a difference.

Prevention - Better Then Using a cure
It is always best to prevent your stretch marks rather than to end up trying to treat them. However, if you do end up with stretch marks, there are quite a few options that you can consider. One option that many people go with in the first place is lotion that is developed for stretch marks. You'll want to go with the lotions that contain ingredients such as lanolin, Aloe Vera, cocoa butter, Vitamin A, shea butter, Vitamin E, and wheat germ oil. These lotions can help to rebuild the structure of your skin, helping to heal the stretch marks you have.

Of course if you purchase a lotion to help get rid of your stretch marks, you'll want to give it some time to work. You may not see the results in the first couple days, but usually you should see some results in about a month. If it doesn't seem to be working by then, then you may want to go with another option. However, sometimes you'll find that lotions that work for friends don't help you, so you may need to find the right one for you.

Other Removal Options
If you find that lotions just don't give you the results that you really want, in some cases laser therapy treatment may be a great option to consider. This can be an option that is quite time consuming. Of course before you go with this option, it is important that you do your research and find out as much as you can about it. Take a look at both the pros and cons of laser therapy before making your decision.

If you want to find the best possible option for treating your stretch marks, take the time to talk to your doctor. They can let you know about home remedies, creams, and other options that you may want to consider.

The aging procedure causes a lot of changes in our bodies and the way we look and furrows around the eye region are one of these changes, yet, do you know why this happens? It is effected by the amount of exposure to the sun and it's rays, not just how old a person may be. When you are still youthful, you may not notice the effect, but as you age, you will discover some people age and others still look youthful. This all precipitates to how negatively your skin reacts to this type of vulnerability.

These days there looks to be an answer to every problem. There are specialists trained to treat and detect any ailment people experience, and there are specific interventions and medicines available for each state. So if you are concerned about your under eyes furrows or your crows feet, you have a lot of alternatives but these must suit your choice according to what will make you happy and what you can afford. If you are wanting to try out with the newest emollients or are ready to try the up-to-date surgical operations, we have some propositions.

A new intervention, called Thermage is available for creases and other under eye ailments, which tightens the skin so the lines are not as apparent. Botox as well as Restylane can act as skin fillers. The positive effects of such procedures can be observed for more then a half year, depending on "how much you care for your skin" and "your skin type".

Silk Touch and Fraxel lasers are known to get rid of wrinkles. You will need to ask your dermatologist which procedures he or she recommends, if any, for your skin type and eye line state of affairs.

You can opt for Lyra or Photo Genica if you have other issues like below the eye discoloration or eye bags. These improvements involve actually removing the cause of enlarged blood vessels, but for those who choose not to use them, the trouble can be obscured with a high quality make up. One thing that you have toconsider before going in for any procedures is that if you really need to go in for it.

Instant beauty will surely make you happy when you see quick effects, but it can take a toll on your physical aspect if you are too old to undergo the same procedure. These can be beneficial if your visual aspect has something to do with your job or your means of income so if you want to age gracefully and you are not the type to take drastic steps,to get rid of creases, then so be it. You can easily see people who have come from families with a happy life, as they still are having today.