stretchmarks-help.com

Author: Dr. Madhumita Mazumdar

Stretch marks. Striae Gravidarum. The marks of pregnancy. Call
them what you will. But they are the one thing that all women
dread will occur as soon as they get pregnant.

But what are stretch marks anyway? And why do they occur?
Well, the reason lies in the anatomy of the skin. The skin has
two layers - a thin upper layer called the epidermis, and a
thicker, lower layer called the dermis. Scattered in the dermis
are fine protein filaments called elastin that, like a piece of
rubber band, are capable of stretching on being pulled. But just
as a rubber band can stretch only so far and no further, these
elastin fibres can also be stretched only to a certain extent.
If stretched further, they snap. The increasing bulk of the
uterus during pregnancy causes the skin to stretch to a great
extent and the elastin fibres are torn. The torn elastin
produces scars on the skin called Stria Gravidarum or stretch
marks.

They occur on the lower abdomen of all pregnant women,
right?

Well, right and wrong. They appear in most pregnant women, but
not in all and not just on the lower abdomen. Stretch marks
occur when the skin is stretched in a very short period of time,
as in pregnancy or in obesity. They occur:

- In the lower abdomen in pregnancy.

- Along the sides of the breasts either in pregnancy or in
obesity.

- Upper thighs.

- Occasionally even on the inner sides of the upper arms.

But can stretch marks be prevented?

Thankfully, the answer is yes, to a certain extent. Although
some women are genetically prone to develop stretch marks, it
has been noted that athletes and women accustomed to heavy,
physical labour get very few or no stretch marks. This is
regardless of whether their female relatives have stretch marks
or not. The reason for this is that that these women have very
well-developed and strong abdominal muscles. These muscles can
easily take the weight of the growing uterus and prevent it from
pressing forwards on the skin - rather like wearing a strong
muscular belt under the skin. The skin is thus stretched less,
less elastin fibres are damaged, and there are fewer stretch
marks.

Again a supple, healthy, well moisturized skin is capable of
stretching more without any lasting damage. So if a woman can
strengthen her abdominal muscles and keep her skin healthy and
supple, there is less chance of her developing stretch marks.

But how? How do I develop my muscles and keep my skin
moisturized?

Gentle exercises for the abdominal muscles can be started as
soon as pregnancy has been confirmed or even as pregnancy is
being planned.

Exercise 1 : Standing erect, raise both arms above the
head. Bend forward slowly to touch your toes. Hold the position
for a count of 100. Then slowly straighten up. Do this exercise
at least once daily.

Exercise 2 : Standing erect, raise both arms above the
head and clasp your hands. Now bend slowly to your left as far
down as you feel comfortable. Hold for a count of 10. Straighten
up slowly and then bend to your right. Hold to a count of 10.
Straighten up. Exhale as you are bending and inhale while
straightening up. This makes one set. Do at least 3 sets once
daily.

Exercise 3 : Stand straight with feet about 12 inches
apart. Place hands on your back at the waist. Slowly bend back,
as far back as you feel comfortable. Hold to a count of 10.
Straighten up. Now bend forward slowly, hold the position to a
count of 10. Then straighten up. Exhale as you are bending and
inhale while straightening up. This makes one set. Do at least 3
sets once daily.

These three exercises will strengthen the abdominal and back
muscles as well as gently stretch the skin. They also improve
the posture during pregnancy.

Caring for the skin : Keep the skin moisturized by
applying oil - olive oil, coconut oil, almond oil or any good
baby oil - thoroughly over the skin of the abdomen, hips and
thighs. Massage it in with sweeping upward strokes. You can do
this before you exercise so that the oil is properly absorbed as
the skin is stretched during exercise. This will make the skin
supple and healthy and capable of stretching without damaging
the elastin fibres.

A Good Diet : Take a good diet with lots of fresh fruits
and vegetables and adequate liquids. And do not forget your
daily vitamins. This will ensure a healthy and supple skin.

But what happens if the stretch marks have already occured?
How do I get rid of them?

The good thing about stretch marks is that they fade over time.
When they are first formed, they are reddish or purplish, but
later they become thin silvery lines that may not be visible at
first glance. The bad thing about stretch marks is that they can
be removed permanently only by surgery. The elastin and collagen
growth can be stimulated to some extent by cocoa butter, Vitamin
E, wheat germ oil and lanolin. But to remove the marks
completely, laser surgery, blue light therapy and other surgical
treatments are the only options. Many creams and lotions
available on the market also claim to be able to remove stretch
marks but have yet to be medically proved.

Visit www.gynaeonlin
e.com/care to learn more about Stretch Marks and other
pregnancy related issues.

