Stretch Marks

A Little Bit About Stretch Marks

When most people think of stretch marks, what comes to mind is usually basic information that's not particularly interesting or beneficial. But there's a lot more to stretch marks than just the basics.

Stretch marks or striae gravidarum, are the most common of all skin lesions and affect a large majority of the population, both male and female. But just what exactly are stretch marks and are they avoidable or simply inevitable? Here is some helpful information on this bothersome, but harmless condition.

Get Rid of Stretch Marks

Stretch marks are most commonly believed to be the result of skin that has merely been stretched beyond its normal limits. The result is apparent scarring of the skin that may initially be reddish or even purplish in color. While stretch marks may in fact be a form of scarring, they are caused in part by a loss of collagens and elastins in the skin when it is stretched more than normal. A breakdown of the tissues and fibers then occurs resulting in the appearance of the stretch marks.

Stretch Mark Cures

Most of this information comes straight from the stretch mark pros. Careful reading to the end virtually guarantees that you'll know what they know.

Also, an increase of glucocorticoids, which are the hormones that are secreted in excess by the adrenal glands during time such as pregnancy, weight gain or adolescence, are believed to be responsible for the formation of stretch marks. These hormones affect the skin and prevent it from forming the collagens and elastins necessary to keep it taut and healthy.

Other hormones such as relaxin and estrogen are also suspected culprits as to why some people develop stretch marks. Usually, the marks will fade to a white or grayish color over time, although the reverse has been reported for some people, and it also can depend on skin color and ethnicity as well.

A stretch mark occurs in the middle layer of the skin, commonly called the dermis, and not on the actual surface of the skin. The dermis is an elastic layer which is reinforced with fibrous tissue. These fibers, as we know, are comprised of those essential collagens and elastins, which allow the skin to be stretched and then retain its normal state.

Sometimes it's tough to sort out all the details related to this subject, but I'm positive you'll have no trouble making sense of the information presented above.