Stretch marks are actually linear scars of the skin that initially materialize as red-purplish lines and diminish to paler tones with time. They can cause a lot of distress to those people who have them but people can get rid of stretch marks with either surgical or home based treatments.
Although the skin is normally very stretchable, when it gets overstretched, the collagen fibers in the middle layer get broken. Stretch marks are caused due to this stretching of the skin associated with rapid growth or weight gain that overcomes the elasticity of the skin.
Stretch marks which are most often than not linked with pregnancy can appear on people who do body building as well. They are not restricted to only females and these stretch marks tend to appear on those body areas where the most amounts of fat are stored. The abdomen area, upper arms, backside and breasts are common areas where they show up.
While there is no cure for stretch marks, a number of treatments are available for reducing them. Surgical procedures such as chemical peels, micro-dermabrasion and even laser treatments used to tackle unwanted stretch marks are reported to be very successful. But the downfall of such surgical procedures is that they are very costly and not generally covered by insurance.
Home remedies which are used to reduce stretch marks include specific creams and lotions which improve the texture of the skin and diminish the appearance of the marks. Exfoliation also may help in certain cases depending on the severity of the scarred tissue. Home remedies have the advantages of being painless, affordable and being able to use it in the comfort of one’s own home.
Stretch marks are an unavoidable fact of life for most people especially for pregnant women. But given the treatments and surgical procedures available to reduce them, there are many choices for the people who want to do something about it.
Andrea Williams has been writing articles about women, toddlers, and parents for quite a while now. Visit her latest website about baby potty chair, at http://www.babybjornpottychair.net