Symptoms of Stretch Marks And How To Nullify Them
June 23, 2009 by Sarah Leah
Filed under Skin Care
For many women, stretch marks are a common skin condition and can lower your self-esteem and self-confidence. Water is the best therapy that can add elasticity to the skin. Another is by applying cocoa butter. Go sun bathing and get that tan skin. A light tan can dramatically reduce the appearance of these lines. You can also use a tanning lotion or a spray for instant results. The generally held medical standpoint is that there is no clear-cut treatment for stretch marks.
So what does getting stretch marks signify to you? While some women started developing them during puberty, others only see them for the first time during a pregnancy. In medical terms, they are called striae gravidarum and they look like purplish red lines or bands. When the underlying tissue grows faster than the skin layers covering it, they are formed by causing small tears in the epidermal surface. Watch your weight and try not to put it on too quickly. Make certain you balance the fluids if you are unable to give up your coffee or tea. Therefore, ensure you eat foods that boost skin health: foods rich in zinc, such as nuts or fish; foods high in vitamins A and C, such as carrots and citrus fruits and milk; protein rich foods, such as eggs.
Stretch mark treatments that deal with repairing already existing damage are quite radical and, for the greatest part, not of established medical validity. The results vary and are the object of much disagreement in medical circles, but the professional consensus seems to be that this form of treatment is of no or very limited benefit in tackling stretch marks. Chemical peels should not be considered an option. We now know that stretch marks stem from damage to deeper levels of the skin, so sloughing off superficial layers is patently useless and potentially very harmful. Finding the most suitable one is a matter of personal research.
Depending on the degree of change in weight gain, stretch marks can develop on the upper thighs and waist. Since the pregnancy/stretch arks connection has been discovered, a lot of research has gone into tackling the problem. In other words, it is important that the mother-to-be maintains a strict nutritional regimen (read no compulsive consumption of dill pickles, no matter how strong the craving). At any stage of the pregnancy, weight gain should stay within 20 to 30 pounds.
Many women agonize over the reality of having stretch marks after pregnancy, especially the silver streaks that cross their abdomens and forever label them as mothers. Though we can’t wave a magic wand and wish our marks away, we can minimize their appearance. Overweight individuals and pregnant mothers alike experience these lovely lines. Depending on the severity of the stretching, on how far the skin was pulled, more than one layer of skin can sustain damage.






