Learning about Stretch-Mark Causes, Treatments and Home Solutions

Women had not been particularly fond of the appearance of stretch marks.

They’re simply unsightly and difficult to cover up under normal circumstances. However, stretch marks are completely natural and are accepted more and more nowadays.

Did you know that anyone can develop stretch marks, including celebrities today?

Women’s bodies are constantly changing throughout life. It makes sense that stretch marks are possible regardless of your genetics, background or environment.

If you’re curious about minimizing the look of stretch marks, this article will be a breath of fresh air.

We’ll cover every detail of stretch marks, from their causes to possible treatments. You’ll be an expert on the subject after just one reading.

Let’s first discuss what stretch marks are in the first place. Why do they seem to appear out of nowhere?

Get to know the science behind this skin anomaly so that their appearance isn’t a mystery anymore.

What are Stretch Marks?

Stretch marks are common among most women. It’s true that some women seem to be immune to them, but these females are definitely in the minority.

Stretch marks arise in parallel lines across your skin. They tend to congregate where the body has curvy features, such as the hips or thighs.

From a technical perspective, stretch marks or striae are scars. Your body grew in a specific area at a high rate of speed. It was too fast for the skin to stretch out under normal conditions.

The scarring that you see is from burst elastin and collagen that are normally flexible. These materials form the scars that tend to remain permanent on women’s curves.

Color Differences

Have you ever noticed that stretch marks tend to have unique colors for every person? The colors of the scars will differ among women and varying nationalities.

Don’t be surprised if the colors appear in these hues, such as:

• Reddish-brown
• Purple
• Red
• Dark brown
• Pink

In fact, their color will change over time. The body’s healing process will change the color until it has a slightly different hue than the surrounding skin.

Their Sensation

As with any scar, a fresh one will have a unique sensation. It can be itchy or even sore.

The skin in the area dealt with a stretching sensation that was traumatic. The mark isn’t a serious ailment, but it will have a sensation until it can heal.

People don’t typically feel the stretch marks after having them for several months or years.

Did you know that there are different types of stretch marks? They aren’t all the same.

Get to know the stretch-mark types and why people might develop them in the first place. These scars are unsightly, but every woman can do something about them.

Types of Stretch Marks

These scars have varying classifications according to the dermatology industry.

Because there are many reasons why these marks appear, scientists have given them names to help with diagnoses and treatment.

Learn all about stretch-mark types right now. You’ll be a classification expert afterward.

Striae Rubrae

This general term refers to fresh, stretch marks with a pink or red hue. Women might be initially diagnosed with striae rubrae as they mature into adults.

Striae Albae

White, stretch marks are the hallmark of striae albae. These marks have been on the body for many years. The scars have healed as much as possible. They’re still visible, however.

Distention or Striae Gravidarum

These marks are normally associated with pregnancy. A woman’s body goes through extraordinary changes during the average pregnancy, which includes an enlarged torso and hip area. Striae designated as distention types can be deep and long lasting.

Puberty

Young girls can grow mature bodies seemingly overnight. The skin reacts as a result. These marks may not be too obvious, but they will scar without some immediate attention.

Dark-Red Purple

Stretch marks with a deep-purple hue aren’t entirely caused by stretching processes. The color stems from corticoid use as a pharmaceutical.

Striae Nigrae or Caerulea

Gray, purple, dark blue and black stretch marks aren’t causes for concern. This type usually occurs among women with a darker skin tone than others. The skin will calm down over time.

Knowing the types of marks that develop is helpful, but you want to know what causes them. Continue reading because the causes are varied and possibly avoidable. Smooth skin is everyone’s goal.

Common Causes of Stretch-Mark Striae

No one appreciates striae on the skin. You really want to avoid any scarring. What causes stretch marks to appear? Explore the common causes for stretch marks right now. A few of them might surprise you.

Weight Gain or Loss

If you lose or gain weight over a short period of time, striae can arise. The skin simply cannot replicate and stretch as fast as the body is changing.

Corticosteroid Use

People who suffer from severe allergies may take these steroids as a relief solution. Other ailments also benefit from them. However, their use makes the skin vulnerable to striae.

Speaking to your doctor about these concerns is paramount to avoiding possible scarring in the future.

Adrenal Disorders

Some adrenal disorders, such as Cushing’s Syndrome, involve the production of excess cortisol. This stress hormone is associated with striae formation. Researchers are still learning more about this connection, however.

Pregnancy

Being pregnant is a key cause for striae. The skin goes through a lot of stretching between the mother and child. You’ll learn more about this later on.

