How to prevent and treat stretch marks
How to prevent and treat stretch marks
Stretch marks are fine lines of thin stretched tissue that may appear on the body, often during rapid weight gain or pregnancy. Naturally, our skin is very flexible. However, during rapid growth, the production of collagen is disrupted (collagen is a protein found in our skin that makes up most of the connective tissue giving it a smooth texture). This leads to reddish lines on your skin with a rough texture that will eventually turn grayish or white before fading. Stretch marks can affect both men and women, however, they are more prevalent in women, especially during pregnancy.
Causes Of Stretch Marks
Apart from pregnancy, oftentimes people who are obese, people how have excess amounts of body fat, or even bodybuilders can both develop stretch marks as a result of the rapid bodily changes that occur. Heredity can also play a role in the development of stretch marks. Some people are naturally born with dry skin that is less elastic than that of other people. In these instances, it will require less body change in a short period of time to develop stretch marks. Also, many steroids which are taken through contact with the skin can cause stretch marks in one's body.
Stretch Marks is a truly unfortunate condition. You should make all attempts at avoiding them if possible. Try to be sure to maintain a healthy balanced diet and have a sufficient intake of water. There are certain times in your life where the chances of stretch marks are high and it is not feasible to avoid these because of circumstances, such as pregnancy. In these cases talk to a dermatologist (skin doctor) to determine what treatment is best for you if they do develop on your skin.
Stretch Marks And Skin Changes In Pregnancy
There are countless physical changes to your skin, both pleasurable and painful attributed to your pregnancy only.
The common skin change that most pregnant women experience is stretch marks. Stretch marks are separations of the outer layers of skin caused by the overstretching of underlying layers.
In pregnancy, heredity plays an important role in determining who will have and will not have stretch marks. If your mother has had them, chances are that you will get them too, unless you were born with stretchy skin. There is no sure shot remedy for stretch marks as mostly they fade after delivery. The only way to avoid stretch marks is to prevent them.
Stretch Marks Due To Rapid Skin Growth
It is caused mainly when a person gains weight and the skin grows rapidly causing stretch marks. Even though our skin happens to be very elastic overstretching may lead to stretch marks. It usually happens at the time of puberty when girls' and boys' bodies go through a speedy change, during pregnancy, or when you happen to gain or lose weight.
With elastic skin, the production of collagen gets affected which leads to stretch marks in many areas of our body like the bikini area, stomach, thighs, hands, breasts, hips, legs, and even buttocks. Even though the stretch marks appear to be normal from the outside the stretching happens inside.
The lower layer of the skin which provides its strength and elasticity tends to get thinner and uneven. As the skin is very transparent the blood vessels can be easily seen. Due to which the stretch marks happen to be seen. Men suffer from stretch marks too. These stretch marks usually disappear after a period of time, but that too can stretch depending upon the marks you have.
Do Not Let Stretch Marks Invade Your Body
to avoid stretch marks it is important to maintain a healthy weight. Diets that can cause your weight to change quickly can cause stretch marks.
You also have to massage your skin every day with a moisturizer to improve the blood circulation that encourages new tissue to appear. It is also important to eat healthy foods, which help to keep healthy skin.
Lastly, if you are a pregnant woman and do not want to have stretch marks, eat healthy and advisable foods. It is not really recommended for you to eat a lot of food. You just need to take extra calories to nourish your unborn child. But take note, these calories should come from a well-balanced diet.
