A Mark That Lasts Forever? Are Stretch Marks Here To Stay?

It might be hard to imagine what a bodybuilder, pregnant lady and an obese person could possibly have in common, but rest assured they do have a link. What is this link you might ask? Well the answer is stretch marks.

What exactly are stretch marks? Stretch marks (or striae as is their proper name) are tears in the skin that are caused by rapid changes in weight alongside resulting hormonal changes in the body. These stretch marks occur due to skin stretching to accommodate the new size of the body and the resulting hormonal changes that occur in the body due to the rapid weight change.

But this reason as sensible it may sound is not entirely correct. While it is true that stretch marks occur in people who have lost or gained large amounts of weight, stretch marks also occur due to changes in the body's hormone levels that result from the sudden changes in weight.

It is important to remember that stretch marks are purely cosmetic in nature and do not have any medical ramifications behind them. But for many having stretch marks is considered unsightly and unattractive causing individuals to seek out a way to remove them. When it comes to stretch marks there are actually two methods of dealing with them the first of which is through prevention and the second through curing/reducing their effect. With stretch marks however like many other ailments, prevention is actually better than cure.

So what kinds of steps can be taken to help prevent or reduce the onset of stretch marks? For pregnant women it is important to stay hydrated throughout the pregnancy which helps skin stay resilient and strong. Applying generous amounts of moisturizing cream on your breasts, thighs and abdomen which will keep your skin saturated with moisture helping prevent the formation of stretch marks. A popular choice amongst pregnant mothers is cocoa butter cream. Drinking copious amounts of water is also recommended.

A controlled diet that consists of foods rich in minerals and nutrients such as Vitamin A, E, and C can also help alleviate the problem. Body builders will also find that applying cream to areas as soon as the stretch marks appear is a good solution to the problem. Also staying well hydrated is advised.

For those looking for a cost effective solution to the problem of stretch marks a host of special creams designed specifically to remove stretch marks can be found on the market. These stretch mark creams targeted the damaged layers and areas of the skin allowing them to remove or reduce the effect of stretch marks. Many of them have been proven to work at least to some degree so they are most certainly worth checking out. But as always it's better to try and prevent the onset of the stretch marks instead of trying to remove them once they have occurred.