Treatments for Stretch Marks
Posted on December 1st, 2005 by garyPosted in Beauty, Skincare
For anyone who has stretch marks on their skin, you know how difficult they can be to hide or cover up. To better understand what you can do to lessen the appearance of stretch marks it’s helpful to understand what causes them.
The top most layer of your skin is known as the epidermis. The middle layer of the skin is known as the dermis. It contains nerves and blood vessels and is responsible for the production of collagen. When the dermis is stretched beyond its elastic level tears in the connective tissue happen and the collagen is pulled apart. The edges of these tears form the stretch marks we see on the outer layer of the skin.
There are many different conditions that can cause stretch marks. The most common is rapid weight change. It could be from gaining weight by growing muscle mass too quickly or through pregnancy. It could also be caused by rapid weight loss. In extreme condition of weight loss large amounts of excess skin are present and have to be surgically removed. A large fluctuation in hormones can also be responsible for rapid weight changes. People who have naturally darker skin tones have more noticeable stretch marks. The tears in the dermis disrupt the normal production of melanin and accentuate the appearance of stretch marks.
The most effective procedure for treating stretch marks is a macrodermabrasion. This procedure is performed by a dermatologist or plastic surgeon. Depending on the size and severity of the stretch marks this can run from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. Less expensive solutions involve lotions and creams made from plant extracts or tretinoin creams similar to Retin-A.
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