Stretch Marks

Although doctors are not completely sure what causes stretch marks, there are several possibilities.  Some people believe that stretch marks are caused by hormones.  This belief is propagated because stretch marks tend to occur during pregnancy, adolescence and during periods of rapid weight gain or loss.  While these are times that your skin is stretching, stretch marks also can show up during times of depression, starvation, or extreme changes in environment.  These situations do not cause the skin to stretch.  The common denominator of all of these situations is hormonal change. 

Proponents of the hormone theory believe that the hormones send the wrong information to the body in relation to skin development.  The skin therefore does not create enough collagen and elastin.  Collagen and elastin are the proteins that create the connective tissue of human skin.  When these are not present, the skin tissues break apart, creating stretch marks.  Stretch marks develop deep within the skin and take many days to appear as the purple scars we are familiar with. 

This theory explains why some women's bellies explode into stretch marks during pregnancy, while others do not.  If stretch marks were caused by skin stretching, there would not be so much discrepancy, as every woman's skin stretches during pregnancy.  

Stretch marks do not just happen to women.  They happen to men as well.  They happen to people of all sizes and races.  They are most noticeable in fair-skinned races, as they appear pink or red at first.  Once the scars are mature, they will fade to a silvery white color.  

If you have a problem with stretch marks, your doctor is not going to have many solutions for you.  Unfortunately, there are few effective treatments for stretch marks available; they are basically scars and they cannot be removed completely;  however, their appearance can sometimes be reduced.  

Stretch marks that are less than a year old can be treated by Retin-A treatments.  This is an expensive medicine that is only sometimes effective.  It absolutely will not work for stretch marks that have turned silver.  

Micro dermabrasion treatment is another medical option to reduce the appearance of stretch marks.  The cost is quite high, at $100-$200 per treatment session.  It takes micro crystals and other chemicals and sprays them onto the skin at an extremely high pressure.  Patients must undergo many treatments to find success with micro dermabrasion.  It can be quite painful.  The areas being treated cannot be exposed to sunlight.  This is certainly a last resort option for extreme cases.  

Laser treatment is another way to possibly eliminate the appearance of stretch marks.  Pulsed dye lasers are applied to the affective area, which takes away the scars.  Again, this procedure is quite pricey, at over $600 per session and at least seven sessions needed for effective treatment.  Also, it is imperative that those looking for laser relief from skin conditions only use highly qualified doctors, as lasers can create quite a bit of damage to the skin.  

These are the only proven effective measures to removing stretch marks.  Take care not to spend large amounts of money on creams that claim to remove stretch marks.  They are most likely ineffective.  If you have mild marks, chances are you will just have to live with them.