Remove Stretchmarks Without Surgery

If you have suffered from stretch marks, it was most likely during puberty or a pregnancy where the skin underwent fast weight changes. However, you may be questioning what exactly causes stretch marks and how to reduce stretch marks appearance after they have formed. In general, stretch marks develop on the body in regions that store large amounts of fat, and they occur in the dermis, the skin layer which determines its shape.

Stretch Marks Defined

Stretch marks begin as actual tears in a thinned or technically atrophic skin, with fine dermal collagen bundles arranged in straight lines parallel to the surface. This is your body’s defense mechanism at work in an attempt to heal these tears. The reality is that stretch marks are really scar tissue created by the body to heal damage caused by expanding skin that is too thin.

Referred to by doctors as “striae” (usually “striae distensae” or, in the case of pregnancy , “striae gravidarum”) stretch marks typically show up after a period of rapid weight gain or loss. They are most common during pregnancy and the teenage years, when periods of rapid growth and increased levels of steroid hormones cause significant changes throughout the body. The truth is that almost 90% of females who are pregnant form stretch marks.

Stretch marks are actually skin lesions and are surprisingly the most common type of lesion. Stretch marks, or Striae, are most commonly located on the breasts, hips, thighs, buttocks, abdomen, and flank. Be aware that stretch marks are absolutely normal and aren’t considered a medical concern. The problem is that they can become an appearance issue and affect a person’s self esteem.

Prevent Stretch Marks – Your First Line of Defense

A secret to preventing stretch marks from developing is to maintain moisture in the skin during periods of weight gain or loss. This will help reduce stretch marks and for those that do appear, fade faster. A regimen of exfoliation and massaging nutrient-rich natural oils into the skin ,such as wheatgerm, jojoba or vitamin E, will help fade stretch marks from your high risk areas.

The Art of Stretch Mark Removal

The act of massaging the stretch mark damaged skin is critical and increases blood circulation to the affected area, also assisting the healing process. Exfoliation of the area will also help stretch marks removal by shedding dead skin cells and allowing the stretch mark cream to penetrate more effectively into the damaged skin. A warning is warranted though – be careful not to overdo with the exfoliation as it may cause your already damaged skin to become extremely sensitive. Remember, the skin is already damaged so remove stretch marks with care!