Myths about Stretch Marks

Stretch marks are in fact skin tears which are formed when our skin is stretched beyond its normal limit due to factors like pregnancy, weight gain, hormonal changes, drugs etc. This is a worldwide problem faced by many men and women. Stretch marks deface our appearance and for this reason they cause anxiety and depression in billions of people who suffer from such marks. People spend their fortune on useless and overpriced treatments for these marks. In spite of common occurrence, there are several misconceptions related to the stretch marks. Listed below are some of the most frequent myths regarding stretchmarks and expert’s insight about them.

Myth No. 1: Only women suffer from the stretch marks

Fact: Both women and men can develop stretch marks. Women mostly suffer from them because of the association of stretch marks with pregnancy. But men can also suffer from such marks because of growth spurts or workouts for building muscles.

Myth No. 2: Stretchmarks form on the abdomen only

Fact: Wrong! Our legs, arms, breast, hips etc. can develop these marks as well. So don’t worry if you find one of these on your arms or legs. Any part of your body that can develop over-stretching of the skin is prone to the formation of stretch marks.

Myth No. 3: Skinny people do not get stretch marks

Fact: Although obese people get stretch marks more commonly but slim people are not entirely risk-free. This is because a number of factors play role in the development of these marks, for example, hormone levels and genetics. So if your mum has stretch marks, you are at risk as well.

Myth No.4: Stretch marks are totally unavoidable

Fact: When genetics come into play, the stretch marks are virtually unpreventable. However, a well-organized regime can be formulated to maintain the vitality of skin.

The most important thing is to keep the skin hydrated by moisturizing it on a regular basis. This will keep its elasticity intact, therefore preventing tears in the skin when it over-stretches. Secondly, keep your skin nourished by using products which contain gotu kola, vitamin E, cocoa butter etc.

Finally, prevent undue increase in weight or sudden fluctuations in weight by exercising regularly and maintaining a well-balanced diet. Adopting a healthy and fit lifestyle is a perfect way for keeping your skin supple and flawless.

Myth No. 5: There is no treatment for stretch marks

Fact: The truth is that you can treat stretch marks and manage them well with the help of an expert like a dermatologist. The dermatologist will advise you topical treatments like retinoid and alpha-hydroxy acid cream. Natural sources of alpha-hydoxy acids are sugar and milk. Their mechanism of action is the gentle exfoliation of the top-most skin layer. This will remove all of the dead skin and expose the new skin free from scars and stretch marks. Retinoid can be obtained from the vitamin A. It acts by exfoliating the skin and stimulating the production of collagen. This will make your skin healthy and more resistant to any kind of damage.

There are also a number of procedure which can be used to reduce the stretch marks. These procedures include laser therapy and microdermabrasion.

Methods for Hiding Stretch Marks

Methods for Hiding Your Stretch Marks

Stretch marks are purplish, brown or reddish colored lines that are hideous to look at. Although they gradually fade into whitish or silvery streaks they still deface your appearance. These marks are formed due to excessive skin stretching because of sudden weight gain or weight loss, pregnancy, hormonal imbalance or growth spurts. Stretch marks are permanent marks on your body and these unsightly marks stay forever once formed. But you can try simple tricks like self-tanner and concealer to disguise them instead of going for expensive options like laser therapy and plastic surgery.

Concealer

Step # 1

Find a shade of concealer which matches your normal skin tone. Do not go for a very light shade of concealer that will not hide anything but rather make things worse. Choose a concealer that is heavy so that it does not slide down.

Step # 2

Pick a small make up brush and dab it on the concealer. Pat it over the stretch marks using light and gentle strokes. Apply lighter layer of the concealer for the best results.

Step # 3

Here is a beauty hack! To set the makeup in situ, disperse a jot of translucent powder over it.

Step # 4

Use a pearly cream. Apply a tinge of cream on the stretch marks. This cream will reflect light making these marks less noticeable.

Self-Tanner

Step # 1

Take a wash cloth and dip it in some warm water. Massage your skin in small and circular motions with this wet washcloth. This will help exfoliate the skin so that self-tanner is absorbed more easily and effectively. Pat yourself dry with a cotton towel.

