Causes of Stretch Marks - Some Tips for Reducing Stretch Marks

Stretch marks are a cosmetic blight most of us will encounter at some point in our lives. They are the normal part of the puberty for most girls and guys. Stretch marks can be caused by the growth spurt in adolescence. Teenagers can get stretch marks over their thighs, legs, bottoms, waist and arms during their growth phase.

Stretch marks happen when the tissue under the skin is pulled by rapid growth or stretching. Many women get them during pregnancy. There are three layers of skin i.e. epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous stratum. Stretch marks occur in the dermis, the resilient middle layer that helps the skin retain its shape. When the dermis is constantly stretched over time, the skin becomes less elastic and the small connective fibres within it break.

Stretch marks are also known as "striae gravidarum", are caused by excessive stretching of the skin. A family history of stretch marks, is the main cause of it. Other possible causes of stretch marks are as:- hormonal imbalances, obesity and lach of nutritions in diet etc.

There are two varities of stretch marks i.e. red and white. Older, mature stretch marks are commonly white.

How to Reduce Stretch Marks:

The possible tips of reducing stretch marks are as:-

• Take supplements in addition to your diet, that should contain vitamins A, E and C.

• Use vitamin E oil on your stretch marks. Massage it into your skin after a shower.

• Try to eat food that contains essential fatty acids, which help make cell walls. Essential fatty acids can be found in many vegetables, vegetable oils and fish oils.

• A French treatment called Endermologie claims to reduce scarring. A machine with rollers and gentle suction is used to massage and exfoliate the affected area.

• The best way to get rid of stretch marks ids to apply moisturizing creams. Tretinoin, Retin-A are effective in moisturising the outer skin layer, they can't always penetrate deep into the dermis where stretch marks occur.

• Alpha hydroxy acid is a fruit acid and is very effective in stretch marks because they moisturise the outer layer of skin, making it more pliable.

• Laser surgery can be used in a aery severe condition.

• Massage cocoa butter into the stretch marks - or a cream such as Barmon Stretchmark Cream with Cocoa butter as one of the ingredients.