 Stretch marks are a form of scars that turn the skin an off color from the normal skin color. There are a variety of medical terms to describe stretch marks such as striae atrophicae, vergetures, striae cutis distensae, lineae atrophicae, linea albicante, or striae gravidarum, when the stretch marks are caused by the rapid growth during pregnancy. Stretch marks can occur in any location on the human body, especially in areas with large deposits of fat. These scars develop by overstretching past the elastic limit of the dermis layer of the skin resulting in a tear. The dermis is the durable middle layer of the skin that helps maintain the shape of the skin; it is located under the epidermis. Tearing of the dermis is usually the result of rapid growth or rapid weight gain. Stretching of the skin is mainly responsible for the location and orientation of the stretch marks; however, the cause of stretch marks is not only from rapid stretching of the skin.Causes of Stretch MarksIn addition to rapid growth, stretch marks are the result of the glucocorticoid hormone. This hormone prevents the formation of collagen and elastin fibers, without these supportive fibers the dermis is able to tear more easily. There are high amounts of hormones during pregnancy. Stretch marks from pregnancy tend to occur during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy, around the six to seven month mark. Among pregnant women, stretch marks are more likely to form when the mother is younger, have a high body mass index, gained over thirty pounds, or had a baby with a high birth weight.Preventing Stretch Marks
There have been a variety of different experiments conducted to find a way to prevent stretch marks among pregnant women. A German experiment determined that a treatment of creams and massage during pregnancy cut in half the number of women that developed stretch marks in comparison to the women that had no type of treatment. Two other experiments also supported the use of cream to prevent the progression of stretch marks during pregnancy. Contrary to popular belief, however, cocoa butter was not proven to be statistically significant in the reduction of stretch marks. A double-blind placebo-controlled study found that 55% of women using a placebo developed stretch marks during pregnancy. The number that developed stretch marks with the use of cocoa butter were only reduced a statistically insignificant amount to 44% of women. Removal of Stretch Marks Stretch marks can be improved or lightened by some different treatments. Some cream companies claim that a cream can improve the appearance of stretch marks; however, few studies support these claims. The treatments to improve stretch marks include dermabrasion and prescription retinoids. Dermabrasion is a surgical procedure that wears away the upper layers of skin through sanding or other methods. The recover after a dermabrasion procedure can take a few months until the skin fully re-grows. Retinoids are a type of Vitamin A that can help regulate skin cells and are used to correct a variety of dermatologic conditions. A new laser treatment available to remove stretch marks is fractional laser resurfacing. The stretch marks receive microscopic wounds from the laser; the body heals these wounds by creating collagen and epithelium. The production of collagen and epithelium helps improve the appearance of stretch marks. |