Step # 2

Select a good self-tanner. Now take some self-tanner in your palm and apply in on your torso, thighs, legs, arms and massage it well in circular motion. Make sure you apply it all over the area and not just over the stretch marks. If you just apply the self-tanner over the stretchmarks, then it will make them even more noticeable.

Step # 3

As you apply the self-tanner continue lightly from the ankles to the feet and from the wrist to the hands. This trick will give a more natural look to your tan.

Step # 4

If your stretchmarks are visible even when your self-tanner has dried, then apply a bit more of it. This can happen when your stretchmarks are whiter in color. Take a cotton ball and dunk it in the self-tanner. Now use this cotton ball to dab each stretch mark individually to get a more perfect look.

Step # 5

Take the damp washcloth once more to softly rub your ankles, knees and elbow. These are the areas which absorb the most color compared to other body parts.

Step # 6

Wait for a minimum of ten minutes to let the self-tanner dry, before you get dressed. And abstain from any strenuous exercise or physical activity, sweating etc. for at least 3 hours after artificial tanning.

Warnings

Despite exaggerated claims made by lush beauty products, containing fancy ingredients like Aloe vera and shea butter, studies have shown that they are not as effective as they claim.

Which Foods can Prevent Stretch Marks?

Sudden weight gain and pregnancy can lead to the formation of stretch marks. Other causes of the stretch marks include syndromes like Cushing’s syndrome or Marfan syndrome. The basic mechanism which leads to the formation of such marks is over-stretching of the skin. Since stretch marks are permanent, the best way to deal with them is to not let them form on your skin at all. Here are a number of ways to prevent the formation of stretchmark on your skin.

Drink Lots of Water

Make sure you drink adequate amount of water to maintain softness and vitality of your skin. This will prevent stretch marks from scarring your skin. Drinking water is not the same as drinking caffeinated beverages. In fact, caffeinated beverages like coffee, soda or tea etc. dry out your skin and make it more susceptible to stretch marks. So, drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water to keep your skin hydrated and glowing.

Keep a Balanced Diet

To keep your skin healthy and radiant, eat a variety of food items in order to make sure that you are getting all nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin D, Omega 3’s, zinc, proteins etc.

Protein can be obtained from the foods like eggs and meat.
Eat the food like nuts, seeds, fish etc. to add zinc to your diet.
For vitamin A, eat carrots, mango, sweet potatoes and red pepper etc.
Consume limes, oranges and lemons etc. to get vitamin C.
Eat lots of broccoli, blueberries, papayas, olives, seeds, nuts, collard greens and avocados for vitamin E.
Sea foods like fish and oysters are rich in omega 3’s.

Remember that a well-balanced diet is essential for a perfect skin. So do not forget to eat the above mentioned food items.

Watch Your Weight

Rapid weight gain is a major cause for the formation of stretch marks. Sudden weight loss has the same effect. Therefore you should keep a healthy weight to prevent this from happening. Plan a balanced diet which contains food from all food groups like cereals, lean meats, fruits, vegetables and dairy. You can also consult a dietician to plan your diet. Exercise regularly to maintain your weight. When you are pregnant, exercise is essential to make sure you do not gain weight abruptly.

Ways to Cure

Commercial market offers a number of products which claim to remove the stretch marks from the skin completely. But these products are very expensive and their claims are misleading mostly. If you do go for such products, prefer the ones which contain glycolic acid, vitamin E or cocoa butter. A better alternative is to use home remedies because they are natural, cheaper and more effective. Here are a few examples of such home remedies.

Massage castor oil or coconut oil over the affected skin.
Olive oil is also effective for lightening the stretch marks.
Egg white is rich in protein which makes it potent for decreasing the stretch marks.
Use seaweed wrap over your stretch marks to lessen them.
Fruits acids are also very efficacious for these marks.

Using Tattoos As A Way To Cover Stretch Marks?

If your skin stretches quickly, it may damage the dermal layer of the skin and this damage can cause visible scars. The chance that they will naturally fade away is unfortunately quite slim, and in any case would take a long time. Having a tattoo applied over the scar has the advantage of being visually expressive, allowing you to evoke a message or emotion, while at the same time covering up the stretch marks. Tattoos can transform what was once an embarrassing scar you wished to hide from the world to a striking piece of artistic expression that you can confidently show off.

