What Are Stretch Marks?

Stretch marks are those pinkish marks that women and men get when their skin undergoes a sudden expansion or stretch. These marks are the result of the dermis breaking and tearing due to the skin not being able to accommodate the expansion properly. Stretch marks are the bane of many women who undergo sudden weight gain or pregnancy. These appear where the skin has been stretched the most.

Individuals of both genders can experience stretch marks due to pregnancy, obesity, sudden weight gain and bulk building or muscle building. There are many supposed preventions or treatments of stretch marks but none are really that effective in getting rid of them. Most of these treatments only help to lessen the appearance of the marks or improve the skin tome to make the marks lesser.

Minimizing the Appearance of  Stretch Marks

Stretch marks can not be avoided especially during pregnancy where most women gain weight rapidly due to hormonal changes and the burgeoning of their stomachs. The areas where stretch marks commonly appear are the stomach, the buttocks, the thighs, the upper arms and breasts. In body builders, the more common parts where stretch marks appear are the upper arms and thighs.

The only surefire way of minimizing the appearance of stretch marks on your body is to gain weight slowly and give your skin the opportunity to get used to the expansion. This may be a bit difficult to do especially for pregnant women who usually experience rapid weight gain. It may be best to follow your doctor’s orders regarding the allowable weight gain for each month.

One other recommended way of minimizing stretch marks is to moisturize your skin, especially those areas prone to stretching like the stomach, breast, thighs and buttocks. Most people recommend using cocoa butter, jojoba oil, emu oil and other more intensive moisturizers to help your skin keep moisture and remain supple and elastic. Constant application is recommended to lessen the appearance of the offending marks.

Another way of minimizing the appearance of stretch marks is to wait them out. These pinkish marks eventually turn a few shades lighter than your skin tone which makes them less noticeable compared to when they were pinkish. Some other dermatological procedures may improve the appearance of stretch marks if you have the means to pay for them. These procedures may be a bit expensive and may not be covered by your insurance since they are for aesthetic purposes only.