Stretch Marks Explained

Stretch marks are most commonly found on women. One of the reasons for this fact is that the majority of women that have experienced pregnancy will have stretch marks.  Stretch marks during pregnancy are due to the expansion that is necessary to accommodate the baby.  The skin is stretched quickly.

Another way to acquire stretch marks is when the collagen production is disrupted.  This happens when a person goes through hormonal changes.  Steroid drugs used for sport enhancement will often cause stretch marks due to the unnatural growth in muscle which results in stretched skin.

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Stretch Marks – Younger People

Younger people may get stretch marks when they go through their growing stages.  This is very true for female teens that may end up with stretch marks on their breasts, hips, stomach and thighs.  The obsession with staying young and having a perfect body has led to the business of stretch mark removal.

Stretch Marks and Your Skin

The skin is made up of 3 layers.  The outer layer is the epidermis, the middle layer is known as the dermis, and the inner layer is called the subcutaneous stratum.  When there is an abnormally fast growth, the middle layer of skin is stretched.  It will eventually break the skin fiber and that tear will result in a stretch mark.

In some cases, as during a planned pregnancy, certain precautions can minimize the occurrence and severity of stretch marks.  There are many creams specifically designed to provide a way to make skin more elastic to avoid any damage.  Some women pursue laser removal for their stretch marks and have found it to be highly effective although it does not completely remove all signs of scarring.