At-Risk Groups

Can you be at risk for stretch marks and not even know it? Many women are concerned about their chances of developing striae. Risk factors often involve these groups, such as:

• Overweight people
• Being female
• Being of Caucasian descent
• Family history of striae

There’s no guarantee that you’ll have or not have striae. However, it’s always good to know if there’s a chance in your case.

After knowing the causes, understanding where striae occur is the next question. Learn everything about their locations so that you can be on the lookout for them. Most women share some of the same regions on their bodies for their stretch marks.

Where Stretch Marks Appear

All of a sudden, stretch marks seem to appear on the body. In reality, their formation has been a long and drawn out process.

The skin under strain has to react in some manner so that it doesn’t succumb to cracks and tears. It’s designed to stretch, but only to a certain point.

Are you wondering where stretch marks appear on the body? They don’t always appear where you might think they would.

Explore the most common body parts for striae development right now.

Thighs

The thighs are an area that are full of fat and potential growth as a woman goes through puberty and into adulthood. Researchers believe that striae mostly occur in areas with ample fat reserves.

The skin is already under strain from the fatty deposits across the muscular tissue. Additional strain from growth and development causes the skin to scar with striae.

Breasts

A girl moves into puberty with amazing speed. The breast tissue swells with mammary glands growing at a rapid pace.

Young women see stretch marks around the breasts because the skin is forced into a shape that’s never been felt before. These scars will fade, but they don’t necessarily disappear with time.

Buttocks

Most of the rear-end region is full of fatty tissue. When a person loses or gains weight in this area, the changes are often dramatic.

It makes sense that striae would be a common feature for the buttocks. They typically surround the buttocks around the edges.

Stomach

The stomach is another area that’s prone to striae. This area goes through a lot of flexing throughout a given day. It also stretches as you go through growth spurts.

Gaining or losing a lot of weight over a short period of time is cause for stomach striae. Maintaining a healthy weight can help you avoid these scars.

Upper Arms

The upper arms aren’t as common as the other areas, but striae can occur. The scars develop in and around the armpit area. Strain across the area is usually to blame.

Striae and pregnancy are two terms that are often used interchangeably. Are you interested in their connection?

Get to know the details surrounding stretch-mark development in pregnant women. It’s one of the most common experiences for women across the globe.

Understanding Pregnancy and Stretch Marks

The female body undergoes incredible changes during pregnancy. You’re supporting a child for nearly 10 months!

It makes sense that your skin will have some changes as well. The stretching and swelling of the child puts strain on the surrounding skin. Striae are the result.

The Pregnancy Difference

Intelligent women understand that their skin will stretch during pregnancy. A child must make room in the womb to become a full-term baby.

However, pregnancy striae aren’t only caused by physical strain. Researchers believe that hormonal fluctuations also play a role, such as through these processes:

• Hormones increase water levels in the skin tissue
• Collagen and surrounding fibers relax as a result
• The skin ends up tearing and creating striae

When to Expect Striae

The most common time for striae to form is during the third trimester. Babies are nearly full term at this point.

Don’t be surprised if stretch marks occur during the second trimester too. Any strain on the skin can generate scarring around the belly, breasts and thighs.

Stopping the Scarring

Encourage elasticity in the skin by applying a moisturizer. Most women look for cocoa butter as a good lotion.

You might also consider argan oil. This nut-based oil absorbs into the skin for long-term moisturizing. It has nutrients that can ward off the scarring and possibly improve any old striae.

Another prevention strategy is maintaining a healthy weight. Most women gain 10 or 20 pounds during a pregnancy because this weight supports the child. Try to avoid any extra pounds so that striae aren’t prone to developing on the skin.

A few marks may be on the skin after pregnancy. Every woman wonders if they’ll just go away on their own.

Explore the fascinating world of the dermis so that you can understand if fading is possible. The skin is constantly rejuvenating itself.

Will Stretch Marks Fade Away?

It’s true that stretch marks will fade away. Most women are thrilled to hear this answer.

However, the skin won’t look the same even after decades of healing. Stretch marks are technically deep scars. They won’t disappear without a trace.

Do you have any scars on your skin? Have they ever really gone away?

Luckily, striae look their worst when they’re fresh. The pink or red hue seems to glow in the light.

Over time, these scars fade away. Noticing a whitish hue to the striae may be their only calling card in a few years.

Helping the Fade

There are ways to fade the scars. Argan oil might be a perfect product for the striae. Apply it to fresh or healing marks, and sleep the night away.

The sleep and oil give the skin a fighting chance against further scarring.

Natural lotions, such as cocoa butter, are also effective. Remember that the skin will never look like it did before the marks. They simply fade to a lighter color than before.