Tattoos provide a solution for what to do with your stretch marks, but you should be careful about deciding whether or not it is the right choice for you, and where to go for one. First, you should be aware that there is the risk of some problems that emerge from applying a tattoo to your scars. If you have quite a young stretch mark, for example one that is one or two years old, you might experience quite sharp pains from the tattoo.

If your stretch marks have not fully formed and you apply a tattoo too early there is a risk that the image will become distorted as the scar grows. On the other hand, if your stretch marks are very large or deep you might find that much more ink is required to create a tattoo, which will need more time and money. Finally, the larger and deeper the scar is, the more difficult it is to create a neat-looking tattoo. Keep these points in mind when deciding whether or not getting a tattoo is right for you.

Do not rush into getting a tattoo – sound advice whether you have stretch marks or not. You want to be as sure as possible that no complications will emerge from your new tattoo, and the main way to prevent these is to use an experienced tattoo artist. Visit a few tattoo artists, and if one sounds absolutely positive that they will make a perfect tattoo do not immediately agree to them working on you. Ask around, look at reviews, and most importantly find an artist that has worked with stretch mark tattoos successfully in the past. When you have decided on one, consult them about whether it is a good idea to have it applied to your particular scar tissue. It is important that you listen to their opinions; they are the ones with experience in working with different skin conditions, and they will be able to tell you about any potential complications that can emerge in the future. If you are satisfied with your tattoo artist, then go ahead and agree upon a design. We mentioned above that one risk of having a tattoo applied is that there can be complications if your stretch marks are not fully formed, resulting in a distorted tattoo. A similar problem occurs when there is the chance of new stretch marks forming, either through weight gain, a subsequent pregnancy, or another reason.

Rather than having to worry about ruining your tattoo, or going through the bother of covering up new stretch marks, you can take a few precautions to prevent stretch marks forming. Stretch marks form when damage to the skin extends to the dermal layer and there is not enough elastin or collagen for the skin to regain its former shape. These two proteins allow the skin to “bounce back” and grow back into its natural smooth shape. You can ensure that you have enough of these micro-nutrients by drinking plenty of water, keeping to a healthy diet with plenty of vitamins and minerals, and following a healthy lifestyle. You can also use stretch mark prevention creams. These creams are specially designed to deliver these essential micro-nutrients directly to the dermal layer of your skin, where they can immediately go to work restoring its strength.

Acting Properly In The Case of Red Stretch Marks | SkinOverhaul

What we do when we first discover that we have a skin condition can have an affect on the way the condition progresses or is treated – especially if the skin condition we have are stretch marks. Most stretchmarks are considered unsightly because they are bright red and some can be very large. If they are left untreated, they never go away though they may change color. Stretchmarks that are left untreated remain like big sores on your body for the rest of your life because the skin is not as strong as it needs to be to treat them on its own.

If begin to treat stretchmarks while they are still bright red and before they begin to turn white or silver in color, then you can have an affect on their visibility. When they are new and still red, the body can heal them faster when you give it a little bit of help. Women whose stretch marks have grown older can make some changes but the help won’t be as dramatic as it can before new stretch marks because they have become a part of your skin and consequently more difficult to remove.

Red stretch marks appear because the the second layer of the skin has stretched or ripped and the first layer of the skin becomes stretched and thin. When your skin has finished stretching, it often leaves behind a scar that some people describe tiger stripes or scratches from a claw because they are red lines that are not entirely uniform. Depending on how health your skin it, your first layer of skin may rebuild slowly and become tighter again after a period of time however stretch marks only very rarely heal completely.

Helping to heal your stretch marks should be done as soon as you notice them and this should not be done with specialty products alone.making sure your whole body is healthy is the first priority and using minerals and vitamins is essential. Helping your skin with a health lifestyle, creams, surgery and other treatments for stretch marks is most effective when you have a healthy body and skin.

Moving quickly to treat these marks is the best thing you can do for them and this is why the reviews of products and treatments are not always entirely positive – because after a certain time frame there is not much you can do for your stretch marks. The first thing to know when treating your stretch marks or anything else is that if you do not take action, nothing will change. Simply being unhappy with the appearance of stretch marks does not heal them. It is important to drink plenty of water and eat a healthy diet alongside living an active lifestyle. The healthier you are, the healthier your skin will be and the easier it is to heal yourself. To treat your stretch marks, you can try a variety of products on the market. Some will be store bought and some homemade and natural, you may need to try a few to figure out what works for you.

