The skin is the body's largest organ and has the remarkable ability to expand and contract as needed. The skin is strong and elastic, but its supporting tissues can be damaged if they are stretched too far or too quickly.
This rapid expanding of the skin can lead to stretch marks. Stretch marks are a common problem that affect men and women of nearly all ages and skin types.
Up to 90 percent of women get stretch marks during pregnancy, though they also affect men, women, and teenagers. They often occur during periods of growth and body changes such as significant weight gain, puberty, and extreme muscle building.
When the middle layer of skin gets stretched too quickly, some of its collagen fibers can break. This allows underlying blood vessels to show through, leaving behind the telltale red or purplish marks.
Over time, they fade to a white or silver color as blood vessels heal. Typically, the marks don't go away fully.
Though they are not physically painful, stretch marks can affect a person's confidence and self-esteem. They can be disfiguring in severe cases.
Because of their psychological effects, experts have tried for years to find an effective treatment for these marks. Unfortunately, no treatment has been shown to erase them fully. New ways of treating stretch marks are emerging, however, and some of them show promise.
A study in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology suggests that women who are pregnant at a younger age tend to get them more frequently, as do women who gain more weight during pregnancy. However, these factors alone do not guarantee a woman will get stretch marks.
Higher levels of steroid hormones in the body appear to play a role in some cases. People who have Cushing disease tend to get stretch marks more frequently than those who don't have this condition.
Similarly, people who are taking steroid medications or using topical steroid creams may be more likely to get stretch marks. Experts believe this is because steroid hormones may weaken collagen in the skin, making it more likely to break.
Tretinoin is often called by its brand name Retin-A. It can cause side effects such as redness and peeling. This drug should not be used by pregnant or nursing women.
It can get through the upper layer of skin and rebuild collagen, which explains how it improves stretch marks for some people.
Tretinoin is available only by prescription. Its benefits appear to be strongest when used on new stretch marks, so early treatment is recommended. Once the marks have faded to white or silver, tretinoin may not be beneficial.
The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) recommend laser or light therapy as the only proven ways to significantly improve the appearance of stretch marks. The ASDS estimate each treatment costs $200 to $400. Up to 20 treatments may be needed for full results.
Despite the claims on the bottle, no over-the-counter cream or oil has been proven to help prevent or treat stretch marks. Stretch marks occur in the deep dermal layer of the skin, where moisturizers and creams cannot reach.
A summary of six clinical trials found that preventing stretch marks with topical skin care products is not successful. In addition, applying moisturizers or creams after the marks have appeared does not have an effect on their appearance.
This rapid expanding of the skin can lead to stretch marks. Stretch marks are a common problem that affect men and women of nearly all ages and skin types.
Up to 90 percent of women get stretch marks during pregnancy, though they also affect men, women, and teenagers. They often occur during periods of growth and body changes such as significant weight gain, puberty, and extreme muscle building.
What are stretch marks?
Stretch marks are lines or bands caused by stretching of the skin's connective tissue.When the middle layer of skin gets stretched too quickly, some of its collagen fibers can break. This allows underlying blood vessels to show through, leaving behind the telltale red or purplish marks.
Over time, they fade to a white or silver color as blood vessels heal. Typically, the marks don't go away fully.
Though they are not physically painful, stretch marks can affect a person's confidence and self-esteem. They can be disfiguring in severe cases.
Because of their psychological effects, experts have tried for years to find an effective treatment for these marks. Unfortunately, no treatment has been shown to erase them fully. New ways of treating stretch marks are emerging, however, and some of them show promise.
Risk factors
The reason why some people get stretch marks and others don't remains unclear. Some people may simply be more prone to getting stretch marks due to genetics or certain hormone levels.A study in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology suggests that women who are pregnant at a younger age tend to get them more frequently, as do women who gain more weight during pregnancy. However, these factors alone do not guarantee a woman will get stretch marks.
Higher levels of steroid hormones in the body appear to play a role in some cases. People who have Cushing disease tend to get stretch marks more frequently than those who don't have this condition.
Similarly, people who are taking steroid medications or using topical steroid creams may be more likely to get stretch marks. Experts believe this is because steroid hormones may weaken collagen in the skin, making it more likely to break.
Treatments for stretch marks
Treatments available through skin doctors and plastic surgeons offer some hope for reducing the appearance of stretch marks. Though no solution has been shown to work for everyone, many patients find success with some of the following treatments.Retin-A
A 0.1 percent tretinoin (retinoic acid) cream was shown to help diminish early stretch marks in one study, but later results have shown mixed results.Tretinoin is often called by its brand name Retin-A. It can cause side effects such as redness and peeling. This drug should not be used by pregnant or nursing women.
It can get through the upper layer of skin and rebuild collagen, which explains how it improves stretch marks for some people.
Tretinoin is available only by prescription. Its benefits appear to be strongest when used on new stretch marks, so early treatment is recommended. Once the marks have faded to white or silver, tretinoin may not be beneficial.
Laser or light therapy
Laser therapy is one of the newest treatments for stretch marks that appears to be effective in reducing their appearance. Pulsed dye lasers and intense pulsed light can improve the appearance of stretch marks and increase collagen production over time. These treatments are performed by a plastic, cosmetic, or skin surgeon.The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) recommend laser or light therapy as the only proven ways to significantly improve the appearance of stretch marks. The ASDS estimate each treatment costs $200 to $400. Up to 20 treatments may be needed for full results.
Home remedies for stretch marks
Some creams, oils, and other topical skin products on store shelves claim to prevent or reduce stretch marks. Popular ingredients include cocoa butter, olive oil, and almond oil.Despite the claims on the bottle, no over-the-counter cream or oil has been proven to help prevent or treat stretch marks. Stretch marks occur in the deep dermal layer of the skin, where moisturizers and creams cannot reach.
A summary of six clinical trials found that preventing stretch marks with topical skin care products is not successful. In addition, applying moisturizers or creams after the marks have appeared does not have an effect on their appearance.
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