Tag: surgery

Stretch Marks Explained: Causes, Prevention, and Treatments

Posted on November 14, 2018

Striae—more commonly known as stretch marks—are scars that form in the middle layer of skin. They appear initially as red or purple lines that may feel indented depending on the severity of the scarring, but they often fade and become lighter over time. Common places on the body where stretch marks form include abdomens, arms and armpits, breasts, thighs, and buttocks, but they are not exclusive to these areas and can develop anywhere on the body. Stretch marks can form on both women and men.

What Causes Stretch Marks?

Stretch marks generally form when the body changes shape rapidly, forcing skin to expand or contract. Pregnancy and weight gain are common causes of stretch marks, but stretch marks also frequently form after starting a new bodybuilding or weightlifting routine, during rapid weight loss, and during puberty when an adolescent has a growth spurt.

While rapid stretching or contraction of the skin is generally the catalyst for stretch mark development, it’s not the direct cause. The direct cause of stretch marks is diminished skin elasticity, usually as a result of inefficient collagen production in the body. Collagen is a protein produced naturally in the body. When collagen production is diminished, skin becomes more brittle and likely to tear and scar if combined with rapid changes in the shape of the body.

Preventing Stretch Marks

While some inescapable factors come into play in your likelihood of developing stretch marks—genetics, for example—there are ways to reduce your chances of stretch mark scarring:

  • Harmful UV rays can diminish the body’s production of collagen, so wearing sunblock and avoiding tanning beds can assist in preventing stretch marks.
  • Drinking the recommended amount of water each day can keep skin hydrated and less likely to tear when stretched.
  • Eating certain foods like berries, green vegetables, and lean meats can encourage collagen production in the body and reduce your likelihood of developing stretch marks.
  • Gaining or losing weight gradually rather than rapidly will reduce your chances of stretch marks forming by giving skin time to prepare for changes in shape.
  • Frequent application of a stretch mark cream or lotion can reduce your chances of developing stretch marks by softening skin and increasing skin elasticity.

Stretch Mark Treatments

Sometimes even the best efforts in prevention go unrewarded, and you end up with stretch marks anyway. Unfortunately, stretch marks will not go away on their own; while they may fade in time, getting rid of stretch marks completely requires treatment. There are a number of ways to treat stretch marks:

  • Microdermabrasion, chemical peels, and laser treatment are common ways to treat stretch marks and can be performed by a qualified doctor. However, these treatments can be expensive and time consuming.
  • In extreme cases when stretch marks scarring on the abdomen is combined with excess skin due to weight loss, a tummy tuck can be performed to remove excess skin and stretch marks.
  • Over the counter stretch mark removal products can be effective in reducing the appearance of stretch marks or eliminating them altogether. These products are less expensive alternatives to physician treatments and much safer than surgery.

Why Natural Treatments for Stretch Marks Don’t Work

Posted on October 19, 2016

If you perform a search online for ways to remove stretch marks naturally, you’ll find a number of articles suggesting dozens of ways that you can get rid of your stretch marks using things you probably have in your house right now. These articles claim that rubbing things like castor oil, sugar, aloe vera, or lemon juice onto your skin regularly will get rid of your stretch marks for good.

The problem is that these methods don’t work. If they did, there would be a lot fewer women in the world who feel self-conscious in a bikini after having a baby. Stretch marks can’t be gotten rid of using common household items, and they don’t go away on their own. To get rid of stretch marks, you have to have your stretch marks treated.

Why Don’t Natural Methods Work?

Your skin is composed of three layers. The topmost layer of your skin is called the epidermis, and it is the layer of skin that you can touch and feel. The middle layer of skin is known as the dermis; it is the layer beneath the epidermis. The bottommost layer of skin is called the hypodermis.

When applying natural treatments to your skin, you are only treating the epidermis. However, stretch marks are actually scars in the dermis. This is why stretch mark scars don’t look like other types of scars you get from skin injuries. In order for a treatment to have an effect on stretch marks, it must be able to penetrate the epidermis and affect the dermis.

So Are Stretch Marks a Life Sentence?

No. Just because natural methods of treating stretch marks don’t work, it doesn’t mean that you’ll have to live with your stretch marks forever. There are many lotions and creams available that can significantly reduce the appearance of your stretch marks or get rid of them for good. Like the natural treatments, these products are simply applied regularly to the areas of your body afflicted with stretch marks. With regular application, you will be much more likely to see improvement in your stretch marks than you would using a natural treatment method.

What Other Treatment Options Are Available?

Other common methods of stretch mark removal include deep chemical peels, microdermabrasion, laser treatment, and tummy tuck surgery. Some of these treatments are more effective than others; while laser treatment is an effective method of removing stretch marks, chemical peels and microdermabrasion may simply reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

Disadvantages of alternative stretch mark treatments include costs and risks. Laser treatment can require months of recurring treatments to get rid of stretch marks and can cost between $5,000 and $10,000. Deep chemical peels can leave your skin red and raw for weeks after treatment. A tummy tuck is a serious surgery and carries all of the risks of any surgical procedure.

If you’re interested in finding out the potential costs of alternative stretch mark treatments, use our cost calculator to get an idea of how much you may need to spend to get rid of your stretch marks for good.