Bookmark to:

Author: James Brann, MD

More than half of all pregnant women will develop stretch marks
during their pregnancy. Otherwise known as striae gravidarum,
stretch marks look like streaks on the surface of the skin, and
may be vary in color depending on your natural skin color. Most
lighter skinned women develop pinkish stretch marks, whereas
darker skinned women tend to have stretch marks that are lighter
than the surrounding skin.

Most women develop stretch marks on their abdomen during
pregnancy, however it is also common to get stretch marks on the
buttocks, hips, breasts and thighs. In some cases up to 90
percent of women have stretch marks on some part of their body
as a result of pregnancy.

What Causes Stretch Marks? Stretch marks form when your skin is
stretched rapidly as happens during pregnancy. Most women
develop stretch marks during the later trimesters of pregnancy
though some women start to develop them as soon as their bellies
start growing.

Stretch marks are actually small tears that form in the tissue
that supports the skin and helps it stretch. Stretch marks
represent the tearing or separation of collagen from the skin
when tearing occurs. Stretch marks are not harmful or painful
and usually fade over time.

Who Gets Stretch Marks Many women believe that using lotions and
creams help prevent stretch marks. Realistically speaking
however, the number of stretch marks you get depends on how
elastic your skin is. The elasticity of your skin usually
relates to your genetic make up. The best thing you can do is
find out if your mother got bad stretch marks during pregnancy.
If she did, you are probably more prone to stretch marks than
other women.

Keep in mind the more weight you gain during pregnancy the more
likely you are to have stretch marks. Normally the skin is
elastic and capable of stretching quite a bit, however for some
women the changes that occur during pregnancy are very drastic.
These rapid fluctuations of weight and skin stretching can
result in stretch marks.

Women with multiples are more likely to get stretch marks
because their bellies usually grow much larger than women with
single pregnancies. Other women likely to develop stretch marks
include women who gain a lot of weight quickly during their
pregnancy and women who carry big babies.

Here are some other factors that may contribute to your
susceptibility to stretch marks:

If you developed stretch marks before (like on your
breasts during puberty) you are more likely to get stretch marks
while pregnant. If you had stretch marks during another
pregnancy you will usually get them again. If you are
overweight or gain more weight than recommended you are more
likely to get stretch marks. The better hydrated and
well nourished you are the less likely you are to develop
serious stretch marks.

Stretch Mark Prevention Most women believe that they can prevent
stretch marks by using creams and lotions. There are many
formulations on the market today that claim to help prevent
stretch marks. Some of these may help moisturize your skin and
reduce itching. They may help reduce some stretch marks however
there are no scientific studies that support this.

You probably know at least one parent however that swears by
cocoa butter or some other formulation to prevent stretch marks.
If nothing else rubbing these creams into your belly provides
your unborn baby with a light and comforting massage. They may
also give you peace of mind knowing you did everything possible
to prevent stretch marks.

The best thing you can do to minimize stretch marks aside from
using any creams or moisturizers you select is gaining the
recommended amount of weight during pregnancy. Doctors recommend
most women gain between 25 and 34 pounds. Gaining much more than
this can cause you to develop more stretch marks.

Removing Stretch Marks Most women worry about stretch marks
after they have their baby. Fortunately most stretch marks do
fade with time. Usually after 12 moths postpartum most stretch
marks are light and less noticeable. Their texture may remain
different from the surrounding skin however. Many women notice
their stretch marks fading into whitish lines that are minimally
noticeable.

Some women have very severe stretch marks that impact their self
esteem after pregnancy. There are many treatments available for
women that want to improve the appearance of their stretch
marks.

If your stretch marks are particularly bad, you may consult with
your doctor or a dermatologist. Some topical treatments such as
tretinoin cream can help reduce stretch marks. These creams must
be used after pregnancy however, because they can cause defects
in your unborn baby.

Most of the topical treatments available should be used shortly
after delivery, before they start to fade. The more time that
passes between the delivery and use of cream, the less likely
they are to be effective.

If you are breastfeeding it is important you consult with your
doctor before using any stretch mark treatments. Some treatments
may impact your milk supply or pass through the breast milk to
your baby.

Most of the creams available to reduce stretch marks do not help
relieve the sagging skin that also accompanies childbirth. There
are some newer treatments including laser treatments however
that may improve the skins elasticity and help reduce stretch
marks. Some women also consider plastic surgery after they are
done having children. A tummy tuck can help hide some stretch
marks and reduce sagging skin.

Most women are able to joyfully overlook stretch marks when they
consider the miracle of life they bring into the world. For the
most the small annoyance even the worst stretch marks bring are
well worth the joys of bringing a newborn baby into the world.
Do what you can during pregnancy to maintain an appropriate
weight and try not to worry too much about stretch marks. Many
women wear them with pride, a ?war wound? or ?badge of honor?
related to their pregnancy. Why not wear them with pride?

