To dermatologists, stretch marks are known as striae, but to us they are known as something to get rid of! Stretch marks are a type of scarring that causes a discoloration of the skin. They are caused by the tearing of the dermis. Those who have stretch marks would love to find that perfect solution to get rid of them. Let's look more into what stretch marks are, what causes them and what ways are the most successful in getting rid of them.

What Causes Stretch Marks?

Stretch marks are often the result of the rapid stretching of the skin which is usually associated with rapid growth common in puberty, weight gain, or pregnancy. Yet, stretching is not the only culprit. The development of stretch marks is also influenced by hormonal changes, diet and exercise. The glucocorticoid hormones are those that are responsible for the development of stretch marks as they affect the epidermis by preventing fibroblasts from forming collagen and elastin fibers. These fibers are necessary to keep rapidly growing skin taut. This combination of rapid growth and hormone changes leads to dermal and epidermal tearing.

What are the Symptoms of Stretch Marks?

Stretch marks commonly appear as reddish or purple lines that eventually fade into lighter shades until they turn white. Affected areas are soft to the touch and appear empty. Stretch mark scarring affects the dermis which is the resilient middle layer of skin that helps maintain skin shape. Stretch marks generally appear on areas that have the most fat which include the abdomen, breasts, upper arms, underarms, thighs, hips and buttocks.

What are Ways to Get Rid of Marks?

Several treatments are available to help reduce the appearance of existing stretch marks including laser treatments, microdermabrasion and prescription retinoids. There also exist a number of natural skin care products that help to both prevent and remove stretch marks.

There is a new method of laser treatment done with fractional laser resurfacing, which offers treatment with scattered pulses of light that zap parts of the scar over the course of several treatments. This approach creates microscopic wounds that the skin's biology responds to by forming more collagen and epithelium. This method has been successful in reducing appearance, but does not completely remove the visibility of the stretch marks. If you are thinking about laser treatment, you should consider the pain of therapy as well as the expense as several sessions are often necessary.

A specially fitted tool is used in microdermabrasion treatment to scrape away the top layers of skin. Microscopic particles firmly exfoliate the skin in a medical sand blasting technique. Microdermabrasion stimulates the development of collagen and elastin, vital in smoothing and healing the skin. However, there are limitations to microdermabrasion treatment. Microdermabrasion may not be effective with stretch marks that have already reached the mature white phase. There are also some types of natural home microdermabrasion creams that are worth looking into that are also mentioned below.

Retinoids refer to products that contain retinol, an element known to increase collagen and elastin production. If massaged into red or purple areas, retinoids can improve the look and feel of stretch marks. However, this method is not effective once stretch marks have already reached a mature white stage.

Natural stretch marks cream, depending on the ingredients, can help to strongly exfoliate as well as work deep into the dermis, working with your natural biology to reduce stretch mark appearance. Products that contain Helix Aspersa Muller not only stimulate collagen and elastin proliferation as do other methods, but can also work to improve the skin's metabolism, counter hormonal effects, and dissolve scar tissue. Messenger molecules and enzymes found only in particular natural products can distinguish between healthy and non functional cells, getting rid of those that are damaged to make room for healthy replacements to the skin's matrix. This complex system is a natural and effective way to get rid of stretch marks and enjoy beautiful skin.