Stretch marks (or striae as they are referred to in dermatological terms) are caused when the skin is stretched too quickly: more specifically, the skin’s second layer is not stretched, but torn. The worst affected areas for stretch marks are the stomach, breasts, thighs and hips. Anyone can suffer from striae (the technical term for stretch marks) and they affect the majority of adults. Thankfully, they aren’t harmful to our health and only affect us cosmetically. Unfortunately, these concerns grow in the warmer seasons as the amount of our bodies we show, increases.

How do stretch marks occur?

This stretching occurs when the body grows so fast that the skin cannot keep up with it. Stretch marks are most frequently associated with pregnancy but can develop during puberty: sudden weight gain and even body building can also cause stretch marks.

Although skin is normally very elastic , when it is overstretched, the normal production of collagen is disrupted. It is this collagen which helps to keep the skin firm and elastic. There are other factors which affect the collagen levels produced naturally by the skin such as diet or smoking These collagen levels affect the appearance of wrinkles and lines in the face. They also influence how other blemishes, like surgery scars and acne scars, heal.

What do stretch marks look like?

When initially formed, stretch marks can look red and/or purple and be very visible. They appear indented and have a different texture to the rest of the skin. Over time, the deep colour fades, turning a lighter colour, generally silver,and fade away slightly. The ability to heal however does vary considerably from individual to individual.

Treatment for stretchmarks is possible either at home or by visiting an expert. Stretch mark treatments vary dramatically in cost and effectiveness, treatments range from creams purchased over the counter to expensive surgical procedures for most people, stretch marks are undesirable and often make people feel self concious, but this can be overcome or greatly reduced by treatment to remove stretch marks.

Creams and oils are sold over the counter and are the cheapest form of stretch marks removal but, only a small amount of the creams is absorbed into the skin so, overall, creams are not an affective way of treating stretch marks. Combining this process with techniques such as skin needling, results in a much higher percentage of cream absorbed by the skin so this method often proves the best method for most individuals.

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