Moisturizing your skin is also very important, keeping it moist will keep you happy and your skin healthy! Again, you should begin treatments as soon as possible because the younger your skin is the faster it can repair itself. Finally, healing your skin may be easier if you are a woman because women have higher collagen production levels then men and collagen is essential for skin elasticity.

Stretch Mark Prevention Creams – Do they even work? | SkinOverhaul

Wrinkles can be scary, and almost everyone will have to face the prospect at some point in their life. However, scars caused by skin stretching can be much more troublesome, especially that caused by pregnancy. Thankfully, stretch marks are not incurable, and creams have been produced designed to target the causes of skin scarring. Follow our science-based approach as we outline what happens to your skin when you develop stretch marks, how they can be prevented, and why you should.

To understand why you need to make use of stretch mark prevention creams, you must first understand how stretch marks occur in the first place. By closely examining the structure of your skin, you will see why stretch scarring occurs, and how it can be easily prevented.

Your skin is made up of a number of layers. The topmost is the epidermal layer, with the thicker dermis just below it. The epidermis is extremely thin, and is constantly growing new skin cells and shedding off old layers. Any damage to the epidermis, like a light scratch, will quickly and naturally be repaired by this process. Underneath is the dermis, where sweat is produced, hair is grown, and blood is brought to the skin.

Skin in general is pretty stretchy, as it has a protein called elastin. Just as it sounds, it is a stretchy protein that allows skin to “bounce back” like an elastic band. Another protein present is collagen, which provides robust scaffolding that gives the skin its structural integrity. When damage extends to the dermal layer of the skin and there is not enough elastin or collagen for the skin to regain its former shape it is repaired with generic “fix-it” cells that leave behind a scar.

Stretch mark prevention creams are designed to increase the production of elastin and collagen, allowing the skin to grow back into its natural smooth shape. These creams are designed to bring these vital proteins straight to the dermal layer, so that they can instantly start working on repairing any skin damage.

After a period of time regularly using these creams, along with a healthy diet and lifestyle, you will find your stretch marks fading away until they eventually disappear. Over 90% of women develop permanent stretch marks if nothing is done to prevent them during a stretching period. This is a particular risk when pregnant, when it is vital to start treating the skin as soon as possible to prevent long-term marks. This is why over 60% of stretch mark prevention creams have been tailor-made for pregnant women.

Thousands of stretch mark prevention creams have been created, and it might feel bewildering and intimidating to choose one from so many options. Thankfully, there have been people trying these creams out, figuring out which work in decreasing stretch marks and which are bogus. What remains is an easily accessible selection of tried and tested creams, supported by reviews and ratings, allowing you to narrow down your search for the perfect cream.

Laser Treatment for Stretch Marks

The idea that a doctor could simply make someone’s stretch marks disappear using laser therapy is a very exciting idea. Everyone wants to be able to get rid of those bright red scars that are often located in the most delicate areas. Unfortunately, there is no simple solution to the problem of stretch marks and while some treatments like laser therapy are wholeheartedly advocated by doctors, not everyone is convinced that they work. However, there is some evidence that laser therapy may be able to offer some relief in the appearance and color of stretch marks.

Stretch marks happen in the second layer of the skin called the dermis. The dermis lies between the skin’s surface and another layer below it. Although many ointments and lotions claim to be able to relieve stretch marks, most over the counter products cannot penetrate the skin below the epidermis, or the first layer of skin and so they cannot reach the area that is most affected by stretching. Stretch marks occur when the skin must stretch quickly. Whether you are growing, gaining weight or muscle or you quickly put on pregnancy weight, your skin needs to stretch to be able to cover your growing body. This stretching is what causes stretch marks. Sometimes, people grow so quickly that the proteins in the skin like elastin or collagen are not able to keep up and therefore the dermis tears a bit so that the skin can keep growing. There are several types of laser treatments available on the market. One of these is the pulsed dye laser, which attempts to stimulate elastin and collagen production in the dermis layer of skin. This would seem to suggest that the torn parts of the dermis would be filled in again. This treatment works better for newer stretch marks that are bright red rather than older stretch marks. The procedure is not painless and may cause some discomfort as the laser is targeting a deeper layer of skin. You may require several sessions to see results and there may be side effects like bleeding or bruising from the procedure.

