All About Stretch Marks
June 27th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed
Stretch marks are formed when your body grows faster than your skin or extends farther than your skin can stretch. Other names for stretch marks are striae rubra, striae distensae, striae atrophicans, and striae alba. Other factors that can increase your chances of getting stretch marks include growth spurts, pregnancy, rapid weight gain and bodybuilding. There are also reports that heavy use of topical corticosteroid creams can cause stretch marks. Those with Cushing’s Syndrome may develop stretch marks as a result of extra adrenal cortical processes.
The Appearance Of Stretch Marks
Stretch marks appear on the skin as long, narrow abnormalities. Stretch marks are red when they first show up, but over time, they gradually take on a light silvery color. In some people, the stretch marks can be roughly 10 millimeters wide, although they are typically thinner than that and no more than a few centimeters in length each. If they appear to be of the wide variety, or if they appear on the face, there is a good chance that your stretch marks are the result of Cushing’s Syndrome or topical corticosteroids. Teen stretch marks ordinarily fade away after a long time.
The Treatment Of Stretch Marks
Treatments for stretch marks such as creams and lotions, oils, chemical peels, dermabrasion, laser surgery, topical retinoid therapy and pulse dye laser therapy are choices available to you if you wish your reduce stretch marks and have them become less evident.
Contrary to popular notion about stretch marks, children and men, as well as women, can develop stretch marks. Any person who gains weight or increases in size quickly is likely to develop stretch marks.
If you want to prevent stretch marks, observe proper health care. Drinking lots of water and getting daily exercise are essential to your health. A healthy diet is another essential factor of being healthy and contributes a lot to making the skin healthy and elastic. Avoid drugs, including such common drugs as alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco.
Vitamin E, which is mostly thought to be good for any skin health issue, is also thought to be beneficial when put on to stretch marks. Apply Vitamin E onto the stretch marks daily for several months if you wish to fade stretch marks. Many of the better stretch mark products, like Revitol Stretch Mark Cream, are formulated with this skin-strengthening vitamin.
Are Treatments Covered By Insurance?
Unfortunately, medical treatments for stretch marks are commonly not covered by health insurance companies. Stretch marks are viewed as a cosmetic condition, so they are subject only to nonessential nonmandatory treatments. So OTC stretch marks cream products that are recommended by a pharmacist are probably the best affordable treatment option for you. In general, these treatments eliminate the dead skin cells, thereby regenerating the skin cells and encouraging new skin growth.
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Watch Out For These Supposed Stretch Mark Cures
October 3rd, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
The unsightly stretch mark is a reality that knows no boundaries, including race, age, sex or country of origin. The fight against stretch marks is truly global! The sad part is that the battle against stretch marks will rage on until a miracle stretch mark cure is discovered that will eradicate these unsightly marks.
But fear not, literature and advise related to skin conditions is brimming with tips on how to prevent stretch marks and how to eliminate stretch marks if they do develop. While much has been written about the subject, even more is being sold in the name of avoiding and treating stretch marks.
Some Stretch Mark Treatments are Quite Effective
The truth is that many stretch mark treatments are quite effective at reducing the appearance of stretch marks. This is not so much because of a miracle ingredient, but rather due to the fact that a stretch mark sufferer is applying a daily moisturizer or cream to the skin and hopefully exfoliating the damaged area a few times a week.
Beware These Stretch Mark Cures
The problem is that several other supposed stretch mark cures were never meant to be used for this skin condition and are often packaged and sold as the latest, greatest cures. One example is that of pearl powder — a substance that is often tied to claims of healing that are simply not supported by any modern scientific research. The origin is China and often it is hawked as a traditional and mysterious ingredient in many secret skin potions that supposedly increases the porcelain beauty of many an empress. However, in its purest form, you will find that pearl powder is little more than a ground up powder made from fresh water pearls.
The supposed logic behind the claims is that pearl powder contains a number of amino acids, which in turn will promote healthy skin growth on the dermis level. Those unscrupulous marketers who prey on the uninformed sell this “mircle” cure in lotions, potions, and supplements. While it is true that cell renewal has been associated with amino acids, it is doubtful that the powder when ingested will actually provide the amino acids to your skin in the quantities needed. A topical application is shown to have a limited effect on increasing the supple appearance of the skin, but in now way will this powder make stretch marks disappear. Avoid this stretch mark scam!
Here is another product that is sometimes marketed as having a dual purpose. No doubt you have heard of the popular acne product, Proactiv. The primary ingredient in it is benzoyl peroxide. Depending on the concentration and your ability to tolerate it, Proactiv will act like a low impact chemical peel that will reveal healthy looking skin underneath. Unfortunately, Proactiv will not make stretch marks disappear. But the source of its mystery powers over stretch marks is that it can lessen their visibility by increasing the healthy appearance of the surrounding skin. A word of caution is warranted here — allergic reactions to benzoyl peroxide has been reported and have actually led to severe outbreaks, rashes, and in extreme cases, can lead to skin damage from excessive scratching and subsequent infections and scarring.
Witch hazel has been used for centuries and was commonplace in most people’s medicine cabinet. This substance is extracted from the witch hazel shrub and generally used to alleviate bruising and swelling, as well as, sores in related cases. It is a natural cleanser and has shown good results when used on acne. The unfortunate part is that none of these medicinal effects have any bearing on the outer layer of the skin. This is just another urban legend that supports this extract as one of the more effective stretch mark cures — not so!
Stick With Proven Stretch Mark Products
Your best bet is to stay with quality stretch mark cures that have proven themselves over time and can be supported with facts and strong testimonials from satisfied customers. Save your money and go with stretch mark products that can effectively fade stretch marks or have a track record of reducing the development of stretch marks during times of rapid growth, like pregnancy.
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