Tips on creaming stretch marks
published:
Saturday | May 31, 2008
Keisha Brown, Health Writer
Maternity Solutions massage cream is another solution for persons with stretch marks.
Many women around the world suffer from stretch marks. Stretch marks are usually the result of weight gain or growth spurts, and are scars caused by the skin 'tearing' when it gets stretched past its limit of elasticity.
Over time, stretch marks can diminish but won't disappear completely.
Researchers estimate that between 75 per cent and 90 per cent of women will develop stretch marks to some degree during pregnancy.
Treatment and Prevention
Various treatments are available for the purpose of improving the appearance of existing stretch marks. Such treatments include laser treatment, dermabrasion, and prescription retinoids.
In the early stages, stretch marks can sometimes be reduced with over-the-counter moisturising creams, particularly those containing vitamins A or E. Creams containing alpha hydroxy acids can also help. Tretinoin or retin A make the outer layer of the skin thinner so that the cream can reach the dermis where it increases the amount of collagen produced.
These creams should not be used without medical supervision because they can cause side effects. Tretinoin is not recommended for use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Laser surgery does not remove stretch marks but it does help them to fade. Laser treatment only picks up dark areas of skin, so it is most useful in the early stages when stretch marks are darker in colour. A series of treatments is usually necessary for visible results, but this is dependent on skin colour and type.
A surgical procedure for removing lower abdominal stretch marks is the tummy tuck. This procedure removes the skin below the navel where stretch marks frequently occur. Fractional laser resurfacing is another procedure used to treat stretch marks. Using scattered pulses of light, only a fraction of the scar is zapped by the laser over the course of several treatments.
The body responds to each treatment by producing new collagen and epithelium. In a 2007 clinical trial, five to six treatments resulted in stretch marks improving by as much as 75 per cent.
Prevention
It is important to maintain healthy weight. Rapid weight gain and yo-yo dieting can cause stretch marks to form. If you are trying to lose weight, aim to do it slowly.
Massaging your skin every day with moisturiser or a massage glove can help to improve circulation, which encourages new-tissue growth. It is also important to eat a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals, especially vitamins C and E, zinc and silicon, which help to keep your skin healthy.
Signs & symptoms
Stretch marks first appear as reddish or purple lines, but tend to gradually fade to a lighter colour. The affected areas appear empty and soft to the touch.
Stretch marks can appear anywhere on the body, but are most likely to appear in places where larger amounts of fat are stored. Most commonly, they are found on the abdomen (especially near the belly button), breasts, upper arms, underarms, thighs (both inner and outer), hips and buttocks.
They pose no health risks in and of themselves, and do not compromise the body's ability to function normally and repair itself.