About the author:
Dr. James Brann is a board certified Obstetrician and
Gynecologist and a Fellow of the American College of
Obstetricians and Gynecologists. He is also Editor of Women’s
Healthcare Topics.

http://www.womenshealthcaretopics.com

At Women’s Healthcare Topics website you will find valuable and
up-to-date information on numerous topics related to women’s
health including S

Bookmark to:

Stretchmarks – You don’t have to live with them Easier (press release), UK - Jun 25, 2008 For instance, the radiant glow you enjoy during pregnancy can be overshadowed by the development of much-dreaded stretchmarks – an online survey for …

learn more …

Best Syndication

Stretch Marks: Creams That Improve Their Appearance Best Syndication, CA - Jun 21, 2008 Nobody likes having stretch marks, especially when it comes to the beach vacation time. Bikinis can be a nightmare for women with these unsightly marks on … Stretch Marks – What Causes Them? Best Syndication Stretch Marks: Lifestyle Treatments Best Syndication all 3 news articles

learn more …

Bookmark to:

Author: Martha Fitzharris

Stretch marks can affect all of us. Many people assume the cause
of stretch marks (also known as striae) is due to pregnancy and
so only pregnant women and mothers are affected. This simply
isn’t true.

Body builders and people who gain a great deal of weight are
susceptible to stretch marks. Also, teens are often afflicted
with striae during the “growth spurts” of puberty. In short,
anytime skin that is dramatically stretched quickly, striae is
apt to appear.

Not only can stretch marks affect adults and teens, but they can
affect children and people of every race and ethnicity, as well.
What are stretch marks, and why do they occur?

The skin is a remarkable organ. It’s the largest and one of the
most complex organs in the entire body. It protects our internal
organs, keeps dangerous microorganisms at bay, helps us
eliminate wastes, and processes external elements, such as
sunshine, for our benefit. One of the skin’s most remarkable
abilities is its ability to stretch.

Elastin and collagen are two of the building blocks of skin.
They are both proteins in the form of elastic fibers. Collagen
is a binding agent in skin and it is the building block of the
connective tissue. Elastin provides the skin with, you guessed
it, its elasticity.

The skin is extremely elastic; however, at certain times, skin
is over-stressed and stretched beyond its ability to give. When
this happens, the skin actually tears. Then, these tiny tears
and little rips heal, resulting in scar tissue and show up on
the outer part of the skin as stretch marks.

How Stretch Marks Can Be Prevented or Repaired Cocoa butter is a
popular home remedy for stretch marks. Traditionally, pregnant
women have used cocoa butter on thier bellies to prevent stretch
marks . Certainly its moisturizing capacity helps to improve the
skin’s elasticity; however, it’s effectiveness in preventing
stretch marks is rather limited.

People who desire to prevent stretch marks should look for a
product that helps the body create the very elements that are
being oppressed: collagen and elastin. Pregnant women, body
builders, or growing teenagers can prevent skin tearing by
stimulating their body to trigger and speed the regeneration of
collagen, elastin and the water holding proteins that help
prevent tearing and subsequent scarring.

Fortunately, such stimulation can be achieved with topical
products (those you place directly on the skin) that contain
molecules that act as biological activators of skin renewal, the
same ingredients also aid in the repair of stretch marks.
Biological activators are (1) enzymes that catalyze, or speed up
biochemical reactions within skin cells by a factor of many
thousands, (2) proteins which enable cells to communicate and
effectively coordinate activities between one another, also
known as growth factors, (3) glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) - complex
carbohydrate chains that are not only vital moisturizers and
lubricants present in the interstitial spaces between surface
skin cells, but by virtue of their interaction with growth
factor proteins and their receptors act as regulators of
vascularization (new capillary blood vessel formation) and cell
division. Also. they are fundamental biological players in the
cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions that take place during
normal and pathological events related to cell recognition,
adhesion, migration and growth.

These molecules that are present in skin care products that are
not merely clever concoctions of natural ingredients, but have a
proven record of effectiveness. One such product is a cream made
from the mucins of land snails, the same mucins that these
little creatures use to repair their own skin and shell when
damaged. The biological activators in it promote cell
regeneration, which improves scars’ appearance. They also
thicken the epidermal layer, creating a smoother top layer of
skin. This further improves the look of stretch marks, whether
they are recent or old. With the use of BIO SKIN CARE? Cream
damaged cells and toxins are dissolved, hair follicles are
cleaned of debris, germs are destroyed and new collagen,
elasting and water holding cells are formed. The Final Result:
YOUR SKIN CLEAR OF STRETCH MARKS.

Bookmark to: