Stretch Marks 101 - Understanding Them Is Key To Eliminating Them

Stretch marks affect everyone. It can be found in both men and women across all races, it happens to fat and thin people, and it can be present in young and old people alike. This makes stretch marks one of the most common skin problems around and also a very important area of interest in both dermatology and cosmetology.

Stretch marks are basically scars that at first would appear as thin reddish or purplish lines on the skin and eventually take on an appearance with a much diminished color; more mature stretch marks can even develop into dull white or pale silver tracks on the skin. Also, these marks tend to have a mind of their own as they easily expand into other parts of the body.

These scars or marks result when extra-cellular proteins called collagen found in the skin are divided or parted due to some inherent or aggravating factors. The collagen separation does not cause any pain, however it can stretch the skin and may even leave a mild stinging and prickly sensation. When this happens, you can always apply lotions or creams to relieve the prickliness.

Indeed, the worst harm that stretch marks can bring to you is lowered self-esteem. Just like other skin problems, stretch marks can leave you with that unclean perception about your skin. And as if your own mind is not doing enough to feed your feeling of embarrassment, mainstream media is also making opinions about stretch marks all the more ruthless. Therefore, you really have to deal with your stretch marks.

Even though stretch marks have been observed to occur in both sexes, women are more prone to them. A staggering 70% of teenage women already experience having stretch marks; additional 20% more women will have stretch marks during pregnancy. Indeed, the widespread occurrence of stretch marks should give everyone the motivation to deal with them.

There are several factors that permit the growth of stretch marks on one's skin. Among the major causes are heredity and hormonal changes, this is why stretch marks can begin to appear during the adolescence years where boys and girls undergo several changes in their hormonal setup. Another factor could be one's drastic increase or decrease in weight or the enlargement of muscles through body building. But the most notorious factor that bring about stretch marks is pregnancy; in fact, it is always a given that pregnant women and all mothers have stretch marks.

Stretch marks can occur in almost any part of your body. But they do have some favorite spots to grow on. These unsightly scars distribute themselves mostly along the shoulders, near the armpits, and the tummy. Breasts and buttocks are also often affected by stretch marks. And there are cases where the back of the neck, hips, and thighs can also play host to stretch marks.

Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do to prevent the occurrence of stretch marks on your skin. However, there are a number of ways to treat stretch marks and to diminish their unattractive appearance. Apart from expensive and more sophisticated cosmetic surgeries, there are substances that have been studied and discovered to possess qualities that can reduce the appearance of stretch marks. Tretinoin and retinol, both derived from Vitamin A essences, are among the most validated substances that can fight stretch marks by regulating the production of collagen.