A second type of laser treatment is available from an exciser laser. An exciser laser works differently from a pulsed dye laser as it attempts to change the color of stretch marks by inducing a higher production of melanin which regulates skin color.

This kind of therapy will require at least 10 treatment sessions with a laser and even if the desired results are achieved, maintenance treatments will still be required to maintain the color of the scars. One treatment session every two or three months may be required to for the upkeep of the color however the scar itself will not disappear so you will still be able to feel the break in the skin.

These treatments are often expensive and some treatments cost $350 and over for a single treatment. $350 can add up quickly when 10 or more treatments are required and support from a medical insurance fund is not likely as the procedure is mostly cosmetic. This can be very expensive especially as the procedures offer no guarantees to their effectiveness. With the amount of money that would be spent on laser therapy, it may be just as effective to consider a tummy tuck procedure. A tummy tuck procedure is one of the only real ways to consider getting rid of stretch marks permanently however it requires an operation that does have complications and it can cost around $8,000. During a tummy tuck procedure, a surgeon will remove excess skin from the abdominal or tummy area. Many women who have pregnancy stretch marks find that they are located here. This surgery works because it not only surgically removes the skin but it also works to tone and tighten the muscles in the abdominal area which provides a more aesthetically pleasing appearance for some.

Does Tanning Help With Stretch Marks?

Does Tanning Help With Stretch Marks or Makes Them Worse?

Scars caused by skin stretching can be very troublesome and difficult to hide. They are often bright red and can occur in areas that many people find embarrassing such as on the stomach or the thighs. You may be tempted to try and change your skin tone through tanning to obscure stretch marks, but you should be aware that there are dangers to this approach. Your skin is made up of a number of layers. The topmost is the epidermal layer, with the thicker dermis just below it. Tanning darkens the epidermal layer, which is very thin and frequently sheds layers (which is why you “lose” your tan over time). However, stretch marks form on the lower, dermal layer of the skin which means that tanning does not have an effect on the stretch marks themselves. This layer is not affected by tanning, and scar tissue acts differently to normal skin tissue, meaning that your scars may actually be even more visible due to tanning!

We recommend that you study how skin with stretch marks works, and what tanning would do to obscure it or make it more visible. Stretch marks will transform colour as they mature. Young stretch marks will appear a quite distinct red, and as they age they gradually turn white. As they go through the spectrum they may appear more or less visible in contrast with your natural skin tone. In some cases, you may even be able to fine tune this with some careful tanning. However, we must warn you that it is extremely rare that tanning hides stretch marks, and may actually make them stand out even more.

There are laser treatments to work to change the color of the stretch marks to match the tone of the surrounding skin, but like tanning, even these treatments do not effect the stretch marks themselves nor do they often work as a suitable treatment.

What about when you are away on holiday to get some sun, or if you cannot avoid tanning naturally from where you live, or if you do wish to continue tanning some other way? We recommend following a few measures to tan safely, tips which should be followed whether you have stretch marks or not. Where possible, tan naturally (i.e. actually sunlight, not cream or at a salon), and tan in moderation. Too much tanning at once can cause extreme danger to your health and indoor tanning can actually cause further damage to your skin.

Make sure that you are using plenty of sunscreen with a suitably high protection factor. However, be aware that you cannot tan when using any stretch mark prevention cream, as your skin cannot absorb additional sunscreen properly.

Finally, if you have any other skin condition that you are worried about, be sure to consult your doctor before engaging in regular tanning. The final word: you can still tan if you are careful about it, but be aware that it may backfire and cause your stretch marks to become even more visible.

Does Exercise Make Stretch Marks Go Away?

Exercise is great for your overall well-being including having healthy skin. While exercise has many benefits, it can not eliminate stretch marks. This is because stretch marks are actually scar tissue. The size of stretch marks can take up a lot of skin. Even though most people develop stretch marks in problem areas like thighs, stomach, hips and arms, exercise in these areas will not reduce the appearance of stretch marks. However, stretch marks may be treated through other means.