Lotions and oils aren’t the only answers to striae concerns. From surgeries to tattoos, there are a number of options for the mature woman.

Get familiar with the best stretch mark treatment options. Every woman can pick the right solution for her body.

Stretch-Mark Treatment Options

Women are proactive about their bodies today. There are so many options for beauty and health that deciding among them is difficult. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t look for the best treatment for your striae.

Think about these suggestions. Some tactics are simple, whereas other choices are dramatic and expensive. Do you want to try a treatment today? Explore your options below.

Retinol Creams

These creams are full of vitamin A. This nutrient stimulates fibroblasts so that your skin can rejuvenate itself.

There are many retinol creams on the market today. Be sure to choose a product that has the purest ingredients.

Cocoa Butter

This lotion is the classic solution to stretch marks. Apply it several times a day. The oils absorb into the skin, which encourages healing and tissue growth.

Skin-Tone Tattoos

You don’t have to be a fan of tattoos to appreciate this unique solution. Skin-tone tattoos are simply color placed on the discolored sections.

A dermatologist fills in the valleys caused by the marks with a specialized tool. After healing, the professional goes over the discolored areas with a skin color that matches your own.

The patient is left with striae that are practically concealed with permanent ink.

Light Therapy

Red-light wavelengths are known to speed healing processes within the skin. Collagen production increases, and women are left with smoother skin than before.

Micro-Needling

There’s no concrete proof that micro-needling will solve striae on the skin, but it can make a dramatic difference. Dermatologists perform this procedure where tiny needles puncture the skin over the stretch marks.

The idea behind micro-needling is skin stimulation. The needles create slight damage to the area, which encourages the tissue to start healing.

Collagen and elastin fill the area so that the marks fade with each procedure. The most permanent way to deal with striae is plastic surgery. These procedures might help, such as:

• Thigh lifts
• Tummy tucks

Women aren’t necessarily trying to lose weight with these options. The procedure requires the skin to be tightened, which reduces the appearance of striae.

If you’re wary about a chosen treatment, you aren’t alone. Many women want a solution, but it needs to come from a natural source.

There are prevention and home remedies that are effective on most skin types. Collect your favorite ingredients, and try out a remedy today. Amazing results might be in your future.

Stretch-Mark Prevention and Home Remedies

Aside from caring for your skin with daily moisturizing, there are other options for women who’re trying to prevent or remove striae. Did you know that there are natural treatments with great potential? Try these home remedies today.

Cucumber and Lemon

You’ve probably seen people apply cucumbers to their eyes as a way to reduce swelling. This same concept works for striae. The cucumber’s nutrients are a soothing sensation on the marks while the lemon provides acidity.

Striae respond to acidity by healing faster than without the influence. Try lime or orange juice as alternatives if you’re out of lemons.

Aloe Vera

Aloe-vera gel comes from a succulent, which means that the nutrients from the plant can be transferred to the skin. Although scientific research is still limited in this area, users usually see a softening and healing process where they apply the gel.

Ideally, use the gel from from an aloe-vera plant to improve your skin’s tone. There are manufactured types, but they aren’t as effective as pure aloe vera.

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid sounds like a man-made chemical, but it’s actually found in the human body. Take this natural substance by mouth so that it can stimulate your body’s reactions to striae.

Collagen develops from hyaluronic acid use, which gives your skin a chance to fight off scarring.

Argan Oil

This specialty oil comes from Morocco, and it has some amazing effects on the skin. A main ingredient includes vitamin E. This nutrient is known for its positive effects on the skin and any scarring problems.

Rub argan oil onto the striae. It absorbs with rapid ease, which leads to nutrients impacting the scarring deep in the tissue.

Argan oil is entirely gentle on most women’s skin. Use it each day for the best effects.

Here you can read more on argan oil for stretch marks.

You have a vast knowledge on striae now. Apply that information to your daily life.

Striae don’t have to define your figure. Try argan oil and other home remedies to soften the skin’s appearance today.

Stretch marks are no challenge anymore, right? You now know why they occur and how argan oil is a secret tool that enhances a person’s beauty.

Infographic

Through this article, you learned about several points found in the infographic below.

Remind yourself that the skin is an organ that can rejuvenate itself with a little help from nature.

Pick up a bottle of argan oil so that you have a treatment option at home for any occasion. Stretch marks don’t have to be a key feature of any woman’s body with today’s solutions.

Now is Your Chance!

Have you tried any of these striae remedies? Has a loved one tried argan oil? Share this article so that other women can benefit from this knowledge.