Stretch marks are caused when the skin is forced to expand or shrink very quickly such as when someone undergoes rapid weight loss or weight gain during pregnancy or from body building. While skin can stretch to a certain point, sometimes these changes can occur so quickly that the skin is not able to grow as quickly as your body. When the skin is not able to grow as quickly as you do, this may lead to tearing damage in the second layer of skin and can lead to scar tissue developing in the area.

Despite exercise being an important part of a healthy lifestyle, it is not recommended as a course of treatment for reducing the appearance of stretch marks or for their removal. Exercise may help you change or reduce your body size and it may be used to slow changes body composition so that stretch marks are not so bad but it will not have an affect on stretch marks that currently exist on the body.

The best thing to do for stretch marks is to know what causes them so that you can prevent them when necessary. There are many factors that go into whether or not you will develop stretch marks but keeping your body healthy and hydrated is the best way to prevent many health and cosmetic problems in the body.

Drinking plenty of water both encourages the movement of minerals and vitamins in the body and helps keep your skin hydrated which helps it to keep its elastic properties. Using lotions or creams to provide daily moisture to the skin is another excellent way to keep your skin healthy. Exercise may help you maintain your current body shape and maintenance will prevent any of the serious changes that can often lead to the development of stretch marks on the body. Even though exercise does not act as a treatment for stretch marks, exercise is an important part of a healthy life style. However, it should be noted that exercise may contribute to new stretch marks depending on your body type, the frequency in which you exercise and your exercise goals.

People who are undergoing training for body building competitions often suffer from stretch marks all over their body especially if they train very intensely and grow their muscles very quickly. Similarly, people who are quite small who begin to train intensely and grow a lot of muscle very quickly may also find that they have stretch marks on their body. Crash dieting may have an affect on stretch marks and make them worse. If you are seeing a large amount of these bright red marks on your body, you may consider letting up on serious dietary restrictions as well as reducing the amount of exercise so that the body has time to adjust to its new shape.

Stretch Marks Before

Stretch marks are scars that are often found on sensitive areas of the body like breasts, thighs, abdomen and the buttocks. These marks which are called striae, mostly appear as a bright red, purple or pink mark on the body that often looks like a scratch of some kind. People try all kinds of treatments in order prevent stretch marks, reduce the appearance or even remove stretch marks from their body completely. Many people are under the belief that weight loss will cause the skin to reform and the scars to disappear along with the fat. Unfortunately, weight loss does not have this effect and not only will weight loss not rid your body of its stretch marks but rapid weight loss might actually cause new stretch marks to form on the body.

Stretch marks occur when the skin is stretched quickly such as in situations during pregnancy or with sudden rapid weight gain. There are also medical conditions that may lead to the production of more stretch marks. These conditions include Cushing syndrome as well as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. There are also several medications that can cause stretch marks as one of their side effects. The best known of these medications are corticosteriods in the form of pills, creams or lotions.

Despite what we believe, weight loss may actually play a part in making stretch marks more visible or creating new stretch marks. This is especially true if the weight loss occurs very quickly. This is not because of the stretching of the skin but because when you loose weight quickly, your body processes may be interrupted. These body processes include the production of hormones like collagen which helps to keep you skin flexible and elastic. A lack of collagen can result in more stretch marks forming and also can contribute to making preexisting stretch marks even more visible. As your skin recovers from the weight loss, the stretch marks may even end up being closer together which can give you the appearance of having even more stretch marks than you do.

The best way to prevent stretch marks is to maintain a healthy weight and to avoid changing your body shape very suddenly if possible. Keeping both your body and you skin healthy can both limit how many stretch marks you gain as well make it easier to treat stretch marks.

There are many different treatments for stretch marks and they can vary from lotions from the pharmacy to surgical removal options. Many of these treatments may change the appearance and reduce the visibility of stretch marks but only slightly. These options can include creams and lotions as well as cosmetic options like make up or self tanning sprays.

There are few totally successful treatment options for stretch marks and even the two laser treatment options can not eliminate stretch marks from the body completely. It may take a long time, even years, for stretch marks to fade or change color so that they blend in more with your natural skin tone. Eventually, they turn silver or even a white color and some might actually disappear if they were not very deep you have healthy skin. Although weight loss may alter the appearance of stretch marks, this weight loss needs to be very slow and healthy so that it does not upset the natural balance and hormones in your skin.